Show us your grain storage system

[Rcole]

Not real fancy but rolls out so I can access the base and specialty grains I need.

 

[241]

Looking good

 

[barrooze]

Mine's very simple. So far I only keep base grains but ill expand to my popular specialties some day.

 

[45_70sharps]

Cool thread. I've been thinking about how I want to store grain when I get my mill. ( my brew store is working on it)
I'm about two hours from the brew store so I need to be able to store full bags of base malts and smaller amounts of specialty grains.
Rcole's setup looks a lot like my brew store's setup.
I like the buckets that Barrooze uses for specialty grains. Sealed and free from light.

 

[Jester]

Mine's very simple. So far I only keep base grains but ill expand to my popular specialties some day.

I'm digging the printed labels! I only store one type of grain, but this is a great idea.

 

[ArcticBear]

Ive got mine in the clear food grade buckets from home depot with gamma lids. Questions though. I currently have my grains in the gaage but we're reaching freezi temperatures, should i be bringing them in the house and keeping them in a closet?

 

[Rcole]

I'm digging the printed labels! I only store one type of grain, but this is a great idea.

The graphic labels on my bins are cut out from catalogs and laminated.

 

[Rcole]

Mine's very simple. So far I only keep base grains but ill expand to my popular specialties some day.

Nice.

 

[bucfanmike]

Ive got mine in the clear food grade buckets from home depot with gamma lids. Questions though. I currently have my grains in the gaage but we're reaching freezi temperatures, should i be bringing them in the house and keeping them in a closet?

same boat here.. setting up my brewshed and it will below freezing for several months. Anyone know what effect that may have?

 

[Monster Mash]

I can fit 3 sacks in one barrel...

 

[AnOldUR]

Ghetto grain storage . . .

 

[Demon]

An old picture. I now have a shelf with all my specialty grains too.

 

[Jester]

same boat here.. setting up my brewshed and it will below freezing for several months. Anyone know what effect that may have?

I am by no means an expert on this, but I have seen people storing there grains in a refrigerator so I would think that the cold temperature wouldn't have a negative effect on the grains.

Hopefully someone else can help validate this....

 

[jbaysurfer]

same boat here.. setting up my brewshed and it will below freezing for several months. Anyone know what effect that may have?

I keep mine in the freezer year round. Has no negative effect so far as I can tell!

 

[AnOldUR]

This could be wrong, but my opinion would be that storing grain in a fridge or freezer is not the same as an unregulated location where the temperatures would have daily large swings that could form moisture.

 

[passedpawn]

I am by no means an expert on this, but I have seen people storing there grains in a refrigerator so I would think that the cold temperature wouldn't have a negative effect on the grains.

Hopefully someone else can help validate this....

I've intentionally frozen grain solid then used it later without any issue. The enzymes are not denatured by freezing.

 

[barrooze]

When i started buying my grain in bulk, I read there are three points to aim for: 1) store grain in air-tight containers, 2) store grain in a moisture-free environment, and 3) store grain at a cold temperature. Points 1 and 3 help reduce staling of the grain. Staling occurs more slowly at colder temps, so storing grain in a fridge or freezer is just fine. If a lot of air is in contact with the grain, you'll also get more staling. #2 helps keep the grain from essentially getting ruined. Storing grains moist is bad. You can get rot and i dont think you want to brew with rotten grain.

 

[Jester]

This could be wrong, but my opinion would be that storing grain in a fridge or freezer is not the same as an unregulated location where the temperatures would have daily large swings that could form moisture.

That's a good point... I wonder if there could be condensation on the grains due to the temperature fluctuation.

 

[rockinmarty]

An old picture. I now have a shelf with all my specialty grains too.

Holly cr.. dude I think you are ready for a grain shortage

 

[45_70sharps]

same boat here.. setting up my brewshed and it will below freezing for several months. Anyone know what effect that may have?

I think storage where you are at the whim of the outdoor temp is pretty standard.

 

[jbaysurfer]

I think storage where you are at the whim of the outdoor temp is pretty standard.

^ probably a bit more practical for a homebrewer to refrigerate then them. They probably flip it a lot faster then we do as well.

 

[45_70sharps]

^ probably a bit more practical for a homebrewer to refrigerate then them. They probably flip it a lot faster then we do as well.

True, but they store the grain in a silo, then it goes into train cars, then into other silo's, then onto a ship and gets transported around the world where it goes into a silo until they are ready to ship it to the end user or someone who distributes to a supply chain that sells smaller amounts.

Storing in a shed is fine is the point. Keep it dry and the temperature is not an issue.

 

[+HopSpunge+]

How long do you think it will stay fresh sealed in a bucket or in a bag in a garbage can like that one picture? I have never had any go bad as far as I no. But I only buy it 1 sack at a time, so it gets used up quickley.

 

[passedpawn]

How long do you think it will stay fresh sealed in a bucket or in a bag in a garbage can like that one picture? I have never had any go bad as far as I no. But I only buy it 1 sack at a time, so it gets used up quickley.

If the malt is unmilled, and you keep it dry, it will be good for at least years. This is my experience.

 

[barrooze]

How long do you think it will stay fresh sealed in a bucket or in a bag in a garbage can like that one picture? I have never had any go bad as far as I no. But I only buy it 1 sack at a time, so it gets used up quickley.

I've had mine stored in my garage in Houston temps for about 10 months. I'm using HD Homer buckets with Gamma lids. They're airtight and watertight and I haven't noticed any staling at this point even when stored at 100+ temps all summer.

 

[user 83772]

What about milled grain? I got the stuff for my first two recipes from the lhbs about two weeks ago, and just got slammed after that. Will finally be brewing tomorrow, but if I've waited too long I don't want to bother before I can get new grain in.

 

[passedpawn]

What about milled grain? I got the stuff for my first two recipes from the lhbs about two weeks ago, and just got slammed after that. Will finally be brewing tomorrow, but if I've waited too long I don't want to bother before I can get new grain in.

Keep it in bags, airtight, and it will keep a long time too. But milled grain is like crackers. If you leave it exposed to air for even a short period it will stale. I'd use it as soon as possible.

 

[user 83772]

Right on. I've got each recipe in a one-gallon ziplock that I purged as much air from as possible. Thanks for the info.

 

[Rcole]

I think storage where you are at the whim of the outdoor temp is pretty standard.

Yes, but I don't think they brew fine beer with silo grain. That's what they use to make Wonderbread, Twinkies, and othe animal feed.

 

[AnchorBock]

People seem to freek out about grain storage conditions. Here is my advice... IT'S FREAKING GRAIN!!! It'll be fine. The same way it was fine hundreds of years ago. Brew some beer and drink it, you'll live.

That's all well and good if you're just looking to brew some beer. If you're trying to make the best beer you possibly can ingredient freshness (including grain) is as important as anything else.