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Just did our first all grain brew last night, and I'm wondering what to do with 7.5 kg of mashed grain. Up to this brew, we just used some steeping grains and fired them in the green bin when done. What do I do with 7.5 kilos of it, though? Seems wasteful to chuck it. Does anyone use it/need it for compost, animal feed, etc.?

Congratulations on your first all grain brew!

You've nailed the most common places the grain ends up: compost, or green bin. Using it for baking projects, including dog treats and pizza crust and pretzels are awesome (Tim Gregory has nailed all three, I dare say), but do not require a lot of grain to get the point across, so most of the batch is still discarded. Most of us do not have animals that would eat the grain straight up, though many of the commercial breweries partner with farmers who will haul it away for free in exchange for the benefit of feeding their livestock for cheap/free. I suspect us homebrewers are too small potatoes to elicit a response from the farmers, or on a sporadic schedule.

I agree, it does seem wasteful, so maybe between the group of us, we could come up with a beneficial use for it.

Mine goes in the compost pile. Actually, since I just moved recently, spent grain IS my compost pile, mostly. I really should put some grass clippings or something in there.


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Green bin for me. Actually mine is half full of grain right now.
I tried composting it once... The flies were unreal in that heap.

Green bin here as well. Usually in a large compost able bag to cut down on the awful smell that develops after a few days.

Green bin. However I recently discovered my neighbour has chickens and 2 stupid fucking roosters. So might be able to help her out in exchange she gets rid of the roosters lol.

Keith wrote:Green bin. However I recently discovered my neighbour has chickens and 2 stupid fucking roosters. So might be able to help her out in exchange she gets rid of the roosters lol.

Oh no - roosters! That sucks! Chickens I can get behind.

We do live out in "the country" now, so fresh eggs would be nice... And we'd have lots of spent grain to feed 'em.

Green bin...100lbs of spent grain last time.

Lisa J wrote:

Keith wrote:Green bin. However I recently discovered my neighbour has chickens and 2 stupid fucking roosters. So might be able to help her out in exchange she gets rid of the roosters lol.

Oh no - roosters! That sucks! Chickens I can get behind.

We do live out in "the country" now, so fresh eggs would be nice... And we'd have lots of spent grain to feed 'em.

They don't ever shutup. Even during the night. I'd hate to be my neighbours right next to them.

I compost mine. I have a pretty healthy red wriggler colony in my compost and they go nuts for spend grain. A week after I dump in a batch I have a population explosion, and then they absolutely devour the pile!

The bulk of mine goes into the backyard composters. Some (wet) will go into bread. I also put some in small portions in freezer bags to use for later. I've also dried it in the oven and used it for bread as well.

My composter is full. I find if you turn it it doesn't smell.

Green bin the rest.

S

I did the dog cookies with the bone shaped treats...my dogs loved them. But it only required a little and hence most grain ends up in the green bin.

I make bagels with spent grains. But that only uses about two cups.

I'm out in the county and have a compost pile behind my fence out back and that is where it goes all summer. In the fall and all through the winter I spread it on the garden then in the spring I rototill it into the ground. Great for the veggies! I usually add the compost from the pile to the garden each spring as well and start a new pile for next year.

Sandy is right, if you turn it here and there it keeps the smell down to a minimum. It's a bit of work but definitely worth it in my opinion.

Living in the country, fling mine on the lawn/yard, birds/dogs/squirrels love it.

GAM wrote:My composter is full. I find if you turn it it doesn't smell.

Green bin the rest.

S

Get some red wrigglers in your compost. You will never keep up to them!

Where do you get them?

S

GAM wrote:Where do you get them?

S

...and what do you do with them - leave 'em in the compost pile to help it along, or transfer them directly to the gardens?

BTW - thanks for all the info. Looks like I'm going to need to start a compost pile and get me some chickens (but no rooster), worms, and maybe a dog, and get to work on baking some bread ;o)

And make lots more beer!

Cheers,
Lisa

spears104 wrote:Get some red wrigglers in your compost. You will never keep up to them!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2SBhu0303k" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

GAM wrote:Where do you get them?

S

I had bought my starter kit from The Worm Firm, here in Nova Scotia, but they don't seem to be active anymore.

If you are ever going through Port Hawkesbury, I can give you a coffe can full of compost, c/w worms. just dump the can of compost into yours and let them go to work. They will multiply and take over your compost heap. Mine always survivie the winter, although they were slow coming back a couple of times!

Lisa J wrote:

GAM wrote:Where do you get them?

S

...and what do you do with them - leave 'em in the compost pile to help it along, or transfer them directly to the gardens?

BTW - thanks for all the info. Looks like I'm going to need to start a compost pile and get me some chickens (but no rooster), worms, and maybe a dog, and get to work on baking some bread ;o)

And make lots more beer!

Cheers,
Lisa

Yes and yes. Just think of them as part of the soil. just don't take all of the compost out of the bin when you use it, so there will some worms left to repopulate.

Thanks.

S

Goes to the grain pile in the backyard - it is getting so big it will soon have its own postal code