Bulk grains - Southern California

[SoCal-Doug]

Anyone have the golden ticket for bulk base malts around the area? Our little handful of brewers would love to save a few more bucks if its possible. Primarily Maris Otter, German/Belgian Pilsner and Wheat. I don't mind supporting local places for specialty grains, but i'm thinking there must be options on bags of base malts.

I stopped into a fairly large brew pub and supply shop in San Diego the other day hearing rumor they sell bulk. They will sell generic 2-row at $40/bag. The kid said that they don't use much else in their beers because "the public can't taste a difference so why would we pay more". That cracked me up. Their regular retail grain and supplies pricing were quite high compared to the Inland Empire.

 

[smcinco]

Have you tried Morebeer in Riverside? They give a 10% discount for homebrew club membership. Not sure about bulk pricing but last time I shopped there base malt was ~$33/bag with club discount.

 

[SoCal-Doug]

I was there yesterday for their twice-a-year sale day thing. Picked up quite a few things for our Thanksgiving weekend brewing shenanigans. Their domestic 2-row is about $35/bag with the club discount. I was hoping to find MO, German/Belgian pilsners, etc for less than $60/bag.

 

[Scturo]

You can also check out Phantom Ales. They guarantee price match with any Cali supplier. They also run a brew club out of the shop so you might be able to get in on some group buys. They are about 20 - 30 mins from you in Anaheim.

 

[SoCal-Doug]

Awesome. If its the place off of Red Gum near LaPalma, I had a client right around the corner from them last year and we would walk over for wings and root beer at lunch (they make a fantastic root beer!). I totally forgot about that place.

 

[Scturo]

Yeah, that's the place. I like being able to get my supplies and a beer at the same spot.

 

[SoCal-Doug]

I stopped in at Phantom today. Had a flight and some munchies. OMG the ribeye sliders were the bomb! Very good tap selection (the dry-bean coffee lager was yummy!). Wifey liked the apple/pineapple cider, and their root beer was awesome as I remembered it.

Their grain prices are higher than the inland empire but you were right. They will price match anything they can prove online. So MO is still $58/sack. Not sure if I would drive to Anaheim to buy supplies (the 91 freeway sucks), but if im in that area for a flight and some food, absolutely I'll be back.

 

[cmac62]

I'd be interested in buying some bulk grains in the IE also. I'm in Menifee and brew literate is really close to my house, but I don't know what he charges for a bag of mo. When I bought my gear off a guy on Craigslist and mill was included with a big hopper,but I have never used it. No time like now.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

I was there yesterday for their twice-a-year sale day thing. Picked up quite a few things for our Thanksgiving weekend brewing shenanigans. Their domestic 2-row is about $35/bag with the club discount. I was hoping to find MO, German/Belgian pilsners, etc for less than $60/bag.

That's not to much higher than the wholesale pricing. So you just have to suck it up and buy for $60 for 55#. The UK stuff is spendy. The German stuff should be about the same or maybe a little less. But that's still a good price.