Shelf life of milled grains?

[MrBJones]

How quickly should milled grains be used if shipped and kept in two tied-off intact plastic bags (double bagged)? Does the type of grain make a difference?

 

[Jag75]

I think it's a personal choice. I've kept it for a week before . The longest I'd go would be maybe 2 weeks . Maybe someone here will have more info on longer times.

 

[govner1]

I’d say a week at most but since I have my own mill I do the milling 20-30 minutes prior to mashing in.

 

[Sammy86]

When my first born came 3 weeks early I left my milled grain for 6 weeks and the beer came out just fine.

while I wouldn't recommend it, I think as long as you keep it as air tight as possible in a cool, dark place you should be fine up to a month.

 

[Kickass]

What varieties of grain? I have specialty malt (double bagged) in my fridge that I’ve been using for close to a year. Some will roll their eyes but I’ve seen no ill effects.

Base malt, I wouldn’t go that long but specialty malt, without hesitation.

 

[Coastalbrew]

I've had milled grains sit for two months with no issues. Just keep them cool and dry and as air tight as possible and it's all good.

 

[Miraculix]

Had all types of malt hanging around more than a year before brewing, all were fine. Make sure to keep them air tight and you'll be good.

 

[RM-MN]

Heat and moisture are the enemies of milled grain. Store them cool and dry and they will be fine for a long time. Open the bag in Florida summer and they will go bad quick.

 

[Oleson M.D.]

Yes, cool & dry. That's the ticket.

 

[Dorri732]

In this exbeeriment, they were unable to tell the difference between beer made from grains milled 6 months prior and beer made from fresh milled grains.

https://brulosophy.com/2018/10/29/the-impact-of-age-on-crushed-malt-exbeeriment-results/

 

[jdauria]

Buddy of mine his head brewer at a local brewery and they get their sacks of Weyermann grains shipped already milled and was told that as long as in a cool dry spot in brewery, it would be good for a year.

 

[Steveruch]

I've had milled grains sit for two months with no issues. Just keep them cool and dry and as air tight as possible and it's all good.

The batch I'm drinking now was my first BIAB and brewed with milled grains purchased three months ago. It's pretty good.

 

[kevin58]

You should be good for several months.

 

[CascadesBrewer]

Does the type of grain make a difference?

Some place I read that milled specialty grains (or maybe just roasted grains) start to loose flavors faster than milled base grains. It makes some sense to me. They are more like a roasted coffee. I think in general, if something has a stronger smell that is a sign that there a volatiles that are being lost. I suspect that milled grain in a reasonably air tight container will last for quite a while.