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Although beer can - by definition - be made from any grain (Japanese sake, made from rice, is technically a beer and not a wine), barley is the basis of most Western-style beers. There are special styles that uses percentages of wheat, rye, oats, rice and corn as flavoring adjuncts, but barley is the heart and soul of beer.

Before barley (and most other grains) can be used in beer, they must be malted, which basically means germinated/sprouted in warm water. This develops enzymes which are later used to convert starches to sugar.

Here is a good article on malting your own grains in case you ever survive a nuclear war and really need to make beer in The Wasteland.

Main Street stocks many different types of grains; if you do not see one that you want or use, please do not hesitate to call or email - chances are we have it on stock, or have immediate access to it.

Price Guarantee: We will beat all local grain pricing by at least 10%. Bring in any lower local grain pricing into the store, and we will beat that price by 10% or more. One pound or 55-pound sacks, it doesn't matter. The more you buy, the more you save. (Certain conditions apply). Group buys welcome. Call the store for best bulk pricing available.

Malts and Grains

Name of Grain	Dominant Characteristic	Price per Pound
BASE MALTS
Great Western American 2-row malt	Clean, average malt, mid-modified, used by many brewers as an all-purpose grain	75 cents/pound $29.95/50 lbs
Great Western **ORGANIC** American 2-row malt	The organic form of 2-row. Better flavor, maybe? Better for the earth. No freakin' doubt. Not that much more expensive, either,	90 cents/pound $34.95/50 lbs
Great Western American Pacific Northwest Pale Ale malt	slightly darker than the regular American 2-row, this grain is great for any richer, maltier microbrew style that you are trying to produce. It has more of the malty, nutty English-style flavors, at a very economical American price.	75 cents/pound $29.95/50 lbs
Gambrinus (Canadian) Pale Malt	uses high percentage of Harrington malts, richer flavor than American - good taste and less expensive than imported	$1.15/pound $44.95/55 lbs
Gambrinus (Canadian) ESB Malt	slightly darker roast than the previous malt, this is meant for rich, full-bodied ESB's and IPA's, but can be used for any full-bodies malty beer	$1.15/pound $44.95/55 lbs
Hugh Baird (English) Pale Ale malt	true Maris Otter English malt - the Cadillac (or Mercedes Benz!) of pale malts, known for its rich bready,biscuit flavors	$1.15/pound $48.95/55 lbs
Crisp (English) Maris Otter Palemalt	another true supplier of Maris Otter pale malt - known for its rich, bready character - great for all English ales	$1.35/pound $51.95/55 lbs
Simpson's (Scottish) Golden Promise	a highly-requested, highly sought-after base malt -- it is finally available!! a very nutty tasting, rich malty hearty taste - great for dark beers, Scottish-styles, and ambers -- this is a very plump grain that should give you higher than normal extraction rates, as well as a tremedous flavor. Rumored to be used in Pelican Brewery, on the Oregon Coast.	$1.35/pound $54.95/55 lbs
German (Best Malz) Pilsner malt	a clean, malty crisp flavor, this is the classic grain for German-style pils, or any lager-like beer that you are trying to create.	$1.10/pound $41.95/55 lbs.
German (Weyermann) Pilsner malt	a clean, malty crisp flavor, this is the classic grain for German-style pils, or any lager-like beer that you are trying to create.	$1.15/pound $49.95/55 lbs.
Belgian/French (Malto-Franco Belges) *Pale* Malt	clean, crisp and malty -an all-purpose grain for those that do not like the breadiness of the English malts - this is almost mandatory for lagers and all clean, crisp ales	$1.10/pound $42.95/55 lbs.
Belgian (Castle) Pilsner Malt	The classic Belgian pilsner malt - used to be DWC before it was bought out by Castle. Excellent clean malt.	$1.15/pound $49.95/55 lbs.
WHEAT MALTS
Breiss American (domestic) Wheat Malt	good all-purpose white wheat malt - low to mid-modified, so it needs a protein rest for full proper conversion	75 cents/pound $29.95/50 lbs
Belgian/French (Malto Franco Belges) Wheat malt	a high-modified wheat malt that needs no protein rest! Need I say more??	Special Order
German (Best Malz) Wheat malt	mid-modified, but the true German wheat from the land that made wheat beers famous	$1.10/pound $44.95/55 lbs.

All of our Specialty Malts, listed below, are $1.50 per pound, imported or domestic. We round everything out to the same price to make it easier to get you through the check-out and make your life easier. But if you find a cheaper price on any grain anywhere in the Portland area, let us know - we will beat it by 10% guaranteed. One pound, ten pounds or fifty pounds - we will beat all local pricing by 10% (or more!) (Please see Kevin at the store for complete details...)

Fifty pound bags of Domestic Specialty Grains are $49.95.
Fifty-five pound bags of Imported Specialty Grains are $54.95.