My LHBS Stores grain in Garbage bins, should I be concerned?

[troy2000]

Interestingly enough, I know small breweries that don't crush their grain but rather order it pre-crushed. [I know this isn't what you are saying, just trying to provide a complete picture of the options for those who might not know.] They do so because they don't want the "hassle" of crushing a BUNCH of grain, and because they use the grain quickly after it is delivered.

Myself, I invested early in
a) A Barley crusher which I motorized, and
b) Buying grains by the sack and keeping them in sealed airtight containers prior to use. For grains I will frequently use, I keep them in food grade containers with gamma seal lids. For grains that I need to keep over an extended time, I either seal them (for specialty grains) in 1 or 2# increments, or use mylar with oxygen absorbers for even longer term storage, especially for larger amounts (I typically break up sacks into a couple 5 or 6 gallon buckets with the contents sealed in mylar.)

With bulk buys of grain and hops and washing yeast my typical 5 gallon batch of a decent IPA recipe is under $20.

To the op: Given that Canadian Malting's http://canadamalting.com/our-locations2-row is sold in the USA in the $35 or so range (and I have a BUNCH in my house), it's hard to believe there isn't someplace in Canada where you can order it for a reasonable price.

ETA: OP, just found this in a google search, perhaps it will help you: http://www.bulten.ca/homebrewing/suppliers-in-canada

I didn't know small breweries do that, but it makes sense - for them. I would imagine their grain gets crushed to order and sent to them fresh, and they only order what they need as they need it.

For homebrewers, what you do yourself sounds like a better way to go.

 

[Chrisl77]

I think the other problem with pre crushed grains stored in a big bin and small amounts removed at a time is consistency. The husks and flour doesn't stay perfectly mixed when you crush it and when you agitate it by taking scopes out a little at a time the husks and flour will separate more causing some people to get more husk and others to get more flour. It could be possible at some point that most of the flour will work its way to the bottom of the bin.

 

[Husher]

HTH can Canadian grains cost much? Bulk in the US, they are cheaper than US grains.

Guess what! our dairy is the same way! Canadian milk is cheaper in the states than it is in Canada! Yay, price fixing...

 

[Husher]

Oh and don't get me started on the canadian made cars shipped to the states which cost 50% less.....

 

[dyqik]

I think the other problem with pre crushed grains stored in a big bin and small amounts removed at a time is consistency. The husks and flour doesn't stay perfectly mixed when you crush it and when you agitate it by taking scopes out a little at a time the husks and flour will separate more causing some people to get more husk and others to get more flour. It could be possible at some point that most of the flour will work its way to the bottom of the bin.

Yeah, this would really concern me. It's likely to give big variation in apparent efficiency and lautering.

To the OP, there's no problem with the grain being in (food safe) trash cans, but there is a probably an issue with fulfilling grain orders from bins of premilled grain.