Gambrinus
Rahr
Briess
CMC (Canada Malting)
Great Western

I have only used Briess and from what I hear it isn't the best. So in my journey to become the best I can, and have the best beer I can, I am thinking of changing brands.

Can you give me your experiences with these brands. I can get Gambrinus, CMC, and Great Western at a pretty good rate going in on a group grain buy.

One of the ones I really would like feedback on is CMC's Pale Malt. I can get it for $25/bag. The others average around $35/bag.

Your insight is greatly appreciated!

Mike

I use GW pale and regular domestic 2row .. because its cheap and i like it

Gw also makes a good Pilsen malt

You forgot my most Important...

Munton's suck's I will never ever pay $70.00 a bag for Munton's...
Not when I can get 2 bags of Thomas Fawcett for $120.00.....

I've used Breiss malts...
But, Halcyon and Maris Otter rock....

CMC is good stuff. I've used many sacks of it.

*sigh* The cheapest I can get around here is Briess and besides a little Maris Otter now and then it is all I use.

Jason,

Can you still score the $45.00 MO Sacks your area?
If you haven't check this one out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MABIJYtS7wU

i really like the canada malting products. the pale ale is excellent, the standard 2-row is good (especially for the price) and actually their pils malt is damn good. imho, the product is better than briess and less expensive...

Rahr is very good too. I've used some and the great Denny Conn has used a bunch of it.

I give Great Western Northwest Pale Ale 2 big thumbs up. Slightly drier and a little more color. I get it @ $33 per 50#

I prefer the Rahr Pale Ale Malt, but the price has doubled in the last 3 years or so.
I was not impressed with CMC Pale Ale Malt. I would really like to try Great Western Pale Ale Malt, and Great Western North West Pale Ale Malt, as well as Cargill Special Pale Ale Malt. Anyone care to comment on those?

GW is an awesome Malt...

I've had sweet nice malt Ale's from that...
Not mashed myself, But surely nice

GW both Pale and 2-Row.... It's what B3 has in bulk and it's cheap...

When I get a new stove I'll try my hand at toasting some malt to see what we get...

I like Rahr and Great Western. I cannot honestly tell a bit of difference in brews where I sub one for the other. Both of them are inexpensive and good products, I buy what is available at the time I make my grain purchase for the best price (inc. shipping/taxes, etc) and would continue to use either one interchangeably.

I've never had the opportunity to try a Bries base grain. I've only seen their crystal malts, etc.. Then again maybe I haven't looked.

I'm cool with GW and Rahr though. I use those as my base for most brews unless I'm making ESB, RIS, or BW....

Z

I get Durst Pils for $45.00 a 55Lb sack...

I don't know why ...

What makes a bag of Grain worth $45.00?

Has anyone used CMC? Had any good results?

Their malt is cheap, is it one of those "you get what you pay for" things? Or is CMC cheap because they are such a big company?

Would Gambrinus be a better choice? I brew a lot of English style beers and I keep hearing that I should be using UK Pale Ale Malt, or Maris Otter, however I also hear that Pale Ale Malt is Pale Ale Malt. Could someone else shed some light?

Thanks again for all of the posts.

Mike

IIRC I pay like 32.00 plus sales tax for GW or Rahr... Maybe 25 bucks. But never over 35.

I use the Pale Ale Malt in sub of MO. Not exactly the same but closer than domestic 2-row and just as cheap.

So have you used these brands, and do you suggest one over the other?

Price for me... I get 2-Row and Pale Ale Malt both GW for only 50 cents dif per sack.

Yeah, I can get CMC (Domestic) Pale Ale for $25/bag.

Gambrinus (Domestic)would cost me about $35/bag.

Bairds (UK) is about $31/bag.

I can get Maris Otter for $39/bag from Fawcett's.

I guess none of these prices if you look at what you would pay at a LHBS. However, I would like to get the best malt possible for the lowest price.

Looking to buy 3 bags, so maybe I should get one Domestic Pale, one UK Pale, and one Maris Otter. What do you think?

I am sure I could use them interchangeably if necessary, however, I would like to try them out as well.

Mike

Jeff and BB seem to like the CMC malt. I would too at 25 pesos a bag. Thats what I would use as a base and maybe get a bag of one of the others to supplement it if you want.

I wish Fawcetts was that cheap here. Closer to 70 bucks for their MO here.

The only reason I am getting such a good deal is because a few buddies and I are ordering a little over 1000#'s of grain/hops from North Country Malt.

Cheers!

sweet deal for you!

Their MO is my fave.

Take advantage of that deal.

I plan to, hence my questions on every forum I know.

I am thinking two bags of Fawcett's, one bag of Baird's Pale Ale, and one bag of CMC Pale Ale.

What do you think? Should I go ahead and buy as much as I can store?

Mike

" Should I go ahead and buy as much as I can store?"

Yup, because when you run out before your buddies do, you'll be pissed.

I tend to 'stockpile' so I'm not a good adviser. But I don't think that two bags of TFMO would be a bad thing to have around the house. Esp at that price. I like ESB and prefer it when made with TFMO so that would be a no-brainer for me.

The other mfgrs, I have not used so I cannot make a valid comment regarding them.

So two bags of Fawcett and two bags of some domestic, now which one??????????

Okay, so it's Gambrinus for $35/bag or CMC for $25/bag...

Someone please speak up if you have used either of these brands and let me know what your thoughts on them are!

CMC

I agree with my Texas brother..

Guys I'm still awake...

I like to use Briess, just because I like to stick with the same brand all the time.
I've also used Cargill, and I didn't notice any difference, other than it made me kind of nervous wondering if the results would be the same.

I've used lots of GW 2-row and pale malt. Good malt.

I also use Muntons MO and Weyermann pils, bopils, vienna, and munich. The only one I dislike at times is the Weyermann pilsner.

So I am thinking of buying two 55 lb bags of CMC's Pale Ale Malt. Barring any objections, with reasons, from you guys the order goes in today. Also going to order two bags of Baird's Pale Ale Malt.

One last question. Do you think Domestic and UK Pale Ale is pretty much interchangeable?\

Mike