Question about bulk grains

[Yooper]

Wow those are good prices! I'm solidly hooked on the continental stuff (avangard and dingemanns) and can't bring myself to give domestic 2-row a try. Is there really that much of a difference? It would be great to reduce my batch cost.

There are differences, but for me I usually buy Canadian or US two-row for many of my ales anyway. Rahr is little grainier but in a good way, and it’s cheap. I tried CMC (Canadian Malting Company) the last few times, and it’s very similar to Briess’ I think (and it’s even cheaper).

I usually have British maris otter on hand for English/“warmer” ales, and use domestic Pilsner malt fairly often. Briess’ Borlander Munich malt is very nice, and I would compare it to Weyermann’s.

 

[applescrap]

I like to taste all the grains and to me golden promise tastes the best. In a brulosophy xbmt people could not reliably tell the diff between pils and 2 row. And that makes sense, mo and gp not so much. I buy 50 lb sacks of 2 row because at 34 it forces my hand. Thats 70cents a pound for grain. I use it as my base malt and adjust recipes to it. It is such a hard deal to turn down. I am sure if I was wealthier I might do things differently. When my beer price reaches towards commercial, I would rather buy it. Unlike many, i got into hb to save money and even though many dont, i do. Buying hops and grain in bulk is part of that. That said sometimes i splash out on certain batches. I dont brew a lot of ipas because the large amount and variety of hops needed can get expensive. So i end up making smashes if I really crave one. Batches with large amounts and varieties of grains can push costs up to. But a helles or something like that that is 10 pounds two row will cost me

7 dollars for 10 pounds 2 row
2 dollars for 2 ounces of hops
5 for yeast
Thats 14 dollars for 55 beers. 25 cents a beer.

I emailed micheal tonsemeyer once and he said he would rather pay 40 cents a beer and get what he wants and hes right. We are both right. Btw if you like kits to your door, northern brewer has had some amazeballs deals on kits that have seriously peaked my interest.

I would get gp if you want awesome tasting grain at price no matter and domestic 2 row for regular base malts. The 10 pound mb sack deal sounds awesome and i will look into that because I have been trying to find a way to get other grains in bulk without getting 50 lb. So I could get some variety and save money. I have my grain cracked and put into 5 ten pound bags and then i put those back in sack and seal everything as tight as i can. It is dry here in colorado but i would like to get a mill and have a little more freshness. For me convenience supercedes freshness.

 

[beernutz]

I always try to buy bulk from my LHBS which carries multiple varieties from Crisp, Weyermann, Briess, and Rahr. Their prices are comparable to most online stores if shipping is included but I buy from them exclusively because I want the store to stay open and continue to carry bulk. I usually just buy sacks of 2 row and if I need some other base like Munich or wheat I'll buy 10 lb bags of it.

I've done the MB 10lb trick in the past too and would do so again if MB offered a grain my LHBS didn't carry that I wanted.

For grain storage, I've spent $30 on a Vittles Vault and $20 on a similar bulk container. Even if I only save $.05/lb buying bulk that means I paid for those with savings in about 10 bags so that's a no brainer.

Since I brew 10 gallon batches using typically 20 lbs of bulk grain a 50 or 55 lb sack is only enough for about 2.5 brews or a month and a half.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I buy bulk too. If you have a WalMart with a bakery they'll sell you their frosting buckets (with lids) for $1.

They smell like sugar, but a couple of days with OxiClean in them takes most of it away. I just air them out for a few days. If you set them upright the smell lingers, but if you lay them on their side (without a lid on) the aroma goes away.

The larger buckets hold between 17-19 pounds (depending on the grain). This is helpful for stacking and moving around smaller weights if you're older.

When I put a grain bills together I weigh them out and put it in a bucket. It's like making a homemade kit. If you use wheat (needing a different grind setting) then just keep it in a separate bag and grind it by itself. Labeling what the "kit" is...is easy. Either write on a 3x5 card and tape it to the lid or write on masking tape and apply it to the sides. I usually have 3-4 pre-made for when the urge to brew hits.

UPDATE: My current inventory is at 290# of grain on-hand.

 

[lablover]

Morebeer for all my supplies except hops from Yakima. Moorebeer has free shipping on orders over $59, which is pretty easy to hit.

 

[atoughram]

I came into about 600 pounds of two row three years ago for a steal. (Great Western)

I kept it in air tight poly drums

I'm still brewing with it, although I'm down to my last 50 pounds, and it's still tasty and fresh.

I'm not sure how long it would have lasted, I've worried more about bugs getting into it than it going bad.

 

[MaryB]

2 row, Golden Promise, Victory, and Belgian Pilsner in bulk in 5 gallons buckets, that takes 8 buckets. Then 2 buckets of crystal and misc malts in 5-10 pound increments.

I need to find someone local to split a pallet of GP with. I use a sack a month on average!

 

[AzOr]

In Portland, OR Steinbarts does a “virtual” grain bag. You pay for the 55lb sack up front. Then you can stop by anytime and pick any amount of grain. They subtract the weight from 55lbs. It saves you from the hassle of storage and in theory it’s always fresh. Good prices too. The last bag I got was $40 for 55lb sack of 2 row (forgot the brand). Very convenient, as I always need to pick up supplies; yeast, hops, co2 etc anyways.
Maybe you can convince your lhbs to do something similar.

 

[DU99]

one of the LHBS near me has that grain book idea on for base and for the special malts..

 

[toddo97]

So would a garage that gets pretty hot in the summer and is not humidity controlled be too risky of place to store grain? I have a spare bedroom that's slowly filling up with brewing equipment that I can use if I need something with better temperature control.

 

[redllama]

Morebeer for me, too... 50lbs delivered to my door, cheaper than the closests LHBS.... without any attitude.

for the best MB prices, you can't buy the full 50 lb sack... shipping kills the deal... You need to buy 5 10lb bags instead.
More per lb, but eligible for free shipping on $59 order...

So buy 10lb bags of 2 row, munich, vienna, and other base malts... throw in a couple 1 or 5 lb bags of specialty malts, some bottle caps, etc and suddenly free shipping! For me it comes out cheaper than LHBS and comes to my door. I try to hit the LHBS when I can, but their prices and attitude make it not worth it most of the time.

This is what I do as well. 10# sacks are great for my base grain as they store nicely and it keeps a minimal amount of grain open at any given time. I will still use my LHBS for specialty grains if I decide to brew something different between my bulk grain purchases.

 

[bleme]

So would a garage that gets pretty hot in the summer and is not humidity controlled be too risky of place to store grain? I have a spare bedroom that's slowly filling up with brewing equipment that I can use if I need something with better temperature control.

It's not ideal, but as long as you keep them in an air-tight container they will stay fresh for least a year.

 

[jtratcliff]

I will still use my LHBS for specialty grains if I decide to brew something different between my bulk grain purchases.

Yeah, I use the LHBS for small amounts of specialty grains, the occasional hops I don't have on hand from a bulk buy, whirlfloc, Campden tablets, and oddly enough bottle caps... Their grain and hops prices are way out of line but damned if their bottle caps aren't the cheapest around...

 

[mredge73]

So would a garage that gets pretty hot in the summer and is not humidity controlled be too risky of place to store grain? I have a spare bedroom that's slowly filling up with brewing equipment that I can use if I need something with better temperature control.

I live in Houston, it is either hot, wet, or hot and wet here year round.
I keep mine in air tight 5 gallon buckets with gamma lids. My grain is still good 5 years later.
I also use a mylar bucket liner with oxygen scavenger packs, not sure if that made the difference or not.

Water/humidity is your main enemy. Temperature control will help by removing water from the air but if your grain is in air tight containers it shouldn't matter.

 

[LarMoeCur]

The shipping on bulk grains is a price savings killer. MoreBeer sacks come in all sizes. If I need 3# munich for a recipe I always order the 5# sack. I pull my older inventory for the recipe, add a little new if needed, and store the new away for the next brew day. I don't know how, MoreBeer makes any money on the free shipping. I've had 5 boxes 30# boxes show up at my door.

I store all my bulk grains in a dog food Vittles Vault. The lid seals nice and tight. I vacuum seal specialty grains in vacuum bags. Those vacuum bags are expensive but if you cut just below the seal. You can pour out what you need and reseal the same bag. If I empty an entire bag, I save it for reuse when I have more grains to store. I've never tested it but vacuum sealed grains should stay fresh for a very very long time!

 

[toddo97]

I live in Houston, it is either hot, wet, or hot and wet here year round.
I keep mine in air tight 5 gallon buckets with gamma lids. My grain is still good 5 years later.
I also use a mylar bucket liner with oxygen scavenger packs, not sure if that made the difference or not.

Water/humidity is your main enemy. Temperature control will help by removing water from the air but if your grain is in air tight containers it shouldn't matter.

That makes me feel better--plus, it looks like doing the MoreBeer 10# bags is the way to go and I won't have to worry about an open 50# sack sitting around for a while.

 

[day_trippr]

I don't think grain silos are air conditioned, and if you buy grain just before harvest it's probably been sitting in a silo for the better part of a year...

Cheers!

 

[wilserbrewer]

I don't think grain silos are air conditioned, and if you buy grain just before harvest it's probably been sitting in a silo for the better part of a year...

Cheers!

I agree, but grain silos are typically in more arid climates than Houston or your typical basement.

I stored grain in my basement and noticed it was not as dry and crisp as it should be, now I store grain in my laundry room closet in a more humidity controlled environment.

Granted, I’m lazy and just roll the sack shut till my next brew. In the right environment, cool and dry I don’t think you need to go to air tight containers. Jmo

 

[kh54s10]

5 gallon buckets with gamma lids are cheap and have kept my grains in good shape for years. Smaller amounts I keep in lock and lock boxes that have a pretty good seal. Mine were in the basement in RI. Cool and dry in the winter, warmer and humid in the summer. I have never had any go stale that I could tell'

Now in Florida, I will have to see what happens mid summer in the garage. I suspect the good seals will keep my grain safe.

 

[day_trippr]

Ah, Houston. Used to go there on bidness often, a few decades ago. I do recall humidity was its hallmark
Yes, one would be well advised to take prudent countermeasures in similar environments, if mold is to be avoided.
Or, brew quicker

Cheers!

 

[atoughram]

So would a garage that gets pretty hot in the summer and is not humidity controlled be too risky of place to store grain? I have a spare bedroom that's slowly filling up with brewing equipment that I can use if I need something with better temperature control.

I doubt the temperature would hurt the grain but the humidity may not be good for mold growth. An air tight poly drum with and open top and lid, and get a desiccant bag to hang on the inside, I'd think the garage would be fine.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

My HomeBrew Club has an agreement with a local brewpub, just a mile from my house. Members can buy full sacks from him at the wholesale price that he gets them for. I’m sure my club isn’t the only one doing that.

It's not. I got a sack of Briess pale ale and a sack for Briess pilsen for $25 each a couple weeks ago. Our club works with a local brewery. The only downside is that we're limited to Briess.

I want from paying $2.20/lb when buying by the pound from the LHBS to $0.50/lb now. That really dropped the price of a batch of beer. For specialty malts, club members go in on a sack and split it.

I store mine in the sack until it's opened, then it goes into a vittles vault.

 

[TimmyWit]

I generally buy 5 sacks in the fall. Rahr, Weyermann Bo Pils, 2GP, and a wheat. I can never find Barke Pils or Pearl where I buy. If you store it right it will last a long time. I have a bin of bags of specialty. I just bought a bunch of 5 and 10 pound sacks to fill it with fresh. I hate having to go to the LHBS to brew.

If you want Pearl, check out ritebrew.com. They have great prices and reasonable shipping through a company called speedee. You're probably in the same shipping zone as me so it will be a 2-day delivery for you. They are my go-to.

 

[toddo97]

I doubt the temperature would hurt the grain but the humidity may not be good for mold growth. An air tight poly drum with and open top and lid, and get a desiccant bag to hang on the inside, I'd think the garage would be fine.

I like that idea about using a desiccant bag

 

[Jayjay1976]

...I store mine in the sack until it's opened, then it goes into a vittles vault.

Which vittles vault do you use? I bought a couple of the 40lb units to store bulk grains and was disappointed that they don't hold a full 55lb sack. They have a taller 50lb model with the lid on top but that looks like it would be hard to stack. Currently I use one to store base malt and the other to store smaller bags of specialty grains and any base malt that doesn't fit in the other bin.

 

[Jayjay1976]

I like that idea about using a desiccant bag

If you store grain in a basement or garage, take care to insulate between the storage vessel and the cold concrete floor to prevent condensation from forming at the inside bottom of the container. A chunk of insulating foam or even just raising it up to allow air circulation would help.

 

[LarMoeCur]

Which vittles vault do you use? I bought a couple of the 40lb units to store bulk grains and was disappointed that they don't hold a full 55lb sack. They have a taller 50lb model with the lid on top but that looks like it would be hard to stack. Currently I use one to store base malt and the other to store smaller bags of specialty grains and any base malt that doesn't fit in the other bin.

I have both the 40# and 60# ones. The 60# don't have the slotted tops and bottoms but they stack OK. They do slide around a little. What I do with my 40# ones is open a new sack on brew day. Pull the grains I need for the batch and put the rest in vault. If I remember right they are only about 8# short of fitting a full sack.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

Which vittles vault do you use? I bought a couple of the 40lb units to store bulk grains and was disappointed that they don't hold a full 55lb sack. They have a taller 50lb model with the lid on top but that looks like it would be hard to stack. Currently I use one to store base malt and the other to store smaller bags of specialty grains and any base malt that doesn't fit in the other bin.

I use the 50 lb ones with the lid on top. They stack fine. You have to unstack to access grains in one that's underneath, but that's no big deal. I haul 'em from the basement to the kitchen to weigh and mill anyway.

 

[z-bob]

I buy the food-safe 5 gallon buckets at Home Depot or Lowe's, and the cheap plastic lids for them. (I tried one Gamma lid but it quickly broke) Two buckets will hold a 50# sack of grain, and will almost hold a 55# sack. Just leave the excess in the bag and roll the top down; sit it on top of the buckets and use it first. Whole grain lasts a *long* time if you keep it dry.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I buy the food-safe 5 gallon buckets at Home Depot or Lowe's, and the cheap plastic lids for them. (I tried one Gamma lid but it quickly broke) Two buckets will hold a 50# sack of grain, and will almost hold a 55# sack. Just leave the excess in the bag and roll the top down; sit it on top of the buckets and use it first. Whole grain lasts a *long* time if you keep it dry.

I but my small food grade buckets from the bakery at WalMart...$1 with lid. A little elbow grease and an Oxi soaking cleans them up. The larger ones hold 17-19 # of grain. I also use them to hold my pre-measured ingredients for future batches, kind of like a DIY home made kit.

For you guys with the humidity issue, you could always re-bag your smaller poundage of grain and use a vacuum sealer to keep it out.