"Shelf life" for AG ingredients

[jrugman]

Hi All

Having brewed a few no-sugar added kits successfully, I now want to have a go at AG. Now I live in West Wales so will have to order my ingredients online and get it delivered. If I order say 25kg pale malt, that's going last me perhaps 5/6 months. But will it still be fit for purpose after such a period. Especially when I assume it will have been in the suppliers stock for some time, perhaps weeks already. Ditto other grains and hops? Or maybe I should just order smaller quantities as I go and just live with the delivery charges.

Any advice welcome.

Cheers, John.

[Parva]

Absolutely. Due to buying in bulk and struggling to brew often enough I'm half way through a sack of M.O. that's been in my possesion for about 9 months now and am having no problems at all with it. It's been stored in the kitchen in its sack at room temperature with no special treatment at all. Hops are stored in the freezer though I do have the luxury of being able to vacuum seal them after a recent aquisition on Ebay.

[wetdog]

Last year I bought some grain from a home brew shop and when I got it home I found it was already out of date. I couldn't be bothered to go back and change it so I used it with no problems

[Mitchamitri]

Speaking to a master brewer t'other day and he said break your sack down into smaller airtight bags as soon as you get it. Keep them in "Normal" temperature and it'll keep fine for months and months - just don't let it get too hot or cold or it may sweat.

[TC2642]

Speaking to a master brewer t'other day and he said break your sack down into smaller airtight bags as soon as you get it. Keep them in "Normal" temperature and it'll keep fine for months and months - just don't let it get too hot or cold or it may sweat.

Never found that I needed to do this, as long as it's kept in a cool dark place it'll keep fine anyway. I've had black malt that's been around for over three years and it's been fine, but I think that's down to the fact that it's been roasted.