jescholler
Well-Known Member
I'm an AG brewer, and my dad got me 3 Brewer's Best kits for Christmas. While his heart was in the right place, I also got a new grain mill and a pH meter from other family members, so I'd rather brew AG. I figured, not a big deal. I'll just make the kits, and while they're not exactly what I was planning to brew, they would be good beers. Then I could get on to using my other new toys.
I opened the kits yesterday and there was a little slip in there saying that there may be some 2008 hops in the kit. I looked at the date codes on the Munton's LME cans (unhopped) and they were dated around September 2008. Basically, these kits are probably 2 years old. Who knows what they've been through.
My questions are:
Do I brew with these kits? I'd rather put my time investment into making good beer (to the best of my ability, equipment, and ingredients).
Do I just tell my dad that these kits are really old, and he shouldn't buy them anymore, or do I just not brew with them and tell him I did?
I think right now, I'm leaning towards doing an experimental 2 gallon batch with one of the cans, some fresh hops, and doing a short boil (maybe 20 or 30 minutes) with some big hop charges. Get it around 40 IBUs with some good hop flavor and aroma.
What are your thoughts?
I opened the kits yesterday and there was a little slip in there saying that there may be some 2008 hops in the kit. I looked at the date codes on the Munton's LME cans (unhopped) and they were dated around September 2008. Basically, these kits are probably 2 years old. Who knows what they've been through.
My questions are:
Do I brew with these kits? I'd rather put my time investment into making good beer (to the best of my ability, equipment, and ingredients).
Do I just tell my dad that these kits are really old, and he shouldn't buy them anymore, or do I just not brew with them and tell him I did?
I think right now, I'm leaning towards doing an experimental 2 gallon batch with one of the cans, some fresh hops, and doing a short boil (maybe 20 or 30 minutes) with some big hop charges. Get it around 40 IBUs with some good hop flavor and aroma.
What are your thoughts?