How long does crushed malt last?

[James Lawson]

Hi all,

 

Last time I went to Brewer's Coop I bought grain for a couple of beers, and since I've been busy I've only had the chance to make one of them. So I've had a bag of crushed grain sitting in my cupboard (which is coolish and fairly dry) in a plastic bag (which has some air in it unfortunately,) since the 13th of April. I am ridiculously busy and won't have a chance to brew anything until at least the 16th of June.

My grain will be stale by then, right?

[Rhyno]

Might be pushing it from what I have heard. Here is the copy & paste from the question I asked.

 

Reply by
Rhyno on
January 24, 2011 at 6:14pm

Delete

What sort of shelf life can you expect from grain?

Permalink Reply by
denimglen on
January 24, 2011 at 6:23pm

Heaps.

 

At least 6 months for uncrushed grain.  Maybe a month or so for crushed grain,.

[Rhyno]

Delete

[denimglen]

Heaps.

 

At least 6 months for uncrushed grain.  Maybe a month or so for crushed grain,.

[MrC]

In my experience both crushed and uncrushed grain keeps well if you store it in a dry, airtight environment.

 

I've used uncrushed Maris Otter that I had stored for over a year and the only thing noticed was a metallic taste creeping in. I now try to use my uncrushed base malts within 6 months of purchase, 1 year at the most.

 

Uncrushed specialty malts seem to keep indefinitely for me in dry airtight containers.

 

[Ian]

I  can't give you any scholarly feedback, James, only to say that I had sufficient grain (uncrushed) for two brews in bags, and those sealed bags in cardboard boxes, under the bed for well over a year - closer to two I guess - and when I brewed the result was fine. I must report that there was the smallest trace of the metallic taste that Mr Cherry talks about - but very slight - almost neglegable.

 

[James Lawson]

Thanks all. I actually want to make a different beer anyway now so I might just toss it. It was only 3kg anyway.