Modifying a Golden Ale Beer Kit

[STStunner]

I have a golden ale beer kit that I plan on brewing during the next couple of weeks or so. The instructions call for adding 2.2 pounds of table sugar along with the included ingredients to reach a final ABV of 4.6%. I have 6.6 pounds of golden light liquid malt extract already on hand, so I'd like to know if I skipped out on adding the table sugar and instead put in the 6.6 pounds of LME, what would my estimated ABV then be? I would also like to know if doing this would brew a better tasting beer than using all of that sugar would? I've added up to four pounds of table sugar in previous beer batches. It obviously does raise up the ABV quite a bit, but it also seems to add a noticeably unpleasant cider-like undertaste, which I would like to try and avoid if at all possible this go around.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

what would my estimated ABV then be?

Assuming a 5.5 gal batch, an estimate for the other kit ingredients, and 75% AA yeast, probably between 6.2% and 6.6%.

eta: /r/homebrewing topic related to sugar

 

[STStunner]

Okay, this particular kit is for 6-gallons, but that should still be close enough. I'm planning on replacing the unknown yeast that came with the kit with a better yeast strain, which I've yet to decide upon and purchase. Most likely the yeast packet that came with it is already pretty old, or at least that's been what my experience with brewing similar kits in the past has been.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

 

[hungupdown]

If the yeast is old, then the hops will also be old. So you should maybe add some hop extract.
Last year I did a long forgotton amber ale kit, that was years out of date. And used a new yeast.
It produced a lovely malty beer, but lacked any bitterness.

 

[mac_1103]

Is this a pre-hopped LME kit? If it is, I'd be a lot more worried about the extract than the yeast.

Also, one can always plug the kit ingredients and any modifications into the free Brewer's Friend complete recipe builder to get a pretty good idea of ABV, IBU, etc.

 

[STStunner]

It's pre-hopped, I may consider adding some hop extract alongside the new and hopefully better yeast. I've been told that the yeast that some of these kit manufacturers use is already past its optimal usage date before it's ever bundled together with the rest of the ingredients, then of course it ages even further by the time that it sits on the shelf before it's eventually purchased and finally brewed. The unnamed yeast has no manufacture's date or name/strain printed on the packet, which is why I thought about most likely repalcing it before I begin my next brew.

 

[RM-MN]

It's pre-hopped, I may consider adding some hop extract alongside the new and hopefully better yeast. I've been told that the yeast that some of these kit manufacturers use is already past its optimal usage date before it's ever bundled together with the rest of the ingredients, then of course it ages even further by the time that it sits on the shelf before it's eventually purchased and finally brewed. The unnamed yeast has no manufacture's date or name/strain printed on the packet, which is why I thought about most likely repalcing it before I begin my next brew.

it has been estimated that dry yeast loses about 2% of its viability per year. Old yeast isn't a problem. However, you may want a different strain of yeast so for only a few dollars it isn't a real budget buster.