storing of 50 lb bags of base malt

[uncommonsense]

Im thinking of get a 50 lb bag of 2 row. What is the best way store it.

 

[TheDutchman]

I keep mine in the orange "Homer" buckets from Home Depot. They're cheap and hold about 25 pounds each. Just keep them in a cool dry area.

 

[Ohio-Ed]

Im thinking of get a 50 lb bag of 2 row. What is the best way store it.

I store my grain in 5 gallon buckets from Home Depot. 2 buckets will hold 50 lbs.

 

[usfmikeb]

The one designed to hold 45 pounds of dog food holds exactly 55 pounds of grain.

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/foodStorage/bulk?productId=10006457&N=68995

 

[HossTheGreat]

Before opening, I generally leave mine in the sack in a large rubermaid tote (the one I have can fit 2 sacks of grain). After I open it, I then store them in Homer buckets with a lid on. I think it takes about 2 1/4 - 2 1/2 buckets to store a full sack of grain.

 

[buffalobrewer]

carboys/buckets, then bottles/kegs

I usually keep it in 5 gallon buckets before I use it.

 

[Pappers_]

I take the bag of grain, put it inside another plastic bag, and then the whole thing inside a large plastic bin with a lid.

 

[buffalobrewer]

i'm slow....

 

[KCBrewer]

Yep, homer buckets for the cheap end. Warning, the lids are crap. Every one I have opened so far has cracked on me. Not sure why, but they are junk. I do remodeling, and have opened thousands of buckets in my life, and never had lids simply rip the way these do.

For a bit more money, I really like the vittles vaults stackables. They hold a full sack, and have angled screw on lids so they can be accessed while stacked. But, they are pricey. I needed 10 of them. 20 homer buckets came it at about the price of 1-2 vittles vault.

 

[Daybis]

The one designed to hold 45 pounds of dog food holds exactly 55 pounds of grain.

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/foodStorage/bulk?productId=10006457&N=68995

I use these too for my 2-row. Specialty grains either stay in their bags or end up in plastic containers. All of my specialty grains are stored in a deep freezer.

 

[Montanaandy]

I have stored bulk grain (50 + lb bags) in plastic buckets with lid gaskets (from the local farm and ranch supply store) and they work just fine. The only problem is that it takes 2+ buckets for each bag and you start to accumulate quite a few buckets if you have a few base malts on hand (2 Row, Pilsen, Marris Otter, etc.) along with other specialty malts. Sams Club has recently had the 50+ lb dog food containers and I purchased a couple of those (they were around $20) to try. Have not had a chance to use them yet but they look like they will work nicely.

 

[HHP]

What about lots of grain?

I am planning on buying 1400lbs of grain in the central texas bulk grain buy next december/january (super cheap because of the quantity). That is a years supply of a 10 gallon batch every weekend with 25-30lbs of grain.

My plan was just to pile the bags in a closet, is that a bad idea?

 

[usfmikeb]

I wouldn't buy that much grain at once, for a couple reasons. I wouldn't want my grain to be sitting sround that long, and I'd be worried about any pest locating it in my home. Every once in a while we find an ant in our house looking for food, and that's our cue to spray again. Imagine if they found that kind of food horde, they might do it via the walls, and you'd never know it until you got into the lower grains.

Does the central texas buy only occur once per year? Can't you do it quarterly, and that way you're only storing 7 bags of grain, versus 28? With 7 bags, you'll be able to buy storage bins for them at a reasonable price, but it would take a lot for 28 bags.

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

grain weevils are pretty hungry bugs. They can easily eat thru a ziploc bag, and even through grain bags, to get to the contents.

The Homer buckets work fine, but as someone else said, the lids are pretty crappy.

I'm gonna look at the Lowe's lids to use on my Homer buckets.

Also not a bad idea to flush the buckets with CO2 right before sealing them.

M_C

 

[rico567]

I have a bunch of cat litter buckets, courtesy of my kids, very sturdy (they have to hold about 30 lb. of that clay-based cat litter). Three will hold a 50 lb. sack. One of these buckets will also hold most of the grain bills I brew, so they're handy all-around.

 

[thughes]

ZipLock "Big Bag" and a plastic tub with snap-on lid. This one holds a 55 # sack:

http://www.ziploc.com/Products/Pages/BigBags.aspx?SizeName=XXL

 

[scottland]

Walmart carries big plastic rubber maid totes for like $6. I forget which size holds 55lbs perfectly. I want to say 50QT. I just dump my grain in there, and keep it in a dry spot.

 

[HHP]

I wouldn't buy that much grain at once, for a couple reasons. I wouldn't want my grain to be sitting sround that long, and I'd be worried about any pest locating it in my home. Every once in a while we find an ant in our house looking for food, and that's our cue to spray again. Imagine if they found that kind of food horde, they might do it via the walls, and you'd never know it until you got into the lower grains.

Does the central texas buy only occur once per year? Can't you do it quarterly, and that way you're only storing 7 bags of grain, versus 28? With 7 bags, you'll be able to buy storage bins for them at a reasonable price, but it would take a lot for 28 bags.

They only do it once a year. It is super cheap, for example a 55 pound bag of 2-row is $24, a 55 pound bag of maris otter is $35.

What if I line the closet with plastic sheeting? Put it up on shelves? Move it once every couple of weeks just to make sure there are no pests?

I am determined to buy my grain this way, because it is ridiculously cheap

 

[beeber]

I try to keep mine in a industrial garbage bag inside of a large plastic bin. I currently have more than the bin can hold, so I have a bag of 2-row stored just inside a garbage bag. I've never had any issues.

 

[kpr121]

They only do it once a year. It is super cheap, for example a 55 pound bag of 2-row is $24, a 55 pound bag of maris otter is $35.

What if I line the closet with plastic sheeting? Put it up on shelves? Move it once every couple of weeks just to make sure there are no pests?

I am determined to buy my grain this way, because it is ridiculously cheap

Why not buy 50 or so buckets? If you are planning on doing similar group buys in the future, you will get your use out of them. Or you maybe dont even need that many, and use the grain stored in bags first.

I personally prefer the Lowes buckets, especially the lid. Seals much tighter, and does not break like the Homer POS lids.

 

[Sheldon]

I have gotten free buckets from Safeway and Cosco bakery departments. The price is right, but alas, it does take like 2+ pails to handle a 50 lb sack.

 

[HHP]

Why not buy 50 or so buckets? If you are planning on doing similar group buys in the future, you will get your use out of them. Or you maybe dont even need that many, and use the grain stored in bags first.

I personally prefer the Lowes buckets, especially the lid. Seals much tighter, and does not break like the Homer POS lids.

Thats a lot of buckets.

I was thinking something like that, perhaps totes? Whatever it is, it does NOT need to be food grade, right?

Even with the cost of the buckets, its still quite a bit cheaper than buying the grain at austin homebrew (my 50 mile away LHBS). Plus i'll use them next year.

The lining the closet with plastic and moving them every couple of weeks checking for pests idea is still no good?

 

[Nashbrewer]

Wouldn't a 10 gallon batch every weekend put you at 520 gallons of beer a year and well over the federal limit for a homebrewer?

 

[kpr121]

Wouldn't a 10 gallon batch every weekend put you at 520 gallons of beer a year and well over the federal limit for a homebrewer?

He has the 'supply' to be able to make that much homebrew. Of course he is not going to brew that much. I'd imagine he will stop right at his legal limit (100 gallons, or 200 if he is living with someone of legal age). Isnt that correct HHP?!

 

[HHP]

He has the 'supply' to be able to make that much homebrew. Of course he is not going to brew that much. I'd imagine he will stop right at his legal limit (100 gallons, or 200 if he is living with someone of legal age). Isnt that correct HHP?!

Exactly, I'll stop at 200 gallons of course.

So, the conclusion is: sealed plastic container for storage is really the only way (especially because I live in texas where we have lots of pests). I'll probably get enough to seal almost all of it up, whatever method is cheapest. I'll use the stuff that isn't sealed first.

 

[metaltim]

HHP, do you personally have to buy that many bags? It is a large group buy I assume.. why don't you just buy your years worth of bags, ~10 or so.. and deal with that?

my uncle does big group buys like that in CO, he gets em for mid $20s-$30 a bag as well.. but he just buys 5-6 bags.

 

[austinb]

Sounds like everyone else does the same thing I do, I happened to have a couple 5 gallon buckets when I got my first 50lb bag and thought it would be a good way to keep it fresh because they seal. They each fit about 25 lbs each so its a perfect fit (although a little too small for a 55lb bag). Also a tip for opening 5 gallon buckets since they can be tricky once you close them. Sit on the rim of the lid so that the the other side of the lid opposite of where your butt is, is between your thighs and pry that side of lid opposite your butt open with your fingers (sorry if that sounded a little odd, but it really is the best way to open a bucket).

 

[HHP]

HHP, do you personally have to buy that many bags? It is a large group buy I assume.. why don't you just buy your years worth of bags, ~10 or so.. and deal with that?

my uncle does big group buys like that in CO, he gets em for mid $20s-$30 a bag as well.. but he just buys 5-6 bags.

I guess your right, i'll place my order on the small side, around fifteen bags.

 

[IXVolt]

I use these too for my 2-row. Specialty grains either stay in their bags or end up in plastic containers. All of my specialty grains are stored in a deep freezer.

That what I use too, but I drape a blanket over it so it doesn't get any light.

 

[bad coffee]

Double bagged then into rubbermaid bins.

B