Are my Grains and Hop Pellets too Old

[licquyd]

Maybe last november I bought some ingredients for a Nut Brown, the hop pellets and grains have been sitting in a bag since then.

Are they still good, they don't look rotten or anything. Just wondering if I should toss them and get another batch (it cost $20 Canadian)

 

[ACbrewer]

Get another batch and toss them in!!!

Old grains - They should keep, most of the interest is the sugars, and if they aren't moldly or off smelling, then they should be good.

Hops are a different matter - how were they stored? fridge? sealed up? etc Old hops often degrade in bitterness, but not in perserative effect. If you make the mild belgiums (like a lambic) they are good for that.

But I'm back with my opening statement - get some more esp hops and toss everything in

 

[Shaneoco1981]

Pellets last the longest out of all the types of hops. If they are still good? Probably. I don't know. The only way to really now is to use them. If you have more then enough hops, I would recommend adding some extra because while they may not be bad, some of the Alpha Acid has broken down by now.

 

[licquyd]

thanks

 

[DirtBagRob]

I bought a extract amber ale kit (specialty grains, Liquid Malt Extract, Hops, and yes, the yeast too) in March 2009 and somehow it got lost in my closet. I cleaned my closet in October 2010. I brewed it up the next day. I added a few different things to it for experimentation purposes (maple syrup, honey, dry hopped with whole cloves) so I don't know exactly how it would have come out as is. The hops definitely didn't have much bitterness left but it was still good beer. Not great, but good. It did start to taste like it was starting to go bad after about 2 months in the bottle though, not sure if thats related to the age of the ingredients or not. I doubt it will hurt you.