Mk010101

Recipes 

How long do packages of malt extract last? A friend has a kit from williams that he hasn't used and while the yeast is probably gone, I was wondering if the extract would still be ok to use. He said it could be about a year old.

RichBrewer

Recipes 

I would say it is still good if it was stored in a cool place.

__________________
Cheers,
Rich

WAGNER BREWING

Recipes 

I think you would know when you opened it if it was bad or not

__________________
Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish;Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. -- The Bible, Proverbs, Chapter 31 verse 6 and 7

Primary #1: I'll be Bock

Primary #2: Ash Red Lager

Secondary: Empty

Bottled: Rengaw Leaf Stout

Up Next: Unsure...

Thinking About: Banana Spice(?), Scottish Ale

david_42

Recipes 

I've never used anything more than 6 years old, so hard to tell. LME darkens slowly as it ages, but it is packed sterile. In a one year old kit, the only thing I would worry about is the yeast and making a starter would resolve that concern.

__________________
Remember one unassailable statistic, as explained by the late, great George Carlin: "Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!"

Jim Karr

Recipes 

An old fart in my hometown gave me a 3.5kg can of "Geordie's american light" extract this spring. As a lark, I brewed up a batch using it, adding some hops and some extra grain .

As I opened the heated can, the pressure from within was so great that the lid popped up, hitting my knuckles really hard. This extract was really dark.

Smelled ok as I brewed, fermented really well, cleared out beautifully in the bottle.

Tastes HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think this stuff was probably 20 years old, or so. I learned my lesson not to waste my time and other ingredients.

__________________
As for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord. Joshua




"God is great, beer is good, people are crazy." Some country artist

david_42

Recipes 

Any can that is pressurized (and shouldn't be) is probably infected with something nasty, like anaerobic bacteria.

__________________
Remember one unassailable statistic, as explained by the late, great George Carlin: "Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!"

debtman7

Recipes 

It depends on the type of extract. If it's a year old, DME or LME that's packed in the original sealed can (i.e. muntons 3.3 lb cans or such) are fine. If it's bulk LME (i.e. the kit packed the LME from a bulk container into a milk jug or other non original container), toss it.

EdWort

Recipes 

If it's in a vacuum bag from Williams, it's probably still good. I used a couple that were 7 years old to make some mini mashes and they turned out good.

__________________
Cheers,

EdWort



Haus Pale Ale, Bavarian Hefeweizen, Robust Porter, Oktoberfest Ale, Wounded Knee IPA, Rye IPA, BCB IPA, Kolsch, Apfelwein

Follow me on Twitter

drinker

Recipes 

I brewed with two 3.3 lb munton cans on 11-4-06 and the LME seems, so far, to be just fine.

The syrup was slightly darker though.