How old is too old?

[boydak]

Hey,

I hadn't brewed in a few years. Started again this weekend. Found three cans of extract.

Down side to using them?

 

[IrregularPulse]

Maybe have excessive twang, but heck, you have them, might as well try right? I wouldn't spend a bunch of money on hops or liquid yeast for the batch, but maybe an ounce or two and some notty, see what you get.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

They are not fresh, obviously, but I see no downside to using them to get your hand back in. A few years is a long time in this game as far as I have seen. Read up on here, use them, but don't expect too much. You will most likely still end up with a drinkable beer

 

[boydak]

And a drinkable beer is what I seek.

 

[conpewter]

Probably will be drinkable, it won't be great though. Probably is a good way to get back into practice, but after that buy some fresh ingredients and have a good go at it

 

[McGarnigle]

It's all a question of how much you value time versus money. I personally worry more about the former, so I would toss them.

 

[boydak]

Why toss them? If it is going to give me a drinkable beer was it really a waste of time?

I bought fresh stuff for my first batch and figure I will give the old stuff a shot next time unless someone can tell me they have had a bad experience with it.

Thanks for all the input. What a great forum!!!!

 

[McGarnigle]

Depends on how you define drinkable. I personally wouldn't want to find out a month later that the beer could have been a lot better. But who knows? I don't think anyone can really say how much worse it will be.

 

[camiller]

I made a batch with a seven year old kit once. Was good but didn't age well. Maybe use half old half fresh. Or use it for starters. Certainly don't simply throw them away.

 

[boo boo]

I used a few cans of old extract a fews years ago to try out.

Uggg, threw it out.

But don't take my word for it. I would probably say the same thing about fresh extract

 

[boydak]

UPDATE: Well, I used one can of the old LME with 3 lbs of fresh DME. I guess it is "drinkable" but the other two cans of old LME are either going to make starters or be tossed.

 

[david_42]

I've used ten year old kits, but I turned them into a stout with new steeping grains, hops. Since everything came out of stock and I pitched on a cake, the total cost was less than $5 plus propane. Turned out fairly well.

The biggest problem is extract darkens as it ages.

 

[larrybrewer]

Using the old LME cans for starters is a great idea. Since taking a batch of beer from zero to the bottle/keg takes several hours, I'd spend the extra $20 and get fresh ingredients - that way you will want to brew again and again. I have used 6 month old extract in the past and been really disappointed, It was 'drinkable', but compared to batches that use fresh ingredients it wasn't in the same league.

 

[BuzzCraft]

+1 on the starters. i have some 3 year old extract in plastic jugs (which would fare far worse than cans) and have been using it for starters with no ill effects. i ferment out, cold crash and decant the supernatant, though....i still don't want 1.5L of unhopped old extract beer in my new brew!

 

[boydak]

Think that will be my plan.

The beer is getting a bit better every week I leave it in the bottle but not going to use the last 2 cans to brew.