Storing grain

[fbsf]

Hi all,

I'm thinking of going BIAB soon, and was thinking of buying grain in bulk (well, bulk for me) to save on shipping costs etc.

How long will a bag of grain (probably MO) last once opened? I will probably get through a 25kg bag in about 3 months - is that too long?

If so, I'll just buy smaller amounts and take the hit on postage.

 

[31bb3]

3 months is fine even 6 just keep it dry away from little critters

 

[Vossy1]

As for eddies advice. There are only 2 barley harvests a year, one in spring the other in winter, so malt is often up to 6 months old depending on time of year.

 

[fbsf]

Does the fact it's crushed make any difference to longevity?

 

[31bb3]

I always buy mine ready crushed

 

[Vossy1]

As for eddies advice. There are only 2 barley harvests a year, one in spring the other in winter, so malt is often up to 6 months old depending on time of year.

I'm sure I'm going senile :shock: :lol: ....that should read sewings...not harvests

Does the fact it's crushed make any difference to longevity?

Yes, it will lead to the grain oxidising a lot more quickly IIRC. This convo has cropped up before with some AG brewers using malt that's well over a year old without them being able to notice a difference. Apparently though judges can detect stale malt.

 

[fbsf]

Cheers for the advice - I don't think my palate is that advanced, so it would be cost effective for me to buy a sack every six months or so and just reseal it. Well worth knowing...

 

[Vossy1]

When you get the sack the grain should be in a tied plastic sack, within a plastic hessian type sack. It's always worth running your hand between the two all the way to the bottom and all the way around to make sure the inner sack isn't split...if it is replace it

 

[zgoda]

Uncrushed grains last for years if kept airtight. The solution: buy grain crusher. This was the single best investment in my whole homebrewing thing.