Quality of buying grain online

[Boston85]

I am getting ready to make the switch from extract to AG and was looking into getting something like a 50 lb bag from midwest supplies of American 2 Row, since the first few AG batches I do are going to be pretty straight forward until I get it down. I would then go to the local store to get specialty malts.

My question is how great is the quality of buying online. I know I can get either crushed or not crushed yet. I would rather not have to buy a mill if I can avoid it. What has been your experience with buying bulk online?

Also how can I store a 50 LB bag? I was just thinking of going to home depot and getting a large bucket and storing it in there with a lid, but was not sure if there is a set correct way to do it.

 

[Kieran]

My two cents about buying online are that if you're buying from a reputable online seller, there is a good chance that their grain inventory is moving much faster than your LHBS, and your product can be just as fresh or fresher than buying local.

 

[the_bird]

If you're not buying a mill, don't buy in bulk - just buy grain as-needed. Doesn't last very long once it's milled, but unmilled grain (if stored well) is good for upwards of a year.

The big stores all have quality grain, they go through it a lot faster than a lot of the smaller shops. It's an advantage of buying from one of the major suppliers, rather than some of the smaller companies that are kicking around.

You'll need a couple buckets for a 50-pound bag. That's how I've been doing it, it may not be a perfect airtight seal but it's better than leaving it in an open bag and the price is right.

 

[brewit2it]

I am getting ready to make the switch from extract to AG and was looking into getting something like a 50 lb bag from midwest supplies of American 2 Row, since the first few AG batches I do are going to be pretty straight forward until I get it down. I would then go to the local store to get specialty malts.

My question is how great is the quality of buying online. I know I can get either crushed or not crushed yet. I would rather not have to buy a mill if I can avoid it. What has been your experience with buying bulk online?

Also how can I store a 50 LB bag? I was just thinking of going to home depot and getting a large bucket and storing it in there with a lid, but was not sure if there is a set correct way to do it.

I'm not from the area but if you're in Boston it is very hard to believe you couldn't find it local for a much better price. The problem of buying 50-55lb sacks of grain online is the delivery charge. Why not check with a few of your LHBS to price it out and pick up a little specialty grain while you are there?

 

[Golddiggie]

I've been using zip ties on the open sack o grain... I opened it less than a month ago and have already used up 35# (originally 55#) of it. Depending on what I brew next, it could be gone with the next brew, or the one after that at the outside.

I have been thinking about putting it into 1 gallon bags, and vacuum sealing them... It really depends on how long before I use it again. It could make it easier to have it in 5# bags, so that I just need to grab a couple for the next brew day...

I'm also in agreement of not buying bulk unless it is whole grain. I'm loving my BC, and whole grain... Buy the grain either from a supplier that sells it at a decent rate (better than your LHBS after shipping) or just get what you need as you need it... Going with a group grain buy makes huge sense once you look at the cost savings...

 

[Boston85]

Thanks for the response. The LHBS has a great variety and I have no problem buying from there. I was just curious mostly because I have a gift card to midwest but was not sure what to get as I have all of the AG equipment and keg stuff. I don't brew that much, maybe 1 beer every 6 weeks or so, but thought it may make sense to just buy bulk. I will just continue to buy from the LHBS, as I really do not want to get a mill. I am sure there are some other things I can use this gift card on. Thanks for the feedback though.

 

[wildwest450]

If you have all your ag stuff, why don't you want a mill?

_

 

[Golddiggie]

If you have all your ag stuff, why don't you want a mill?

+1

Having a mill makes huge sense (to me and many others) when going all grain. Means you can get ingredients as whole grain and crush them just before you brew. Rather than worrying about using them while still fresh enough to get the right flavors from them.

Personally, I still have some specialty grains that I got crushed before I had a mill. I need to use them up ASAP and replace them with inventory that's whole. Then it won't really matter how much I use at a time. :rockin:

 

[smokewater]

Thanks for the response. The LHBS has a great variety and I have no problem buying from there. I was just curious mostly because I have a gift card to midwest but was not sure what to get as I have all of the AG equipment and keg stuff. I don't brew that much, maybe 1 beer every 6 weeks or so, but thought it may make sense to just buy bulk. I will just continue to buy from the LHBS, as I really do not want to get a mill. I am sure there are some other things I can use this gift card on. Thanks for the feedback though.

If you have all the toys just put together a recipe or 2 at Midwest and have them send it to you. Its nice to have all the grain crushed together and ready to go rather than having to measure each ingredient. If you only want one shipping charge order some partial mash extract batches that will keep better.

 

[Boston85]

If you have all your ag stuff, why don't you want a mill?

_

For me its more of a cost/benefit thing. Since I am only doing 5 gallon batches once every month or so I just did not think I would use it as much. I see now also that it may not be as wise an idea to get a 50 lb bag of 2 row if I am only using 8 lb or so every month. It would be sitting there for a little while.

 

[smokewater]

For me its more of a cost/benefit thing. Since I am only doing 5 gallon batches once every month or so I just did not think I would use it as much. I see now also that it may not be as wise an idea to get a 50 lb bag of 2 row if I am only using 8 lb or so every month. It would be sitting there for a little while.

Search some of the corona mill ugly junk threads on here. Its a small investment that I will be trying soon.

 

[Golddiggie]

For me its more of a cost/benefit thing. Since I am only doing 5 gallon batches once every month or so I just did not think I would use it as much. I see now also that it may not be as wise an idea to get a 50 lb bag of 2 row if I am only using 8 lb or so every month. It would be sitting there for a little while.

Having a mill means you know when the grain was crushed. YOU get to control the grain crush size too. Knowing all this, having that level of control means your brews will be that much better. Even if you only use it once ever two months, or six months, I'd still get the mill if you're serious about brewing. Just my opinion on this... You don't need to spend a ton on a mill... You can get an ugly mill for under $50, or a sexy one for as little as about $120.. I went dead SEXY with the BC.

Or become friends with someone that has a mill already and doesn't mind if you run grain through it...

 

[carrotmalt]

For me its more of a cost/benefit thing. Since I am only doing 5 gallon batches once every month or so I just did not think I would use it as much. I see now also that it may not be as wise an idea to get a 50 lb bag of 2 row if I am only using 8 lb or so every month. It would be sitting there for a little while.

I know brewers who've used uncrushed malt well over a year from purchase w/ great results. You're only talking 7 months. I usually brew once a month as well, so I made me a pasta roller mill for under $20 and bought 2 sacks of grain in December. Since I got the grain so cheap, and the hops in bulk cheap too, I went ahead and jumped up to my first 10 gallon batch a couple months ago.:rockin: (Turns out 10 gallons can go pretty quick too )

Whether you buy a Barley Crusher for $130, a $35 corona, or fashion one yourself for even less, Get the mill! I wish I'd done it sooner!

 

[the_bird]

I know brewers who've used uncrushed malt well over a year from purchase w/ great results. You're only talking 7 months. I usually brew once a month as well, so I made me a pasta roller mill for under $20 and bought 2 sacks of grain in December. Since I got the grain so cheap, and the hops in bulk cheap too, I went ahead and jumped up to my first 10 gallon batch a couple months ago.:rockin: (Turns out 10 gallons can go pretty quick too )

Whether you buy a Barley Crusher for $130, a $35 corona, or fashion one yourself for even less, Get the mill! I wish I'd done it sooner!

I'll be honest, the Belgian Dark Strong I brewed a little while back, and that seemed to get pretty universal raves... that grain was probably a good two years old. It was uncrushed, but just stored in the bag, which I had taped up but it wasn't airtight. Certainly not ideal and I'm sure FRESH grain would have made it even better, but uncrushed grain has a pretty damn long effective shelf life.

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

Crushed or uncrushed, make sure you store it in a VERY tightly covered container. If you get grain bugs, they'll get into everything. They even get into thick plastic bags. Ziplocs? They'll go right thru it.

Home Depot bucket + lids are probably the best.

M_C

 

[Atvar]

I paid $20 for a victora mill online. Turns out I'll save exactly that much once I get through my first 2 sacks of grains compared to what I was paying online at BMW. Now my biggest issue whether to motorize the thing or continue to call it exercise time...

 

[carrotmalt]

Ziplocs? They'll go right thru it.

They don't have to go right through it. They're in it when you buy the grain. Keep the grain cool and dry and they shouldn't hatch from what I've read. I also put my two bags in a chest freezer for about a week when I first got them. I read freezing will kill the eggs.

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

But even if you have some malt WITH bugs, and some WITHOUT... It'll all have bugs at some point if it's in ziploc bags. I've seen small holes in Ziploc, and I guarantee that I didn't make those holes!

After a while I had grain bugs in my flour in my pantry, in any box of reachable dry wheat/corn based foods... Threw it all away, started fresh. Everything is stored in air-tight containers. Also helps keeping food stuff fresh, too.

M_C

They don't have to go right through it. They're in it when you buy the grain. Keep the grain cool and dry and they shouldn't hatch from what I've read. I also put my two bags in a chest freezer for about a week when I first got them. I read freezing will kill the eggs.

 

[dancness]

hmm that's pretty gross.

Well if you are looking for grain with a higher protein content....

lol

 

[carrotmalt]

But even if you have some malt WITH bugs, and some WITHOUT... It'll all have bugs at some point if it's in ziploc bags. I've seen small holes in Ziploc, and I guarantee that I didn't make those holes!

After a while I had grain bugs in my flour in my pantry, in any box of reachable dry wheat/corn based foods... Threw it all away, started fresh. Everything is stored in air-tight containers. Also helps keeping food stuff fresh, too.

M_C

I agree to using a good air tight seal. I'm just saying that most if not all of the grain you buy will already have eggs, so the idea of sealing it off to keep bugs from getting in is a little misleading. If the temps are right for hatching, they may just hatch in that perfectly seal container. I'm guessing the holes you found in the zip-lock were from when they left and decided to try some of your Cheerios. Point is, try and keep it cool and dry... and sealed.

 

[drathbone]

I go to my local grocery store and get some of their food grade frosting buckets for free when they are done using them. Dunno if its a super great seal or anything but it feels like it snaps in pretty good. Considering it's bulk frosting for a bakery, I'm sure the seal can't be all too bad and it's FREE!