Old Can of Malt

[Moonpile]

I'm just getting restarted with brewing afte ~10 year hiatus. I'm going through my stuff and my brother in law had a brewkit with ingredients from probably about 5 + years ago. He gave me all of it.

The dry malt was caked, the ground grain is probably useless and the hops and yeast are probably no good, but there is a can of John Bull Amber Unhopped Malt Extract.

I think the can should still be good. Am I right? Any thoughts or concerns? There's no visible rust or distress to the can.

If it is I'll have to start thinking about what to use it in!

Moon

 

[RickWG]

I'm just getting restarted with brewing afte ~10 year hiatus. I'm going through my stuff and my brother in law had a brewkit with ingredients from probably about 5 + years ago. He gave me all of it.

The dry malt was caked, the ground grain is probably useless and the hops and yeast are probably no good, but there is a can of John Bull Amber Unhopped Malt Extract.

I think the can should still be good. Am I right? Any thoughts or concerns? There's no visible rust or distress to the can.

If it is I'll have to start thinking about what to use it in!

Moon

I've heard that old cans of ME can have a metal taste. Cheap enough to just buy new ingredients.

 

[TheJadedDog]

I wouldn't use it for the reason stated above, you'll likely get some metallic off flavors or extract "twang". I would just buy a new ingredient kit.

 

[Ryanh1801]

I would go with a new one. For a few bucks why risk the taste of your beer? Its just not worth it.

 

[krispy d]

I'd use it.

not really but I sometimes feel the need to swim upstream. I hate to see a thread where everyone agrees... :wink:

servey says: throw it out they're cheap!

 

[lostnfoam]

well i would have to go with the others on this. the old can will probably have some metal taste... you know how long you had what about how long it was on the shelf. also LME will change to a darker color due to it chemical make up i will have to look in the books to tell you what it s call. ahh hey 10 13 bucks shouldnt hurt you to much and the DME should still be good you will just have to work it around so it melts.

 

[razyrsharpe]

I'm just getting restarted with brewing afte ~10 year hiatus. I'm going through my stuff and my brother in law had a brewkit with ingredients from probably about 5 + years ago. He gave me all of it.

The dry malt was caked, the ground grain is probably useless and the hops and yeast are probably no good, but there is a can of John Bull Amber Unhopped Malt Extract.

I think the can should still be good. Am I right? Any thoughts or concerns? There's no visible rust or distress to the can.

If it is I'll have to start thinking about what to use it in!

Moon

i too have just picked up the brewing bug again. started in '96 and today i brewed my first batch since 2001. hoping i remember how...

 

[Glibbidy]

I have not brewed with extract in years, but I do recall something equivalent to a best used before date. I'd toss the can or use is as a door stop.
Would hate to see you put all that time and effort into a batch only to have to toss it cuz the product was (extremely old) past it's date.

 

[Trappist Artist]

What do people think of using it to make a yeast starter and then decanting off the liquid on top?

I just hate to see 15 bucks go to waste

 

[Moonpile]

What do people think of using it to make a yeast starter and then decanting off the liquid on top?

I just hate to see 15 bucks go to waste

I'm not really bothering with yeast starters and just pitching directly from a smack pack that's ready.

Sounds like the consensus is to not use this old can of malt. And since I didn't pay for that can in the first place I don't feel so bad about getting rid of it.

Cheers!

Moon

 

[Schlenkerla]

If you use anything you could use the John Bull. Whatever you make will be very dark. I had a JB light that was 5 yrs old and 2 lbs Muntons Lt DME. No metalic taste but my pilsner lager was very dark like a SA Boston Lager and kind of tasted like it too.

 

[Jim Karr]

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO DON'T USE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I, too, was "given" a can of Geordie's Malt. It was ancient, and it made the worst tasting crap I've ever drank. (Plus ever made)


Don't waste your time, energy, and other ingredients!

My vote is for the doorstop.

 

[Schlenkerla]

Jim's advice is pretty good. If you're just getting back into this its best starting off with good ingredients. Why start off with the greater possiblity of disappointment.

 

[Austinhomebrew]

There is an expiration date on the can. The extract will last 18 months from manufacture. It is not a good idea to use the extract. Think of it as perishable food.

 

[lostnfoam]

like we all said dont bother with the can. if you like you can make it a center pice in your brew room.

also about the starter, once i learned how to mak ethem and the importance of a proper yesat count in beer im make them for ever batch. some may say that the tubes are good and the smack pack will do as well. however, the cell count is way off a tipical 5 gal. batch should have around 1 or 2 billion. the activator give you 100 milliion and thats if all goes good and you give it time to inflate i also belive the tubes do the same count. the propergators only have 50 or 25 million (sorry dont have a packet to look at, but they tell you to make a starter.

i know when i started i did what most do and it works fine and many have done the same for years and had no problem. i say brew what ever way makews you enjoy the hobby. i know becasue of all the people on this site i went from brewing simple beer to some really great stuff and i enjoy learning more and more.

 

[Moonpile]

like we all said dont bother with the can. if you like you can make it a center pice in your brew room.

also about the starter, once i learned how to mak ethem and the importance of a proper yesat count in beer im make them for ever batch. some may say that the tubes are good and the smack pack will do as well. however, the cell count is way off a tipical 5 gal. batch should have around 1 or 2 billion. the activator give you 100 milliion and thats if all goes good and you give it time to inflate i also belive the tubes do the same count. the propergators only have 50 or 25 million (sorry dont have a packet to look at, but they tell you to make a starter.

i know when i started i did what most do and it works fine and many have done the same for years and had no problem. i say brew what ever way makews you enjoy the hobby. i know becasue of all the people on this site i went from brewing simple beer to some really great stuff and i enjoy learning more and more.

Definitely not using the old malt.

As for increasing yeast count, I think that's something my friends and I are going to build up to. For now we just want to get a few batches and work out the procedure.

Moon