Vaccuum Sealing Grains?

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The Pol

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Hey, question... I have this bitchin sealer showing up in a couple days and I am going to buy ALL of my hops for 2009 and ALL of my grains for 2009 as well. (taking advantage of flat rate shipping and bulk buying).

Would it be plausible to vaccuum store smaller ammounts of specialty grains? I am talking up to 2-3 pounds? Or would it even be benficial to just SEAL the grain bags to keep the uncrushed grain fresh?

Curious... I want to order once... I have all of my recipes laid out for 2009! Also, how long is a yeats pack viable... say, dry and liquid yeasts? Before they "expire"? Never paid much attention to how far out these dates generally are.
 
I keep 1-2 pounds of specialty grains in tupperware type containers, and any extra that I have get sealed up with the foodsaver. I don't know that there is any benefit to vacuum sealing them, but I figure it can't hurt. I also store the vac'd bags in the freezer like hops.
 
In my opinion, vac-sealing the grain is a waste of a bag. I use quart sized mason jars for 1 pound of specialty and 12 qt Rubbermaid for 15 pound lots; I have pics in my gallery of my grain storage rack. If you want to seal them in bags, just use the heat strip and don't activate the vacuum mechanism.
 
Pol - step away from the vaccuum sealer! :D

seriously, at least wait until you get it (mine showed up today by the way). Pretty soon you're gonna be vaccumm sealing thermometers and hydrometers....

as for yeast - there's a date on the foil packs for dry and depending on how fast the LHBS cycles through, they're usually good for 1-3 years out. I think I've got some in the 2010-2012 range right now.

You have your whole '09 brewing season planned right now?
 
Pol - step away from the vaccuum sealer! :D

seriously, at least wait until you get it (mine showed up today by the way). Pretty soon you're gonna be vaccumm sealing thermometers and hydrometers....

as for yeast - there's a date on the foil packs for dry and depending on how fast the LHBS cycles through, they're usually good for 1-3 years out. I think I've got some in the 2010-2012 range right now.

You have your whole '09 brewing season planned right now?

I do, I have a spreadsheet of grains and hops put together that spans (8) recipes and (10) batches. Placing ONE order with Ed at Brewmasters for grains, hops from Freshops (sorry Niko... I need varieties that you dont carry). Ed has the best price to my house, so that is where I am going for 2009 grains.
 
Personally I just use the vacuum sealer for the hops. I got some of those Homer Bucket from HD and to hold #50 grain sealed tight. My LHBS sells these plastic jars the hold #6 each that I use for specialty grains...Once the refund check gets here I am going to need 6 more homer buckets.:ban:
 
Pol, there are some users who vac seal all their grains. I can't remember who..... he breaks down bulk bags into like 2# packs and stores them that way. I don't know if it would be worth it, but it would be convenient once it was done.
 
Flaked Maize, Bulk Quantity 0100576 lbs oz $1.49/lb $2.98
Briess 2 Row Caramel 20 0101444 lbs oz $1.35/lb $2.70
Briess 2 Row Caramel 60 0101446 lbs oz $1.35/lb $1.35
Briess 2 Row Caramel 120 0101448 lbs oz $1.35/lb $0.68
Gambrinus Honey Malt 0101464 lbs oz $1.45/lb $0.36
Muton's Maris Otter 0101465 lbs oz $1.55/lb $40.31
Belgian Pilsner 0101468 lbs oz $1.55/lb $10.47
Briess Vienna 0101471 lbs oz $1.55/lb $8.14
Gambrinus Munich 0101472 lbs oz $1.55/lb $9.30
Rahr Standard 2-Row 0101475 lbs oz $1.15/lb $46.02
Rahr Standard 6-Row 0101476 lbs oz $1.15/lb $1.15
Simpsons Chocolate 0101485 lbs oz $1.65/lb $0.82
Simpsons Black Malt 0101486 lbs oz $1.65/lb $0.21
Caramel Pils 0101488 lbs oz $1.65/lb $4.54
Caramel Vienna 0101489 lbs oz $1.65/lb $0.82
Special B 0101491 lbs oz $1.65/lb $1.03
Aromatic 0101492 lbs oz $1.65/lb $1.65
Weyermann Pale Wheat 0101508 lbs oz $1.60/lb $8.00
Thomas Fawcett Crystal Malt 45 0101955 lbs oz $1.35/lb $5.40
Product Total $145.93

That is the grain... many quantities are small, that is why I am talking about vaccuum sealing them. I wont seal the 2 row and Maris... but the specialty grains.

I need to buy about 24 ounces of hops, to add to the 11 ounces that I already have at home.

EDIT: Dropped the hammer on 24 more ounces of hops... for a total of 35 ounces for 2009 brews! Thanks Freshops!
 
As far as yeast, I was at my lhbs on Saturday and they gave were giving a way a few of there older liquid yeasts. I got some Wyeast bavarian Wheat.

Anyway the date was July 08 and she said they were supposed to sell them within 5 months of that date... I'm not worried, I'll make a starter.
 
Ed at Brewmasters just said he would make sure each packet has a suitable date... through 2009, before shipping them. Sweet.
 
...still looking for bags big enough for vacuum sealing my MLT between mashes...:drunk:
I usually seal the grains that I am not going to use in the next several months, like Black Patent, etc. but don't vacuum seal my regular malts like crystal 40L, 60L, etc. I buy all of my hope from hopsdirect and they get sealed up ASAP.
 
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