Grain shelf life

[col]

Hello, noob kid on the block, just made
First all grain brew, and decided that this is the way to go. I found a source of bulk grain who will mill at no extra cost, and they say the grain will last ok once milled if I store it correctly.
Others have said I should only mill on the day I brew.
I know I should eventually buy my own mill, but at this stage id rather spend the cash on 100kg of grain.
Question is... How long can milled grain be stored before brewing?

 

[ehedge20]

Do not mill the grain until you are ready to brew. I have been buying bulk for some time and If you keep it in an air tight container it can last for a year at least as I am just now finishing my last bit of Pils from last year. It smells okay although not as strong as the fresh stuff but the taste is unaltered. If I were going to brew a Pilsner I would probably use my fresh new bag but otherwise its good to go.

 

[col]

Thanks.
I guess I could VAC PAC it, and fridge it. Even milled this should be good for a couple of months. Right?

 

[CidCitrus]

i think i read somewhere that milled should last two weeks, but i'm also curious about this.

 

[william_shakes_beer]

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[Mindhop]

Buy a mill! Your crush will be better, fresh and a pretty cool feeling when when it is grinding. You can't trust someone else's mill. Buy a mill!

 

[Yooper]

Thanks.
I guess I could VAC PAC it, and fridge it. Even milled this should be good for a couple of months. Right?

If you froze it, maybe. I wouldn't go more than a few days, though, with milled grain if I could help it. Uncrushed, the grain can easily last a year or more.

 

[ehedge20]

Vacuum sealing is great, there is no need to put it in the fridge or freeze it. Just store it in a cool dry place. Milled grain will not last as long in the open air so make sure to vac pack it. I do this only when I have to as fresh milled grain is the best. With the savings up bulk you will pay for that grain mill in no time.

 

[ETOHonboard]

In my limited all grain experience, I had milled grains in a refridgerator for two weeks and then brewed. Everything turned out good but I don't think I would go any longer than that. My LHBS also agreed that two weeks should be max for milled grains.

 

[cockybitz]

I've had grain in my dry, 50* basement, nothing more than wrapped tightly in opened plastic bags. I brewed with it 6 months later. The beer tasted great.

 

[ChemE]

Please make sure that you update this thread as you brew with it since this is a very often asked question. I have no experience brewing with old crushed grain since I bought a Barley Crusher right away when I switched to AG, but I just did a Munich Saaz SMaSH with 2 year old Munich malt and achieved 86% brewhouse efficiency and the gravity samples taste awesome.

 

[ThreeDogsNE]

I picked up a cheap chest freezer through Craigslist. I try to at least cycle all of my grain through there to kill anything in the bag that might be living. If I have room I just leave it in there. I can get a few sacks in there, plus lots of specialty grains, and all of my hops. I have some Munich I've been using a pound or two at a time for the past 3 years. The brews still turn out well.

 

[H-ost]

If you're in my area I will mill it for you heh.

Call your LHBS and see if they allow people to use their mill without their grain. I know my LHBS lets people come in with their own grain bill and use the mill... it kinda helps with keeping good customers.

 

[H-ost]

PLUS!

If you are only buying a base malt in bulk you will still need to go somewhere to buy the specialty grain, you may be able to mill it all yourself with their mill.

 

[LuiInIdaho]

Buy a mill! Your crush will be better, fresh and a pretty cool feeling when when it is grinding. You can't trust someone else's mill. Buy a mill!

I only buy my base grains in bulk. I bought a mill precisely so that I could help keep the base grains without having to worry about milled grains losing their flavor. The mill has paid off; all to often I am not able to immediately brew with the specialty grains that I buy for my beers. So, I always mill my grains on the day that I am brewing. It works great.

Mark