Brewing Master

Question:

I’m also considering buying in bulk.  One thing I’ve found with online stores is that they consider 50-55# bags bulk, and naturally they’re not going to crack all that for you, so a mill of some sort becomes a necessity.

  Why wouldn’t they crack it for you?  They mill my ten pound orders.  And I don’t think I’m the only one who has them do that.  So they may actually mill much more than 55 pounds of grain on some days.   The issue is more that you are not going to use all 55 pounds in one brew session.  And the milled grains won’t stay as fresh for the next several months as they would is they weren’t milled. Anyone have any ideas on how much volume a 55# bag of grain takes up, and what is the best way to store it?  If it takes up about the same room as my 6.8 gallon fermenter, it’ll fit in the fridge til I lager again.

  My guess is that it will take up more room than that. Maybe 2-2.5 times that amount of space.  Just a guess, though.   Eric N.

Response:

In fact, it is undesirable to store your grain in the fridge.  The enemies of malt are critters and moisture.  I store my base malt just in the sack, making sure it is fairly tightly closed.  For the specialty malts, I keep them in plastic zip bags, which I place in one of those oversized rubbermaid storage containers.  I suppose that if you have a rodent problem, you could store the malt sack in a garbage container.

   Good advice.  I don’t have a rodent problem– it’s a feature! After 5 years I’ve "collected" a dozen or so mice but have seen no sign of them in my grain, which is stored in a variety of lidded plastic containers.  One standard US garbage can (55 gallons?) will fit two 50-pound sacks of grain with room on top for maybe 25-35 pounds of additional grain in ziploc bags. I have also used malt that I’ve had for over four years.  No problem – but it’s obviously better if you can use it up sooner than that (both for grain quality and for volume of homebrew).

   I notice some degradation (slight softening, usualy with a 5% drop in mashing efficiency) after a year or so.  We try to do a bulk buy each year so some decent planning can cover it. — Joel Plutchak "Life is nothing if not an ongoing suckfest of trade-offs." – Beatleboy Jay

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In fact, it is undesirable to store your grain in the fridge.  The enemies of malt are critters and moisture.  I store my base malt just in the sack, making sure it is fairly tightly closed.  For the specialty malts, I keep them in plastic zip bags, which I place in one of those oversized rubbermaid storage containers.  I suppose that if you have a rodent problem, you could store the malt sack in a garbage container.   Good advice.  I don’t have a rodent problem– it’s a feature! After 5 years I’ve "collected" a dozen or so mice but have seen no sign of them in my grain, which is stored in a variety of lidded plastic containers.  One standard US garbage can (55 gallons?) will fit two 50-pound sacks of grain with room on top for maybe 25-35 pounds of additional grain in ziploc bags. I have also used malt that I’ve had for over four years.  No problem – but it’s obviously better if you can use it up sooner than that (both for grain quality and for volume of homebrew).   I notice some degradation (slight softening, usualy with a 5% drop in mashing efficiency) after a year or so.  We try to do a bulk buy each year so some decent planning can cover it. —

That may very well be.  After four years off, I wouldn’t be sure if my skills were rusty or my taste buds & memory of grain quality were failing me.  The bottom line for me is, if the malt is still crunchy, it’s good.  

Response:

For what it’s worth, I picked up a 50# bag of grain on Monday and fit it in a 10 gallon Rubbermaid container (to the top).  I am also happy to say that it is half gone already, I was on vacation this week and have been a busy little brewer ;-

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In fact, it is undesirable to store your grain in the fridge.  The enemies of malt are critters and moisture.  I store my base malt just in the sack, making sure it is fairly tightly closed.  For the specialty malts, I keep them in plastic zip bags, which I place in one of those oversized rubbermaid storage containers.  I suppose that if you have a rodent problem, you could store the malt sack in a garbage container.   Good advice.  I don’t have a rodent problem– it’s a feature! After 5 years I’ve "collected" a dozen or so mice but have seen no sign of them in my grain, which is stored in a variety of lidded plastic containers.  One standard US garbage can (55 gallons?) will fit two 50-pound sacks of grain with room on top for maybe 25-35 pounds of additional grain in ziploc bags. I have also used malt that I’ve had for over four years.  No problem – but it’s obviously better if you can use it up sooner than that (both for grain quality and for volume of homebrew).   I notice some degradation (slight softening, usualy with a 5% drop in mashing efficiency) after a year or so.  We try to do a bulk buy each year so some decent planning can cover it. — That may very well be.  After four years off, I wouldn’t be sure if my skills were rusty or my taste buds & memory of grain quality were failing me.  The bottom line for me is, if the malt is still crunchy, it’s good.

Response:

I just brewed a Kolsch style ale and was wondering about efficiency.  I used 9 lbs pale malt and 12 oz. of Carapils.  Beginning gravity was 67.27 = 71.3%    Is this correct???   Also I am thinking of buying pale malt in bulk.  With so many different brands out there.  What is a good brand and where do you get it?  Do they have free shipping?  Thanks in advance.

Response:

Also I am thinking of buying pale malt in bulk.  With so many different brands out there.  What is a good brand and where do you get it?  Do they have free shipping?  Thanks in advance.

I’m also considering buying in bulk.  One thing I’ve found with online stores is that they consider 50-55# bags bulk, and naturally they’re not going to crack all that for you, so a mill of some sort becomes a necessity. Anyone have any ideas on how much volume a 55# bag of grain takes up, and what is the best way to store it?  If it takes up about the same room as my 6.8 gallon fermenter, it’ll fit in the fridge til I lager again. Scott

Response:

You don’t need to refridgerate. It will keep for several years with reasonable care. Keep the bag sealed as good as possible and you won’t have a problem. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Also I am thinking of buying pale malt in bulk.  With so many different brands out there.  What is a good brand and where do you get it?  Do they have free shipping?  Thanks in advance. I’m also considering buying in bulk.  One thing I’ve found with online stores is that they consider 50-55# bags bulk, and naturally they’re not going to crack all that for you, so a mill of some sort becomes a necessity. Anyone have any ideas on how much volume a 55# bag of grain takes up, and what is the best way to store it?  If it takes up about the same room as my 6.8 gallon fermenter, it’ll fit in the fridge til I lager again. Scott

Response:

Using your grain bill and 5.5 gallon batch size, I get 75% efficiency with your 1.048 og.   I don’t worry too much about the base malt brand.  There are so many more variables that will affect the outcome of your brew more intensely like choice of yeast, fermentation temperature, sanitation, etc. Kelvin – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks to all that replied on how to store the grain.  But where do you buy it and what brand.  There is so many different brands,  I don’t know which is a good kind.  Do they have free shipping?    Also are efficiency figures correct??    Thanks

Response:

Personally, I like to buy grain from a company that matches the type of beer I’m brewing. English malt for English beers. Continental malt for pilsners, bocks, etc and American for American styles. The biggest difference is in the Continental malts. Expensive but worth every penny. Burp, -Dan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks to all that replied on how to store the grain.  But where do you buy it and what brand.  There is so many different brands,  I don’t know which is a good kind.  Do they have free shipping?    Also are efficiency figures correct??     Thanks At the store we store 55 lb bags in two 7 gal buckets.  Six gallon were fine for 50 lb bags, but not enough for 55. You would not want the store to crush you bag of grain for a lot of reasons not the least of which is the fact that it will stratify very badly. You would get a lot of husk on top and a lot of flour on the bottom and, unless you use the whole bag at once in a single batch, you can never reassemble an even distribution. —  Dan Listermann Check out our new E-tail site at http://www.listermann.com Take a look at the anti-telemarketer forum.  It is my new hobby! Also I am thinking of buying pale malt in bulk.  With so many different brands out there.  What is a good brand and where do you get it?  Do they have free shipping?  Thanks in advance. I’m also considering buying in bulk.  One thing I’ve found with online stores is that they consider 50-55# bags bulk, and naturally they’re not going to crack all that for you, so a mill of some sort becomes a necessity. Anyone have any ideas on how much volume a 55# bag of grain takes up, and what is the best way to store it?  If it takes up about the same room as my 6.8 gallon fermenter, it’ll fit in the fridge til I lager again. Scott

Response:

Also I am thinking of buying pale malt in bulk.  With so many different brands out there.  What is a good brand and where do you get it?  Do they have free shipping?  Thanks in advance. I’m also considering buying in bulk.  One thing I’ve found with online stores is that they consider 50-55# bags bulk, and naturally they’re not going to crack all that for you, so a mill of some sort becomes a necessity. Anyone have any ideas on how much volume a 55# bag of grain takes up, and what is the best way to store it?  If it takes up about the same room as my 6.8 gallon fermenter, it’ll fit in the fridge til I lager again. Scott

It won’t fit…. I was working with 31 pounds of grain over the weekend and keeping the crushed grain in the typical plastic buckets. At best I would have filled two of them… there isn’t any universal law that says you couldn’t store your grain in several of them though… I went out and found some large plastic bins, kind of like a big storage bin most brew stores keep their fancier grains in…. I then empty the sack into a heavy duty garden waste trash back, close it up, then put the bag into the bin. I’ve bought from my local brew store if for no other reason than to help him stay in business. He pays the shipping up front, I pay it when I pick it up. I wouldn’t say I get the best price in the world, but to me it’s worth it to keep my local guy going. Matt Jarvis The BrewDomain www.brewdomain.com

Response:

I am not aware of any "bad" brands. Compare our bulk pricing plus fair shipping before going for "free" shipping.  You will be surprised how much "free" costs. —  Dan Listermann Check out our new E-tail site at http://www.listermann.com Take a look at the anti-telemarketer forum.  It is my new hobby!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks to all that replied on how to store the grain.  But where do you buy it and what brand.  There is so many different brands,  I don’t know which is a good kind.  Do they have free shipping?    Also are efficiency figures correct??     Thanks At the store we store 55 lb bags in two 7 gal buckets.  Six gallon were fine for 50 lb bags, but not enough for 55. You would not want the store to crush you bag of grain for a lot of reasons not the least of which is the fact that it will stratify very badly. You would get a lot of husk on top and a lot of flour on the bottom and, unless you use the whole bag at once in a single batch, you can never reassemble an even distribution. —  Dan Listermann Check out our new E-tail site at http://www.listermann.com Take a look at the anti-telemarketer forum.  It is my new hobby! Also I am thinking of buying pale malt in bulk.  With so many different brands out there.  What is a good brand and where do you get it?  Do they have free shipping?  Thanks in advance. I’m also considering buying in bulk.  One thing I’ve found with online stores is that they consider 50-55# bags bulk, and naturally they’re not going to crack all that for you, so a mill of some sort becomes a necessity. Anyone have any ideas on how much volume a 55# bag of grain takes up, and what is the best way to store it?  If it takes up about the same room as my 6.8 gallon fermenter, it’ll fit in the fridge til I lager again. Scott

Response:

Thanks to all that replied on how to store the grain.  But where do you buy it and what brand.  There is so many different brands,  I don’t know which is a good kind.  Do they have free shipping?    Also are efficiency figures correct??     Thanks – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – At the store we store 55 lb bags in two 7 gal buckets.  Six gallon were fine for 50 lb bags, but not enough for 55. You would not want the store to crush you bag of grain for a lot of reasons not the least of which is the fact that it will stratify very badly.  You would get a lot of husk on top and a lot of flour on the bottom and, unless you use the whole bag at once in a single batch, you can never reassemble an even distribution. —  Dan Listermann Check out our new E-tail site at http://www.listermann.com Take a look at the anti-telemarketer forum.  It is my new hobby! Also I am thinking of buying pale malt in bulk.  With so many different brands out there.  What is a good brand and where do you get it?  Do they have free shipping?  Thanks in advance. I’m also considering buying in bulk.  One thing I’ve found with online stores is that they consider 50-55# bags bulk, and naturally they’re not going to crack all that for you, so a mill of some sort becomes a necessity. Anyone have any ideas on how much volume a 55# bag of grain takes up, and what is the best way to store it?  If it takes up about the same room as my 6.8 gallon fermenter, it’ll fit in the fridge til I lager again. Scott

Response:

At the store we store 55 lb bags in two 7 gal buckets.  Six gallon were fine for 50 lb bags, but not enough for 55. You would not want the store to crush you bag of grain for a lot of reasons not the least of which is the fact that it will stratify very badly.  You would get a lot of husk on top and a lot of flour on the bottom and, unless you use the whole bag at once in a single batch, you can never reassemble an even distribution. —  Dan Listermann Check out our new E-tail site at http://www.listermann.com Take a look at the anti-telemarketer forum.  It is my new hobby!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Also I am thinking of buying pale malt in bulk.  With so many different brands out there.  What is a good brand and where do you get it?  Do they have free shipping?  Thanks in advance. I’m also considering buying in bulk.  One thing I’ve found with online stores is that they consider 50-55# bags bulk, and naturally they’re not going to crack all that for you, so a mill of some sort becomes a necessity. Anyone have any ideas on how much volume a 55# bag of grain takes up, and what is the best way to store it?  If it takes up about the same room as my 6.8 gallon fermenter, it’ll fit in the fridge til I lager again. Scott

Response:

i’ve found i get get a bag into 2, 5 gallon buckets with a tight lid, i usually use a plastic garbage can liner( note folks have found liners impregnated with insecticides and scented, mine arn’t.) as extra air shield. no need to refrigerate, malt should stay fresh at least a year

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You don’t need to refridgerate. It will keep for several years with reasonable care. Keep the bag sealed as good as possible and you won’t have a problem. Also I am thinking of buying pale malt in bulk.  With so many different brands out there.  What is a good brand and where do you get it?  Do they have free shipping?  Thanks in advance. I’m also considering buying in bulk.  One thing I’ve found with online stores is that they consider 50-55# bags bulk, and naturally they’re not going to crack all that for you, so a mill of some sort becomes a necessity. Anyone have any ideas on how much volume a 55# bag of grain takes up, and what is the best way to store it?  If it takes up about the same room as my 6.8 gallon fermenter, it’ll fit in the fridge til I lager again. Scott

In fact, it is undesirable to store your grain in the fridge.  The enemies of malt are critters and moisture.  I store my base malt just in the sack, making sure it is fairly tightly closed.  For the specialty malts, I keep them in plastic zip bags, which I place in one of those oversized rubbermaid storage containers.  I suppose that if you have a rodent problem, you could store the malt sack in a garbage container. I have also used malt that I’ve had for over four years.  No problem – but it’s obviously better if you can use it up sooner than that (both for grain quality and for volume of homebrew). Kelvin

Response: