I know there's been a few threads on here about the age of grain being a concern for brewing. I've got about 10# of Continental pils left over from over 2 years ago. I don't think anyone's pushed past the 1 year mark on these threads. I don't have any fresh pils to compare it to and I'm going to crush a handful just for a taste test and sniff test. Any advice on what to look for in quality of grain, or degradation of grain? The biggest concern for me is that I'm going to use it in a light German style lager. If it were a darker style of beer, I probably wouldn't think twice about it.
inspect for larvae and bug carcass before you crush. even if the grain has been sealed all this time, critters can get in at packaging. you might want to keep it around to blend with fresh ingredients, though if it is stale its stale. and its got to go. Cheers.
I bought a bag of Weyermann Pils in early Nov. It has a best by date of March 2014. Was probably from the 2013 harvest. It should last over a year if stored properly.
It's been 2 years, and I haven't gotten through the bag, you think I'm going to try to blend it with fresh grains? It'll last another 2 years. Thanks for the advice on pests and stale grains. Still not sure what to look for on the stale factor.
I'd chew some and compare the taste to the taste of fresher grains. If the old grain doesn't taste quite right...then it's time to end its misery.
