Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Which sack of grain would you get  (Read 3273 times)

Offline sienabrewer

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 75
Which sack of grain would you get
« on: June 10, 2010, 10:42:49 am »
My LHBS is pretty new and the owner knows nothing about beer (he's a wine guy who started carrying beer products).  Most of what he has in there is the result of me telling him to get it.  His supplier is Crosby & Baker and he is unwilling to get grains from elsewhere.  What this means is he only gets Briess, Muntons, and Weyermann grains.  Last time I was in I bought a sack of Weyermann Pils because that is all he had a full sack of and I was lining up a number of light summer beers.  Well I kicked that bag and after not being overly impressed with the results I will not be buying it again.  I have never used Briess 2 row or Muntons Maris Otter.  Bries is $45 and Muntons $55.  If you had to pick between the two which would it be?  Neither of them is also an acceptable answer because I haven't yet ruled out ordering from North Country Malt and biting the bullet for shipping.  I'd just like to not spend the extra money if possible.  I am very particular about making the right choice because it's not as if I have a ton of cash to go around.  I like to brew a variety of American and British ales that fall in the pale ale or bitter category, and also do the occasional darker ale for the autumn season.  I'm trying to get him to place an order into NCM, even brought him the grain list, but he is just not having it.  I think he is setting himself up for failure, which is a shame because a lot of homebrewers in my area could keep his business going if he just got his act together and supplied himself with what we are asking for.

Offline babalu87

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 831
  • Grand Brewbah
Re: Which sack of grain would you get
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2010, 10:45:12 am »
If you didnt like the results with Weyerman Pils malt you need to look at your processes

That aside MO is a good malt
Jeff

On draught:
IIPA, Stout, Hefeweizen, Hallertau Pale Ale, Bitter

Primary:
Hefeweizen,Berliner Weisse, Mead

Offline bonjour

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1791
  • Troy, MI, 37mi, 60.9deg AR
Re: Which sack of grain would you get
« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2010, 11:01:13 am »
MO is the base malt for most of my beers

Fred
Fred Bonjour
Co-Chair Mashing in Michigan 2014 AHA Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan
AHA Governing Committee; AHA Conference, Club Support & Web Subcommittees



Everything under 1.100 is a 'session' beer ;)

Offline jeffy

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4222
  • Tampa, Fl
Re: Which sack of grain would you get
« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2010, 11:05:14 am »
I've always liked Wyerman Pils, but for English beers it's best to use Maris Otter.  Bries makes a nice malt called Malteurop, which I find gives good extract and flavor.
Jeff Gladish, Tampa (989.3, 175.1 Apparent Rennarian)
Homebrewing since 1990
AHA member since 1991, now a lifetime member
BJCP judge since 1995

Offline yugamrap

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 377
Re: Which sack of grain would you get
« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2010, 11:43:41 am »
I brew a number of German styles, and Weyermann pils is nice for those.  If American and English ales are what you brew most often, Maris Otter is a good choice, and Munton's is decent enough.  Briess 2-row is an okay base malt, but I think it can be a little lacking in character.  I usually end up adding some Biscuit, Munich, Victory or Vienna to get a bit more complexity than the plain Briess 2-row gives.  So If I were you, and had to pick just one, I'd probably go with the Munton's Maris Otter.
...it's liquid bread, it's good for you!

Offline sienabrewer

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 75
Re: Which sack of grain would you get
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2010, 11:52:40 am »
If you didnt like the results with Weyerman Pils malt you need to look at your processes

That aside MO is a good malt

Re-read my post.  Not that I didn't like them, but rather I was under-whelmed.  That combined with I don't make many beers with Pilsner malt (except around summer time) is why I will not be buying it this time.  I think MO is what I need to go with.  The question is whether Muntons MO is worth buying or paying extra for some T&F or Crisp.

Offline blatz

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3513
  • Paul Blatz - Jupiter, FL
Re: Which sack of grain would you get
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2010, 12:00:10 pm »
If you didnt like the results with Weyerman Pils malt you need to look at your processes

That aside MO is a good malt

Re-read my post.  Not that I didn't like them, but rather I was under-whelmed.  That combined with I don't make many beers with Pilsner malt (except around summer time) is why I will not be buying it this time.  I think MO is what I need to go with.  The question is whether Muntons MO is worth buying or paying extra for some T&F or Crisp.

FWIW - after using Best, Weyermann is underwhelming too  :o

Briess 2-row is also underwhelming, but serviceable.

I have used many, many sacks of Muntons, Baird, Crisp and Fawcett over the years, and IMO Muntons<Bairds<Fawcett<Crisp.  However, my malt supplier, NCM, doesn't carry Crisp, so I go with T&F.

I use it for almost all my ales and enjoy it.

Cheers!
The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

BJCP National: F0281

Offline weithman5

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1681
  • naperville, il
Re: Which sack of grain would you get
« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2010, 12:07:28 pm »
you could consider getting the 2-row and using it to make other specialty malts.  that said if you like the british ale types 10 extra bucks for the maris otter may be better suited for your needs
Don AHA member

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27093
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: Which sack of grain would you get
« Reply #8 on: June 10, 2010, 12:36:46 pm »

FWIW - after using Best, Weyermann is underwhelming too  :o

+ a billionty and eleven!  I've also found that it can have a "grassy" flavor.

Briess 2-row is also underwhelming, but serviceable.

+1

Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline bluesman

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8825
  • Delaware
Re: Which sack of grain would you get
« Reply #9 on: June 10, 2010, 12:38:33 pm »
MO is the base malt for most of my beers

Fred

+1

Gotta love MO!
Ron Price

Offline Hokerer

  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • ********
  • Posts: 2654
  • Manassas, VA
Re: Which sack of grain would you get
« Reply #10 on: June 10, 2010, 07:04:39 pm »
My LHBS (haha, that's actually the name) is in the same boat.  C&B only so Briess 2-row or Muntons MO.  I said forget it and ordered from North Country.  Even with shipping, saved some bucks.
Joe

Offline tygo

  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • ********
  • Posts: 2622
  • Sterling, VA
Re: Which sack of grain would you get
« Reply #11 on: June 10, 2010, 08:02:59 pm »
My LHBS (haha, that's actually the name) is in the same boat.  C&B only so Briess 2-row or Muntons MO.  I said forget it and ordered from North Country.  Even with shipping, saved some bucks.

The last (and first) time I was there I thought he said he carried Golden Promise as well.  I was thinking of trying that out next if he has it once my MO sack is gone.
Clint
Wort Hogs

Offline schuyler

  • 1st Kit
  • *
  • Posts: 1
Re: Which sack of grain would you get
« Reply #12 on: June 11, 2010, 12:15:04 pm »
I wish MyLHBS would post what they have and a price list.  He has a list of grains on a board behind the register, but he said that it wasn't accurate anymore as stuff comes and goes in his inventory.  I'd much rather be able to browse what's available and at what prices than play 20 questions with him.  I can only get over there on Saturdays, and it's _busy_ then.

Offline maxieboy

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1155
  • Mid MI
Re: Which sack of grain would you get
« Reply #13 on: June 11, 2010, 01:42:47 pm »
+1

Gotta love MO!

Yup. My "go to" malt...
A dog can show you more honest affection with a flick of his tail than a man can gather through a lifetime of handshakes." Gene Hill

[47.7, 310.8] AR

AHA Member

Offline wilypig

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 94
Re: Which sack of grain would you get
« Reply #14 on: June 11, 2010, 07:24:36 pm »
Of the 3 MO is by far the choice in my book. It was my base for everything I did for years until my LHBS turned me on to Golden Promise. I go through 3-4 sacks of GP a year. If I am doing styles that use pils malt I usually go 50/50 GP to Pils on these. Mostly Belgian styles but some German ales.
If you can make mac and cheese from a box, you can make great beer.
Weiz Guys Homebrew club Loveland CO
Wilypig Fermentation Specialties