Shared bulk hops purchasing

[Kelly Milligan]

With hops season just around the corner, thought I'd see if anyone else is keen to do some bulk hops purchaing :)

Once we start getting the rad varieties back in stock I'd love to pick up a few 1KG packs of several varieties and split them two or three ways to bring costs and volumes down. Works out to be about 50-60% cost compared to buying 100g packs. I'd be really keen for some Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, Riwaka, and Southern Cross.

If some arrangement like this already exists, would like to get in on it! 

Cheers,
K 

[Smiffy]

Once the vacuum pack is opened, you would need to refrigerate or freeze the hops to have any chance of them keeping. So it might work if you find a few local people who want to share.

Smiffy

[Kelly Milligan]

Yea I was thinking about that.. I freeze all my hops once they're opened anyway but if I'm storing 300-500g of each, would probably need to look at re-vaccing them somehow. 

[mattd2]

How much do you think you will get the 1kg packs for, and where from? Are they cone or pellets?

[Kelly Milligan]

I think Bill at thatbeerplace.com can get the 1kg packs at about $33 - $49 per KG depending on the variety. I'm guessing he gets them directly from NZ Hops (if that's how it works.. not sure)? I'd say pellets rather than cones, although I remember reading somewhere that you can get any variety in cone form in 1KG packs or more, not sure where that was though ;P 

[Smiffy]

Two weeks ago I got a 1kg bag of Cascade pellets via the Lower Hutt home-brew shop, and that cost $56.90, but that is covering the postage cost from NZ hops. If Bill is collecting from NZ Hops, he will be able to supply them cheaper, but you will still have to pay for shipping from him.

[Ralph]

I find buying from Liberty to be reasonable if you get the 250g packs. I.e. NZ Cascade is $15.30 for $250. 

It is probably still cheaper again to buy the 1kg packs, and some varieties I would probably use a kg or so over the year. Can anyone buy the 1kg packs or do you have to know someone there?

[Kelly Milligan]

Hmmm i didn't realize Liberty sold 250g packs, how are they packaged? That seems like really good value if you can get 250g for $14-$18. 

[Ralph]

Just packed into a zip lock bag... so nothing terribly flash. No barrier or vac packing going on, but you can always do that repack when they arrive if you want to keep some of them longer?

[mattd2]

Brewers coop also do it like this, they got NZ hops between $4.5 - $8 per 100g, most are arond the $6 mark. And you can get however much you want.

[Mike Neilson]

Support your local homebrew store!! How can they improve if you dont support them? How cheap do you need to make your own beer?

[Kelly Milligan]

Very fair point! Maybe I just feel bad about how much I've spent on kit lately, need to make it up somehow ;)

[martin w]

djsbrewingsupply.co.nz and liberty are pretty good for hop prices, other outfits are a bit more expensive.one south island shop charges $11 for a 100g of n hallertau which i find a bit steep when i can get a kilo from nz hops for $22 or a kg of imported fuggle for $38.

we generally buy a kg of a few the varieties we use the most and share them between us and buy smaller quantities of lesser used varieties from a homebrew store as i want them.