Malt too old?

[Korben]

I have used a 6 month old malt and no problem. A friend just gave me an Austin Home brew bucket of malt and bag of grain that is exactly a year old you thing this stuff is ok?

 

[nealf]

Has it been through a grinder? If not, no worries... if so, I would probably do it anyway... just to see if it would convert.

 

[Korben]

Malt bucket never open.

Grain is in bag it came in and he had in ground before it was shipped.

 

[mezak1gd]

Assuming air never got to it I don't see why not. I'm still using grain in vacuum sealed bags from about 6-7 months and haven't even thought about it. I just got like 83% efficiency so I don't think its a problem. Tastes great too.

 

[FlyGuy]

It could be fine. Take a handfull and eat it. If it has staled, you will probably taste it. If you have some fresh malt to compare too, even better.

 

[Korben]

It could be fine. Take a handfull and eat it. If it has staled, you will probably taste it. If you have some fresh malt to compare too, even better.

ok will do.

 

[Scimmia]

Malt bucket never open.

Grain is in bag it came in and he had in ground before it was shipped.

I think your terms here are confusing people. Malt is the grain, what you're talking about in the bucket would (I'm guessing) be extract. Is the extract liquid or dry? Dry will last a long time, liquid will have some degradation after a year.

 

[IceFisherChris]

Brew it and see! I would never let a beer kit go to waste

 

[brrman]

hell, I've used year-old grain before that was kept in a ziplock and the beer came out great...

 

[david_42]

You don't need to eat more than a teaspoonful to tell if it is stale.

 

[Korben]

I think your terms here are confusing people. Malt is the grain, what you're talking about in the bucket would (I'm guessing) be extract. Is the extract liquid or dry? Dry will last a long time, liquid will have some degradation after a year.

Yes sorry.. should have made it more clear.

Bucket = Malt Extract

Grain = Specialty Grain

Essentially a Brew kit.

 

[rvbrewer]

I would check the extract before you start brewing.

I started a partial mash using an 6 month old recipe kit. To my surprise after opening the bucket right in time for the addition, the malt extract had mold all throughout.

I chalked it up to the moist climate, but it sure ruined my day!!

 

[Korben]

I would check the extract before you start brewing.

I started a partial mash using an 6 month old recipe kit. To my surprise after opening the bucket right in time for the addition, the malt extract had mold all throughout.

I chalked it up to the moist climate, but it sure ruined my day!!

good to know will do!

 

[Austinhomebrew]

I would bet the extract is moldy. It is perishable like cheese. If you left cheese at room temp for 6 months to a year I would bet it would be moldy too.

You can probably use the grain without any problem if the weevils have not hatched.

Forrest

 

[twst1up]

I would bet the extract is moldy. It is perishable like cheese. If you left cheese at room temp for 6 months to a year I would bet it would be moldy too.

You can probably use the grain without any problem if the weevils have not hatched.

Forrest

hatching weevils? Should i be concerned with uncracked malt inside sealed homer buckets...bout 9 months old?
and i had no idea extract will go bad...even canned lme? i have a unopened bag of dme kept at room temp for starters...should i be refrigerating it?

 

[Scimmia]

canned LME won't go moldy so easily, it's canned sterile. It will go bad with age, though, it'll darken and take on some off flavors. DME will keep a long, long time as long as it's kept dry.

Keeping the grain in a cool dry place is a must. This will keep the weevils at bay for most people.