Stocking Up

[mikec]

OK I have most of my processes right now for BIAB full size batches. I've got step mashing happening and sparging working to a degree. I am going to play with a few concepts for bucket in a pot with recirculation, but that's for another thread.

I'm brewing enough (at least once a month) that I figure it's time to bulk purchase a few ingredients so that I don't end up paying $40-$50 for every brew. The idea being also to have enough at home that I could brew "on a whim" without ordering anything new, and paying for freight every time! I don't mind substituting hops with something similar if it means using up what I already have.

I picked up some base grain the other week and am now putting together a shopping list for spec malts, yeast and hops. Let me know how it looks. It's possible I'm doubling up on things that could be substitutes for each other, or am missing something commonly used.

I mostly brew ales (Coopers, Fat Yak), belgian dubbels/trippels (Leffe), weissens (Franziskaner) & wits (Hoegaarden), and the occasional porter or stout. Also going to do a golden ale (Smurtos) and an Asahi style lager for summer.
I'm not into super hoppy beers (although I am acquiring a taste) and am yet to do an IPA - any suggestions for something not too mind-blowing welcome!


I have already "in stock":

Base grain:
Pilsner 25kg
Ale 10kg
Wheat 10kg

Hops:
Hallertau Mittelfru
Styrian Goldings
Czech Saaz
POR
Perle
East Kent Goldings
Willamette
Cascade
US Saaz

Yeast:
WY3068 Weissen
WY3787 Trappist
WY1098 British Ale
Coopers recultured
WB-06 Wheat

Other:
Whirlfloc & gelatine finings
LDME, Dextrose
Going to make some candi sugar for the belgians
All the bits to make a stir plate
All the cleaning stuff I need
Plenty of plastic storage containers
An obscene amount of random crap


The shopping list:

Fermentables (500g unless specified):
Vienna 2kg
Munich I 5kg
Marris Otter 5kg
Torrified Wheat 5kg
Flaked Oats 1kg
Rye 1kg
Acidulated
Aromatic / Melanoidin (are these basically the same?)
Caraamber
Caraaroma
Caramalt
Caramunich I
Carapils / carafoam / carahell (basically the same?)
Carared
Choc malt
Crystal medium
Crystal Dark
Roasted barley

Hops:
Nelson Sauvin

Yeast:
WY1272 American Ale II
WY2007 American lager
WY3944 Belgian Witbier
US-05
W-34/70
T-58
Nottingham
S-33
(what I'm going for here is liquids for the next few planned brews, and a set of dried yeasts to have on hand for future impulse brews or as a backup)

Other:
Rice Hulls
Craftbrewer open hanging style hopsock (I don't think I'm getting good results out of the existing sock - not enough water passing through the hops)
A mill! Thinking **** it, go for the Millmaster Minimill and be done with it. Will need to build a decent size hopper for it.


After that if I'm hoping to spend less money on setting myself up, and more time on making beer!

 

[Logman]

Going to need some Amarillo for your DrSmurto's GA

 

[mikec]

Going to need some Amarillo for your DrSmurto's GA

Was going to sub with Cascade.

 

[white.grant]

1kg of rye? That's not enough get 3.

I used to be a rice hulls fanboy until someone suggested I make a tea out of them at mash temp and see how I liked it. I didn't.

 

[Maheel]

Was going to sub with Cascade.

Works well.

Do u have a mill?

 

[Florian]

Works well.

Do u have a mill?

It's on his shopping list.

 

[Midnight Brew]

I've never used any of these malts but this is how I interperated the cara series that craftbrewer stocks. In which if this is correct you medium and dark crystals are in this list somewhere.

Carared ebc 40-50 light malt adds a deep red colour
Caraamber ebc 60-80 crystal malt
Caramunich I ebc 80-100 crystal malt
Caramunich II ebc 110-130 crystal malt
Caramunich III ebc 140-160 crystal malt
Carabohemian ebc 170-220 dark golden brown amberish malt
Caraaroma ebc 350-450 very dark red colour and aroma
Carafa Special II ebc 1100-1200 smooth dark dehusked roasted barley

Im sure this can be corrected as this is just how I read them.

 

[Maheel]

It's on his shopping list.

Arrrr I sea it now.

Mini Is a fine mill

 

[brettprevans]

Search grain comparison by citymorgue2. You'll find a grain comparison chart. Great ref material for seeing what's similar/same.

Edit 3Kg rye isn't enough. Half sack. Or ok realistically if ur not a rye nut, 6kg

 

[white.grant]

Edit 3Kg rye isn't enough. Half sack. Or ok realistically if ur not a rye but, 6kg

That's much better :super:

 

[mikec]

Search grain comparison by citymorgue2. You'll find a grain comparison chart. Great ref material for seeing what's similar/same.

Edit 3Kg rye isn't enough. Half sack. Or ok realistically if ur not a rye nut, 6kg

Found them! Thanks CM2, these are very helpful. Will redress my list tomorrow when I'm, err, less imbibed.

For anyone else, CM2's grain guide / comparisons are here (assume this is OK citymorgue2):

View attachment grain_guide.xls
View attachment grain_comparison.xls

 

[mikec]

Alright, order done!
The price sure adds up when you're buying that much at once...
But I should never ever have to buy anything ever again. Right?

Finally settled on

Spec grains:
Vienna 2kg
Munich I 5kg
Marris Otter 5kg
Torrified Wheat 5kg
Flaked Oats 1KG
Rye 2.5kg
Acidulated
Aromatic / Melanoidin
Caraamber
Caraaroma
Caramunich I
Carahell
Carared
Carafa Special T3
Choc malt pale
Caramunich III
Roasted Barley

Hops:
Nelson Sauvin

Other:
Rice Hulls 1kg

Yeast:
US-05 x 2
S-23 x 2
T-58
Danstar Windsor
Danstar Munich
WY1272 American Ale II
WY2007 American lager
WY3944 Belgian Witbier

And the super-bling Minimill.

I think I need a bigger house. And a man-cave.