Beer Forum

Thinking about getting into buying grain in bulk. What is the proper way to store it? I am sure moisture is a concern, so I imagine I should use a "DampRid" type of dessicator or something similar. Is it nessacary for the container to be airtight? I was thinking of just throwing it in a large Rubbermaid storage container with a dessicator for the moisture and keep it in a closet. Will this work?

Yes. Any sort of air/critter-tight container stored in a cool and dry location is the way to go.

So air-tight is a requirement?

I have three of these containers for bulk grain.
http://www.m-m-industries.com/catalog/l ... nainer.htm
Each will hold a 50 lb sack of grain.

I was planning on using something similar to this:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... d=10401053
If I used one of these, would I need to make a seal around the lid so that it is airtight?

Those will be fine if you are keeping the grain in the bags it came in. The issue is moisture and bugs/mice. Keep everything wrapped up tight and you'll be fine. If you have a cool place to store it that would be great too. You could add a thin strip of weatherstripping to the inside of the lid for a better seal still.

The 50 lb sacks have an interior plastic layer. I simply squeeze out all the air, twist the plastic layer really tight, and close with a twist tie. Then the bag goes into a large non-airtight plastic bin to keep critters out. Have never had a problem with this method.

For this application I always recommend the Vittles Vault, http://www.gamma2.net/, designed for pet food (and accordingly sold at many pet stores) but perfect for malt. And whenever I am asked I always tell of how I found a forgotten one five years after it was placed there in my dank basement and how the grain still smelled fresh and sweet and converted nicely (though I didn't dare use it an actual beer). The secret is that the lid screws into the container and there is an o-ring which makes a vapor, bug, rodent proof seal.

They come in several configurations and sizes. The most useful holds a 55 lb sack of malt with room to spare. They stack and there are ones that can be opened from the side (so you can get grain out of the one on the bottom of the stack without having to take others off.