Old DME for starter

[Izzie1701]

So I'm not sure if it's old or not but I would assume. My local grocery store has a wine and beer making section. Mostly just coopers canned kits but they do have some DME for 1/4 of the price of the LHBS. I'm assuming and guessing it's old. Is there any harm in using old stale DME for a starter for an all grain brew?

 

[Beer_Farmer]

I had some old DME (10 months+) that I used for multiple starters for the last 2 BIAB batches and I was pleased with the results. I wouldn't make a beer from a DME that old but a starter is fine.

 

[wmcc75]

Nah, you're fine. I've used some very old dme before with no I'll effects. Plus if you are decanting most of the liquid off anyway it would be a very small amount getting into a full batch.

 

[mtyquinn]

Should be fine for a starter, but decant to protect the quality of your beer.

 

[Vandulus]

I have DME set aside for starters that's many months old, but stored in an air-tight container. As long as you're draining off the excess wort from the starter before adding it to your batch, you shouldn't have any issues.

 

[yono1986]

You're not drinking the starter, so it doesn't matter if the DME is old or stale.

 

[Izzie1701]

Perfect. It's all in vacuumed packed bags so shouldn't be to bad. Just not sure how long it's sat on the shelf for.

 

[Maggot1980]

Yesterday, I made a starter with DME that was at least 4 years, maybe 5 years old. The stuff was rock-hard. I hit it with a hammer, and the hammer bounced off it. I didn't think it would even work. I had 3 bags of this stuff sitting in my buddy's basement. It took about 90 minutes for it to dissolve. What surprised me is that the wort was dark brown when chilled from light Pilsen DME. The yeast is loving it, though.

 

[Kickass]

What surprised me is that the wort was dark brown when chilled from light Pilsen DME

This is not surprising at all. It’s what happens to extract as it ages. This is a good reminder why it’s important to use fresh extract with your brews.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

@Maggot1980 : was this a partial bag (that was opened 4 or 5 years ago)?

I've brewed with DME (unopened packages) that was two years old - and it had not darkened.

Another reminder is that 2* L

is measured at a specific wort OG (details can be found in the product information sheet).