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Post by Megary on Feb 2, 2024 7:22:48 GMT -6
I've never purchased a "sack" of malt. What is that...50lbs? Storage issues aside, as a 2.5gal brewer, 50lbs of just one base grain would last me far too long. I buy 90% of the grain I use direct from Deer Creek Malthouse in PA. They are obviously a "craft" maltster, which, as far as I can tell, is just a nice way to say "small" . I know I am going to pay more for their malt than if I were to buy from the big boys on MoreBeer or some place like that. As an example, I just ordered 40.5lbs of 8 different malts (base and specialty) from DC and with the cost of shipping, it ran me $130.00. That's $3.20/pound. Expensive compared to say, Briess? Sure. Supporting the local guy only goes so far and if the malt was just so-so, I wouldn't pay the higher price. But DC's quality is A1 excellent. As a side note, I could have purchased the same grain from Keystone Homebrew and would have received free shipping, saving me ≈$20-25. While I have nothing but good things to say about KH, I have always felt that ordering direct from Deer Creek has guaranteed me the freshest malt possible. Does Deer Creek have pick up at the malt house available? The more you mention it, the more I wanna try it. Next time I head to Keystone, I may pick up 10 or so lbs to a test batch. They do. And they have pick up at a bunch of farmers markets scattered throughout SE PA. www.deercreekmalt.com/farmers-markets/Probably best to get in touch with DC and set something up. Good people. I'm sure you are aware, but did you see that Keystone moved?
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Post by Leftympfrmde on Feb 2, 2024 12:01:43 GMT -6
Does Deer Creek have pick up at the malt house available? The more you mention it, the more I wanna try it. Next time I head to Keystone, I may pick up 10 or so lbs to a test batch. They do. And they have pick up at a bunch of farmers markets scattered throughout SE PA. www.deercreekmalt.com/farmers-markets/Probably best to get in touch with DC and set something up. Good people. I'm sure you are aware, but did you see that Keystone moved? Yeah, saw Keystone moved a couple weeks ago. Actually planning a road trip with some guys with the brew club to check it out. Going to hit up tired hands, pinocchios pizza, lavante, and sidebar and grill with a DD.
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Post by gusso on Feb 6, 2024 14:16:09 GMT -6
Deer Creek seems to be about an hour from my brother's house. Next time I drive up that way, I think I'll grab a couple of sacks. The prices don't look bad.
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Post by Leftympfrmde on Feb 6, 2024 23:49:49 GMT -6
Deer Creek seems to be about an hour from my brother's house. Next time I drive up that way, I think I'll grab a couple of sacks. The prices don't look bad. Decided to look up the malthouse address. It's a half over drive from the front door. Looks like the next time I need a bag of malt, looks like a short day trip
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joed
New Member
We are the people our parents warned us about!
Posts: 36
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Post by joed on Feb 7, 2024 8:05:27 GMT -6
I've never purchased a "sack" of malt. What is that...50lbs? Storage issues aside, as a 2.5gal brewer, 50lbs of just one base grain would last me far too long. I buy 90% of the grain I use direct from Deer Creek Malthouse in PA. I ordered a half sack of Deer Creek Dutch (their version of Munich I) directly from their site to try out, after seeing their malts on Keystone's site a lot. Then I bought 10 lbs of their Double Dutch (Dark Munich) from Keystone. And I have used small amounts of their First Crack (melanoidin) malt. I really liked the flavor of those malts. Used both in a Dunkles Bock several months back and the beer was fantastic, so good, that I am brewing it again for this year's NHC. No longer have a LHBS near me here in Mass, so I order from Keystone a lot, may have to check out some other Deer Creek malts.
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Post by Megary on Feb 7, 2024 12:38:01 GMT -6
I've never purchased a "sack" of malt. What is that...50lbs? Storage issues aside, as a 2.5gal brewer, 50lbs of just one base grain would last me far too long. I buy 90% of the grain I use direct from Deer Creek Malthouse in PA. I ordered a half sack of Deer Creek Dutch (their version of Munich I) directly from their site to try out, after seeing their malts on Keystone's site a lot. Then I bought 10 lbs of their Double Dutch (Dark Munich) from Keystone. And I have used small amounts of their First Crack (melanoidin) malt. I really liked the flavor of those malts. Used both in a Dunkles Bock several months back and the beer was fantastic, so good, that I am brewing it again for this year's NHC. No longer have a LHBS near me here in Mass, so I order from Keystone a lot, may have to check out some other Deer Creek malts. I love the flavor profile from both of their Munich malts as well. While I would recommend any of their stuff, I'd give a special shout out to both their Twilight Wheat (8.5L, has an interesting almond/nutty thing going on) and Pale Spelt (light and earthy, boosts foam, and a mainstay in my Saisons and Pales/IPA's. I consider it a more flavorful option than Pale Wheat). I just picked up some of their Buckwheat, but I honestly have no idea what to do with it yet. Wouldn't mind taking a peek at that Bock recipe...sounds delicious.
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Post by Ken on Feb 7, 2024 17:03:56 GMT -6
Some of these malt names remind me of what Swaen does. They don't call it by the name we all know (Vienna, Munich Light, Munich Dark, etc). They have names like GoldSwaen or SmoothSwaen or CrispSwaen and then you have to read the spec sheet and try to figure out what the hell they're trying to sell you.
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joed
New Member
We are the people our parents warned us about!
Posts: 36
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Post by joed on Mar 5, 2024 8:33:28 GMT -6
I ordered a half sack of Deer Creek Dutch (their version of Munich I) directly from their site to try out, after seeing their malts on Keystone's site a lot. Then I bought 10 lbs of their Double Dutch (Dark Munich) from Keystone. And I have used small amounts of their First Crack (melanoidin) malt. I really liked the flavor of those malts. Used both in a Dunkles Bock several months back and the beer was fantastic, so good, that I am brewing it again for this year's NHC. No longer have a LHBS near me here in Mass, so I order from Keystone a lot, may have to check out some other Deer Creek malts. I love the flavor profile from both of their Munich malts as well. While I would recommend any of their stuff, I'd give a special shout out to both their Twilight Wheat (8.5L, has an interesting almond/nutty thing going on) and Pale Spelt (light and earthy, boosts foam, and a mainstay in my Saisons and Pales/IPA's. I consider it a more flavorful option than Pale Wheat). I just picked up some of their Buckwheat, but I honestly have no idea what to do with it yet. Wouldn't mind taking a peek at that Bock recipe...sounds delicious. Megary, the Dunkel Bock recipe was as follows: 37.3% Deer Creek Dutch 37.2% Deer Creek Double Dutch 19.5% Barke Pils 03.0% Melanoidin 02.0% Caramunich II 01.0% Carafa Special II 22 IBU Magnum at 60 5 IBU Mitt at 15 WLP833 1.070 OG 21 SRM Step Mash at 130F, 155F and MO at 172 I thought it was very tasty and crushable for 6.9% beer, thought it was at high end of color range. Deer Creek says Double Dutch max usage is 30%, so I kind of pushed that over the limit some. Entered it in two comps, where it scored a 38 for a bronze at Bluegrass and a 35 at Operation Fermentation. I am brewing it again, but this time I am dropping the Double Dutch and using a blend of Barke Munich and Dutch, which lowers by SRM from 21 to 18.
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