Look what I have learn today.
How to open sawed grain bags.
It is much faster then cutting it off.
http://www.weyermann.de/eng/produkte_neu.asp?go=ms&umenue=yes&idmenue=37&sprache=2
Cut off completely the braided threads dangling at the end of the seam
Pull the white thread out of the red loop
Then pull gently on the white thread until the entire seam is unraveled and the bag is fully open
Thank you Weyermann.
I remember opening grain bags like this when I worked on my dad’s farm. But since I’ve been homebrewing I have never been able to remember how to do it and always resort to just slashing the bag open. Thanks for the guide!
This is one time being raised on a farm and over 25 years in the seed industry pays off.
Learned this trick at Sierra Nevada from Scott Jennings.
Some bags are all white thread, but you get the hang of it after a while. Did this on a bag of lump charcoal not too long ago, all white threads. The Germans have it figured out. 
my wife gets chicken feed in bags like that and we figured it out after the 2nd or 3rd time hacking and slashing to get it open heh
perfect timing. I was having troubles the other day and wanted to post the question but was too enbarassed. :
I only through about 3 sacks a year so by the time it is time to open a new bag I have forgotten.
Thanks for posting.
there are few more satisfying ways to start a brew session than to gently pull the red with no resistance and have a cleanly opened bag.
sadly, I have that weyermann page saved in my iphone and usually need to review it before attempting - you’d think after several years I’d have the hang of it!
I learned this when I was 8 years old on the farm. I still struggle with Rahr bags, some days I just can’t get the right string.
Paul
Yes…I learned that trick by chance one time, and have used it ever since.
Thanks for the link! Like a blind squirrel I find the acorn, err string, every once in awhile. This “should” improve my odds. :-[
Damn, now I feel like I’m the only one who didn’t know this trick. I usually just cut the bag open with scissors.
I must have opened a 1000 bags of sweet feed like that in my life. That zziiippppp would bring the goats running.
zziiippppp. If that isn’t a word, it should be – what a great onomatopoeia.
That’s a good trick when they use 2 strings, but some only use one. It can still be opened by pulling the string, but you have to look a little closer at which side to start at.