Going bulk grain - need some advice

[OakIslandBrewery]

Too fancy for using a sharpie on the lid?

Fancy, not at all. Just as one poster said label the bucket, not the lid. Masking tape would certainly be a cheaper route but since I had those label holders from other tote labeling I used them on my grain buckets. I don't always use the same bucket for the same grain so I can swap out the index card as needed.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

It doesn't specify food grade plastic, so if using those, put your grain in the giant Ziploc bags. All the Ziplocs are food grade. It will also help give them an extra layer of sealing for freshness.

Those would be great for those smaller bags of specialty grain, easier to see what's inside than the white buckets. Great idea and of course in there's room in our home breweries - Thanks for the tip!!

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

Fancy, not at all. Just as one poster said label the bucket, not the lid. Masking tape would certainly be a cheaper route but since I had those label holders from other tote labeling I used them on my grain buckets. I don't always use the same bucket for the same grain so I can swap out the index card as needed.

I just use a Sharpie. And when the contents change, a paper towel with a little rubbing alcohol gets rids of it fast.

 

[Broothru]

@MaxStout That is exactly my plan, using the 5g food safe buckets, at Home Depot it's $8 per bucket and $8 per screw top/sealable lid. I plan to put my 2-row/MO/GP in one bucket, loose, and have all other grains, bagged separately in the other bucket.

@bailey mountain brewer I am in the dry yeast camp for now, it seems so much easier than dealing with the extra hassle of liquid yeast. At $5-$10 a packet, why bother with liquid, assuming you can get the same liquid strain in dry.

@AlexKay Exactly what I am trying to avoid, stocking up a grain that is inferior to grains that are just a few bucks more expensive (per batch). At the same time, will a 2-row NEIPA taste 98.987% as good as a MO NEIPA, and if that's the case, I will save X dollars on the cheaper sack and call it a day. I don't know the full characteristics of each grain type, especially things like diastatic power, so I was hoping to just get a recommendation based on those who brew similar styles with success. Over time I am sure I will be able to figure these things out on my own.

Santa brought me 2 Vittle Vaults with Gamma lids,. Each one will easily hold a 55# sack of grain, and I've been busily surfing all the usual sites to find the best prices on bulk grains. I agree with what @marc1 mentioned in an earlier post about subdividing grains into smaller portion vacuum sealer bags and have been doing that for quite some time.

Up until now I've stored the portion bags in large storage tubs behind a recliner chair in the Man Cave. They're out of the way but not entirely out of sight. One has a variety of base grains, the other two have a wide variety of specialty grains, though I use the term "specialty" with broad latitude. Base grain = 2 row, pale ale malt, and pilsner. Specialty = M.O., Munich, Vienna and small amounts of Weyermann Barke malts left over from previous brews, along with all the crystal and other adjunct in smaller portions.

More recently I've been ordering most of my grains from More Beer. They have large turnover (so fresher grains), wide selection, good prices even at per pound volumes, they ship to my door in 2-3 days, and for packaging of 10# or less they offer free shipping. It sounds crazy, but if I order 5 sacks of 10# of grains, they'll ship for free whereas a 50# bag would cost me a ton for shipping. The added benefit is that I've got 5 sealed bags (10# each) which is roughly what I use for a 5 gallon batch for base grains, so no need to subdivide once they arrive on my doorstep and I can store multiple grains in the same container. I pull out a bag of whatever and as much as I need without opening and closing a large bag. I gain more options without running across town to the LHBS, the grains stay fresher, and the rodents are kept at bay.

But the biggest advantage is variety and flexibility when it comes to planning and executing a brew session. It's nice not having to scramble around chasing down components.

 

[wetmk]

Here's my high tech method. On shelves in the garage. Never had a problem with staling, insects, or rodents.

 

[Bramling Cross]

5lb of Honey Malt is an awful lot of honey malt. That stuff goes a long, long way. Are you sure you really need 5lbs?

You know your business better than me, but that seems like an awful lot of honey malt.

 

[RyPA]

@wetmk If mice made their way into your garage, they'd have a field day. I've never had mice in my garage, and last summer I bought one of those grain squares for birds that you put in those little metal cages, I forget what their called. I left it sitting on a weight bench in my garage and within a few days I noticed the package was torn into and 1/4 devoured.

@Bramling Cross Probably don't need 5, my last NEIPA batch used 1/2 lb, so maybe I can go down to 3 lbs. I'm aiming to have a decent cache of grain on hand so I can brew whenever I want. If I want to use a little honey malt, I'll have it on hand.

Ended up buying these lids, going to buy 2 5gal food safe buckets at home depot.

 

[wetmk]

@wetmk If mice made their way into your garage, they'd have a field day.

I don't doubt it... but I've been buying bulk grain for 20+ years and storing it like this without mishap.

 

[Jayjay1976]

I use buckets with gamma lids to store base malt, and two vittles vaults for all my bagged specialty malts and DME. If I need extra space to store something cheaper like 2-row or pale malt, I'll just use buckets with regular lids. I know they aren't totally air-tight but the seal is at least as good as the sack it came in, and anyway base malt doesn't sit around too long in my brewery.

 

[Jayjay1976]

What are good places to but bulk grains online? The shipping makes it nearly impossible to get a reasonable deal.

Whereabouts are you located?

 

[Jayjay1976]

It doesn't specify food grade plastic, so if using those, put your grain in the giant Ziploc bags. All the Ziplocs are food grade. It will also help give them an extra layer of sealing for freshness.

Uncolored polypropylene is generally always food safe, the colorants are what contains extractives. The other variable is the mold release/lube package; cheapest would be animal-based, which is used widely in food storage containers, the other common type is silicone based which is both inert and bio-compatible, i.e. food safe.

on a side note, Ziploc may be food safe, but the blue ones give off a smell and I've thrown out stuff I stored in them for picking up an off flavor. Since then I just reuse the poly bags the ingredients come in.

 

[hout17]

Here's my high tech method. On shelves in the garage. Never had a problem with staling, insects, or rodents.View attachment 757518

If it works for you it works lol. I live next to a field and the mice fight is a on going thing in the garage.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

@wetmk If mice made their way into your garage, they'd have a field day. I've never had mice in my garage, and last summer I bought one of those grain squares for birds that you put in those little metal cages, I forget what their called. I left it sitting on a weight bench in my garage and within a few days I noticed the package was torn into and 1/4 devoured.

@Bramling Cross Probably don't need 5, my last NEIPA batch used 1/2 lb, so maybe I can go down to 3 lbs. I'm aiming to have a decent cache of grain on hand so I can brew whenever I want. If I want to use a little honey malt, I'll have it on hand.

Ended up buying these lids, going to buy 2 5gal food safe buckets at home depot.
View attachment 757648

Blue is a great color! They'll serve you well.

 

[marc1]

Uncolored polypropylene is generally always food safe, the colorants are what contains extractives. The other variable is the mold release/lube package; cheapest would be animal-based, which is used widely in food storage containers, the other common type is silicone based which is both inert and bio-compatible, i.e. food safe.

on a side note, Ziploc may be food safe, but the blue ones give off a smell and I've thrown out stuff I stored in them for picking up an off flavor. Since then I just reuse the poly bags the ingredients come in.

Strange, I've never gotten any smell from the translucent blue 10 gallon ones.

 

[porterguy]

@marc1 50 lbs will not fit in a 5 gallon? I saw a video on yt where a guy did it. Or maybe he was able to fit 48, and had to find a home for a few lbs.

I usually stock one bag each of MO, one of Pilsen, and one of wheat. Two "Homer" buckets per bag. A 5-gallon Homer-type bucket will hold almost exactly 25 lbs. In fact, when I get Maris Otter (or other 55lb. bags) THEN I have to find somewhere to store those extra 5 lbs. (or just brew that same day).

 

[bailey mountain brewer]

My initial plan was MoreBeer, not realizing that a 50-55 lb sack does not fall into their free shipping bucket when you spend X or more. You can save a few bucks by purchasing 5 x 10 lb bags with free shipping as this will be cheaper than buying a 50-55 sack + freight shipping.

I am going to go to a LHBS for my bulk grains, either Love2Brew or BrewHardware, as these are both around an hour away. Unfortunately, these are my closest LHBS, so I order online when possible. I figured to stock up on grain, the drive is worth it, and I like looking around in HBS's.

Fyi, when measuring my grain over the weekends brewday it was exactly 5lb per gallon uncrushed for 2row.

 

[TROY L REIMERS]

Whereabouts are you located?

I'm In Northern Virginia. Near Leesburg.

 

[Jayjay1976]

I'm In Northern Virginia. Near Leesburg.

Hopefully someone out in your neck of the woods will chime in with a vendor. I'm in Chicago, and depending on who I order from and their shipping options, the price of a whole sack can vary considerably.

 

[E606]

I have a related question. My wife and I will be relocating to the Boone, North Carolina area from central Florida. In Central Florida there's a couple places that I frequent for brewing supplies. Can anybody recommend a LHBS reasonably close to The Boone area? I suppose a once in a while distance of 75 miles would be ok.
Thanks

 

[TROY L REIMERS]

Hopefully someone out in your neck of the woods will chime in with a vendor. I'm in Chicago, and depending on who I order from and their shipping options, the price of a whole sack can vary considerably.

I did find Atlantic Brew Supply at 3709 Neil Street in Raleigh NC. They have great prices for the Atlantic region.

 

[Yesfan]

Nobody's mentioned it yet (unless I overlooked it), but if you haven't already, join a local brew club. My brew club works with a couple of the local breweries where we can do group buys and the breweries will usually pick up the shipping costs. That will help you save a bit more money. Maybe hit up a couple of your favorite breweries to see if they would be willing to order you a sack when they do their next order too.

Hit your local grocer or bakeries for the 5 gallon, and other sized, buckets. Most of those buckets have cake icing in them and are usually thrown away when emptied. Not only could you use them for grain storage, but if you have a few grommets and air locks around, they make great fermenters too. I got a bunch of 2 gallon buckets from my local Publix a few years ago. The ladies running the bakery dept there even rinsed the buckets out for me while I was finishing up my grocery shopping.

 

[Broothru]

I'm In Northern Virginia. Near Leesburg.

There's a shop on the east side of Leesburg called Kettles and Grains. It's just off U.S. 15 between Edwards Ferry Road and Route 7. I've never shopped there but have heard good reviews. I'm not sure if they do bulk orders if you're looking for 55# bags, but supposedly they're a pretty good LHBS. As for mail order, I've had good luck ordering from Atlantic Brew in Raleigh though they're not my first go-to. They usually get things delivered to me (Central MD) within a few days.

 

[TROY L REIMERS]

There's a shop on the east side of Leesburg called Kettles and Grains. It's just off U.S. 15 between Edwards Ferry Road and Route 7. I've never shopped there but have heard good reviews. I'm not sure if they do bulk orders if you're looking for 55# bags, but supposedly they're a pretty good LHBS. As for mail order, I've had good luck ordering from Atlantic Brew in Raleigh though they're not my first go-to. They usually get things delivered to me (Central MD) within a few days.

Thanks for the info. I'll check out Kettles and Grains this weekend.

 

[Mark3885]

Hit your local grocer or bakeries for the 5 gallon, and other sized, buckets. Most of those buckets have cake icing in them and are usually thrown away when emptied. Not only could you use them for grain storage, but if you have a few grommets and air locks around, they make great fermenters too. I got a bunch of 2 gallon buckets from my local Publix a few years ago. The ladies running the bakery dept there even rinsed the buckets out for me while I was finishing up my grocery shopping.
[/QUOTE]
I have a local ice cream factory near me , they have all sorts of ingredients that they use in 5 gallon buckets with the lids . They usually just recycle them , one day I called and talked to the production manager and asked if I could have some. Told him what they were for, they left 50 buckets and lids out back by the loading dock, picked them up that evening. Called the next day to thank them, they said anytime just give a call.

 

[Yesfan]

I have a local ice cream factory near me , they have all sorts of ingredients that they use in 5 gallon buckets with the lids . They usually just recycle them , one day I called and talked to the production manager and asked if I could have some. Told him what they were for, they left 50 buckets and lids out back by the loading dock, picked them up that evening. Called the next day to thank them, they said anytime just give a call.

LMAO! Score!!

 

[RyPA]

I am good on the buckets, I don't mind spending $8 each at Home Depot.. I only need 2.

Trying to figure out some good all around adjuncts to pick up while I'm at the LHBS this Saturday. I primarily drink IPA's, stouts, and porters but may want to try out a Belgian tripel soon. I need to find a good resource that explains malt attributes that work with these styles.

 

[wetmk]

I need to find a good resource that explains malt attributes that work with these styles.

I've found Josh Weikert of Craft Beer & Brewing an excellent resource.

Google 'Make your best triple' (or make your best _____) and you'll get a couple of recipes by Josh explaining why he uses the ingredients he chooses for each style.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

I've found Josh Weikert of Craft Beer & Brewing an excellent resource.

Agreed. He also has a blog Beer Simple (link) that has good content (but has been dormant for a while).

 

[RyPA]

Ended up getting a 50 lb sack of 2-row, 15 lbs golden promise, 10 lb white wheat, 2 lb honey, and 5 lbs of rice hulls.

The 2-row hardly fit into the 2 buckets, I need a 3rd for the other grains.