Grain storage

[retourrbx]

How do people store their grains? How long will crushed grains last for?

[Wez]

I've made good beer from grain 18 months old before. I wouldn't make a habit of keeping it that long though. It's fine for 6 months, just squash the air out of the inner blue sack (25kg bags), seal it with a bag clip, tie up the synthetic hessisan sacking and keep it in a dry place.

Away from mice

I was told to put it in a dark place thats dry and doesn't have much light, somewhere that it will be undisturbed or be moved around too much or generally disturbed.....i chose the bedroom but then again im married and we all know why brides are smiling on their way up the aisle.

[Wez]

by the way, try putting a blue plastic bag over your head followed by a plastic hessian sack, I bet you it's pretty dark in there

True...i've not tried, since the wedding we've calmed things down a little, you should be careful, that sounds like a dangerous game that you could end up on a register for!

[retourrbx]

I've made good beer from grain 18 months old before. I wouldn't make a habit of keeping it that long though. It's fine for 6 months, just squash the air out of the inner blue sack (25kg bags), seal it with a bag clip, tie up the synthetic hessisan sacking and keep it in a dry place.

Is that crushed grain?

[iowalad]

I store my uncrushed grain in clipped plastic bags that are kept in plastic bins. Try and keep them cool, dark but dry. Have only been doing this for a couple of months so will update as things progress.

[Frothy]

In a dustbin / Blue HDPE barrel with a reasonable fitted lid. keeps the mice out.

[Road Runner]

I get my grain crushed and in 3Kg bags (although I may be looking at a 25Kg sack of pale malt soon). I just squeeze as much air out as possible, tape the bag up & store all my different grains in a cool box (without the ice packs obviously) in a relatively cool place. I guess you could use your cool box mash tun for grain storage if you have one.

I've just recently used a load of grains in a brew that have been stored like that since about last August (9 months). And all was well.

[steve_flack]

Blue HDPE barrel with a reasonable fitted lid. keeps the mice out.

I've got three 60L HDPE drums. I buy my grain uncrushed - I do have time to crush it (I mean come on... it takes five minutes tops..the biggest impediment to crushing is the cost of a decent mill over here. The Barley Crusher is pretty reasonable - well under £100 including shipping from the states).

Personally I wouldn't want to store crushed grain over six months and I think even then it's not in tip top condition unless you've kept it very well. Yes, it will work and make a beer but just like stale bread will make a sandwich, fresh bread will make a nicer one.

But then again I'm a bit picky - I keep my hops in the freezer and dried yeast in the fridge...