Brew Pub Grain

[Oosik]

We have several brew pubs in our area that use whole grain barley and wheat for making the beer. Has anyone used the spent grain?

Much of the nutrition has probably been used up in making the beer, but I imagine my chickens would eat it (they eat everything).

Has anyone cracked the code on getting spent grain? What is your approach to the brew pubs?

 

[SC_John]

I'm a professional brewer so I thought I would chime in even though this is an old thread. As far as hops go.... Most spent grain you get will not include hops. Grain is used in the mash. After that the liquid is separated off the grain and moved to a different vessel for boiling. Hops are added at this stage. Some brewers will use hops in their mash but it is pretty rare and only for certain beer styles. Most breweries also give away trub to farmers. Trub is the solids left over after boiling. This is going to contain little to no grain but lots of hops. From my limited research, a little bit of hops can be beneficial for the chickens, but I would stay away from feeding them straight trub unless it's mixed in with the spent grain.

As far as getting spent grains from a brewery.... as others have noted, spent grain gets gross quick. Most breweries aren't going to want to have to wait around for a bunch of small-scale farmers to come pick up grains. Most have contracts with larger farms that come on a regular basis with a big truck to haul everything away at once. It's easier for the brewery to do this than coordinate many pickups. That being said, every brewery is different so it can't hurt to ask. Your best bet is to stop by during the day before they are open. If they are brewing that day and you catch them at the right time, they'll probably let you take a bucket or two of spent grain. If a brewery does give you spent grain, bring them some fresh eggs. It will go a long way with creating that relationship.

 

[B0BBYJ]

I brew my own beer and my chickens love the spent grain. I bag it in 1 gallon freezer bags and keep it refrigerated or freeze it. During the hot Texas summer, I would cut the bag off a big ball of spent grain. It was a big grain Popsicle for my 4 birds. See the birds in action below.

 

[wombat]

digitS' :

There are "dried" and "wet" versions of the spent grain. And yes, as jhm47 says, the proteins are pretty much all there.

One problem, as best I understand, is that the hops are also there. Hops aren't in distillery or ethanol grain, just from beer making. Cattle will only eat so much of the feed because of the bitterness of the hops. I am really curious if this is an issue at all with poultry. They may care less if the grain is a little bitter . . .

The poultry specialists only recommend it at 5% of the total ration.

Steve

I brew my own beer, and the chickens like the spent grain. I've never had an issue with them turning their beaks up at it for having hops, either. If you are getting wet grain, I'd be careful to feed only what they will use. I suspect it could get moldy quickly if you left a lot of uneaten wet grain sitting about.​

 

[TheGreenManFarm]

I'm a professional brewer so I thought I would chime in even though this is an old thread. As far as hops go.... Most spent grain you get will not include hops. Grain is used in the mash. After that the liquid is separated off the grain and moved to a different vessel for boiling. Hops are added at this stage. Some brewers will use hops in their mash but it is pretty rare and only for certain beer styles...

As far as getting spent grains from a brewery.... Your best bet is to stop by during the day before they are open. If they are brewing that day and you catch them at the right time, they'll probably let you take a bucket or two of spent grain. If a brewery does give you spent grain, bring them some fresh eggs. It will go a long way with creating that relationship.

Seriously, thank you dude. I was reading through this old thread because I plan to begin brewing my own beer, hard cider & mead (super small scale haha) this Autumn. I was sort of thinking hops shouldn't be an issue at the mash stage, but you cleared that up brilliantly. Totes agreement with the establishment of an actual reciprocal, sustainable, local relationship with a brewery (or any other local business for that matter) by being friendly, flexible, and exercising gratitude with the fresh eggs. Just a great mentality to practice and it was great to see posted. Again, thank you!

 

[jhm47]

I live near an ethanol plant that uses corn. The byproduct is excellent feed for cattle, and my chickens and peafowl love it. The only nutrient that is removed in the fermentation/distillation process is the carbohydrates (starch), and the oils and proteins are still there. The proteins are actually made more available to the animals, since the yeast changes them to more easily digested forms.

 

[vtara16]

do you actually go to them and ask if you can have it? how did they respond?

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Our feed store mixes their own feed, and they include the spent brewers grain - and my chickens love it

(the calves chow down pretty well, too.)

Not sure how to get it on your own.

meri

 

[digitS']

There are "dried" and "wet" versions of the spent grain. And yes, as jhm47 says, the proteins are pretty much all there.

One problem, as best I understand, is that the hops are also there. Hops aren't in distillery or ethanol grain, just from beer making. Cattle will only eat so much of the feed because of the bitterness of the hops. I am really curious if this is an issue at all with poultry. They may care less if the grain is a little bitter . . .

The poultry specialists only recommend it at 5% of the total ration.

Steve

 

[crzychknluvr]

I have a brewery and a distillery close by this is great knowledge. So distillery grain would be OK also (in moderation)?