Basement vs garage storage for grain

[Ironbike1]

I just purchased a house and now am stuck wondering if I should store my grain in the basement where it stays around 55-60 degrees yr round or in the garage. There basement is dry but has a little moisture which I'm going to try to eliminate with a dehumidifier?
Thanks

 

[Peruvian802]

Which one has fewer mice?

 

[Ironbike1]

Haven't seen any signs of mice in either

 

[hio3791]

I brew in my garage but I used to keep my grains in the basement. Then I got tired of carrying them up. I keep my opened sacks in 5 gal food-safe buckets and unopened bags on a shelf off the ground. Been doing it for years and haven't had an issue with rodents.

 

[Ironbike1]

Hio3791: I plan to brew in my basement once I finish it but as of now I brew in my kitchen still. I know most breweries store the unopened grain on racks so I always assumed that would fine for home brewers also but I've seen a lot of posts about proper containers for storing grain. I don't have a lot on hand just 1 50# bag of 2 row and some speciality grains.

 

[Ironbike1]

What about moisture once the bags are open? I was thinking about just grabbing a couple food storage containers from a tractor supply store and using that. They claim they are air tight end they have wheels

 

[MaxStout]

The basement might be best, as it's cool there. But is your basement damp? Moisture, exposure to air, and vermin are your grain's enemies.

Buy some 5 gallon buckets and Gamma Seal lids. You can get 20-25 lbs. of grain into each of those, and they are airtight. Those big storage bins for pet food are another good choice for storage.

 

[Peruvian802]

I keep my opened sacks in 5 gal food-safe buckets and unopened bags on a shelf off the ground. Been doing it for years and haven't had an issue with rodents.

I was sorta joking about the mice.

I too keep my grains in food grade 5 gallon pails. 50lbs fits in two buckets (just barely). I got mine at tractor supply.

 

[Ironbike1]

It's not damp in the basement but there is a slight scent of moisture. I can't seem to find anywhere that sells those gamma lids near me

 

[watermelon83]

Walmart sells pet food containers with a rubber sealed locking lid. The 50lb. one easily holds a 55lb. bag.

clicky

 

[moreb33rplz]

I do it in buckets with the cheapo lid, not Gamma. Seems to be ok for at least a year, but then I don't make the greatest beer so...

 

[Ironbike1]

Watermelon83: do you use that one? How is it off you do

 

[Braufessor]

You want cool/dry not warm/damp. Grain weevils can be a problem in grain - eggs are already in there. Warm temps can allow them to hatch. 50-60 degrees and dry is best if it is possible. Airtight container.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=442632

I would maybe lean toward the basement.

 

[Darwin18]

5-gallon buckets with Gamma lids, and store them close to where you brew. You're not going to want to lug them too far on brew days.

 

[Ironbike1]

Basement it is then. Stays cool yr round and the moisture scent is minimal at the most. The basement is bone dry everywhere

 

[singybrue]

Home depot sells the gamma lids, otherwise amazon

 

[Ironbike1]

Really I didn't know they sold the lids like that. Are the Orange buckets OK for grain?

 

[MrE_the_Great]

I ask the bakery at my local grocery store for donut glaze buckets. Each holds 20-25 lbs grain and each comes with a lid with gasket. Best...they're free and stack nicely.

 

[Brew_G]

I bought Gamma kids at Home Depot and food-grade 5-gallon buckets at Wal-Mart - two each for my 55 and 50 lb bags of Maris Otter and 2-row. I store them in my basement, whose conditions sound a lot like yours. No issues since I first did that back in November.

 

[watermelon83]

Watermelon83: do you use that one? How is it off you do

I do use them, in my garage. The seem to do very well for bulk grain. For the smaller quantities I use sealing ceareal containers.

 

[Ironbike1]

Well I searched 3 stores and struck out on the pet food containers so I ended up with 3 five gallon buckets and one 6.5 gallon bucket with gamma lids.

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