aggieotis
Well-Known Member
I'm looking towards getting my first all-grain batch of GF beer, but running into a bit of a problem. How to cheaply get a hold of such a large quantity of grain.
I figure since we have to do all the malting and kilning of the grains ourselves, then we should just buy the raw grains and it should be pretty cheap.
Unfortunately though, most people selling these GF grains are doing so for a niche market that for some reason they think needs to buy things in 1/2 pound quantities with 4 different organic certifications and for a minimum of $3-8/lb. I know that some stores have some grains in bulk, but those stores still charge a premium (for example Whole Foods has bulk items, but even then they're not cheap).
That brings up the question of, "How to buy GF grains for less?"
I was thinking that since the process of malting will do a good job of washing the grains we could maybe even settle for 'feed grain'. If so then we could probably buy grain for pennies on the pound. In my area I can buy Millet for $8 per 50 lbs sack, and Red Sorghum (Milo) for about $5 per 50 lbs sack.
Anybody know if feed grain can work for human consumption if better washed? Additionally do any of you know of good resources to get large sacks of other grains such as White Sorghum, Amaranth, Teff, or White Quinoa?
I figure since we have to do all the malting and kilning of the grains ourselves, then we should just buy the raw grains and it should be pretty cheap.
Unfortunately though, most people selling these GF grains are doing so for a niche market that for some reason they think needs to buy things in 1/2 pound quantities with 4 different organic certifications and for a minimum of $3-8/lb. I know that some stores have some grains in bulk, but those stores still charge a premium (for example Whole Foods has bulk items, but even then they're not cheap).
That brings up the question of, "How to buy GF grains for less?"
I was thinking that since the process of malting will do a good job of washing the grains we could maybe even settle for 'feed grain'. If so then we could probably buy grain for pennies on the pound. In my area I can buy Millet for $8 per 50 lbs sack, and Red Sorghum (Milo) for about $5 per 50 lbs sack.
Anybody know if feed grain can work for human consumption if better washed? Additionally do any of you know of good resources to get large sacks of other grains such as White Sorghum, Amaranth, Teff, or White Quinoa?