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?

 

[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)?

 

[origami.bullets]

The city farm I work on uses it for pigs (they love it!). It comes wet, and has to be used up moderately quickly, but any that doesn't get used up can be composted. I would imagine that it could be used for other animals, although we don't.

We get it donated, although I'm not sure if this is because it is a waste product as far as the brewery is concerned, or because we are a charity.

 

[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.​

 

[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.

 

[City farm]

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?

I know it's been a while since you started this tread.. But, we did approch our local brewery,
Four Peeks in Tempe.. The absoulutly suck at responding.. 3 emails & 2 face to face.. No go for us here in Tempe.. All though we still go there & like their beer..