System and method for drying and milling spent grain into flour

A method for drying and milling spent grain, comprising:

• a) acquiring a quantity of spent grain from a brewer's mash tun;
• b) placing the quantity of spent grain into a food-safe gravity drainage container, the food-safe gravity drainage container being configured for removing a first volume of moisture from the spent grain by action of gravity;
• c) transferring the quantity of spent grain from the food-safe gravity drainage container into a mechanical press, the mechanical press being configured to mechanically remove a second volume of moisture from the spent grain;
• d) transferring the quantity of spent grain from the mechanical press to a thermal drying device, the thermal drying device employing heated air moving across the spent grain within the thermal drying device, the thermal drying device further employing vibration to fluidize the spent grain within the thermal drying device, wherein a combination of the heated air and vibration enables removal of a third volume of moisture from the spent grain;
• e) collecting the quantity of spent grain from the thermal drying device to a food-safe cooling container;
• f) exhausting, via a conduit associated with the thermal drying device, the heated air from the thermal drying device to a separator;
• g) separating, via the separator, particles of spent grain present in the heated air that is exhausted from the thermal drying device;
• h) exhausting, via a conduit associated with the separator, the heated air from the separator to a dust collector, wherein the dust collector is configured to move the heated air via a vacuum, wherein the movement of the heated air equalizes air flow generated by the thermal drying device;
• i) collecting, in a food-safe holding container, the particles of spent grain separated from the heated air by the separator;
• j) transferring the particles of spent grain to the thermal drying device to continue drying the particles of spent grain;
• k) collecting, in the food-safe cooling container, the particles of spent grain from the thermal drying device;
• and
• 1) transferring the spent grain from the food-safe cooling container to a mill, wherein the mill is configured to mechanically reduce a size of individual grains in the quantity of spent grain such that the reduction in size of individual grains produces spent grain flour.