very old LME and hops

[radicalsubversiv]

Long story, but I've stumbled into some very old LME and hops -- I think at least 3 years.

6 lbs Extra Pale + 1 Lb Munich in an Austin Homebrew screwtop plastic container (presumably not airtight?)
9 lbs "German pils" in what look to be vacuum-sealed foil bags

0.5 oz Sterling in a vacuum-sealed package
0.75 Magnum in a vacuum-sealed package
1 oz Hallterau in a vacuum-sealed package
~0.5 oz leftover Columbus wrapped up in a ziploc bag
~0.5 oz leftover Northern Brewer wrapped up in a ziploc bag

The LME's been in a fridge and the hops in the freezer. The jar the hops are in still smell quite strongly.

Obvious question is: What, if any, of this might still be useable? At a minimum I was hoping maybe I could use the LME for making yeast starters.

 

[unionrdr]

Well,being in the freezer the whole time,the hops might still be pretty good. Make sure the extracts are clean & free of any nasties. Pelicles & other visual cues. Even being in the fridge,the extracts might brew up a bit darker. I used a 2 year old cooper's OS lager can,& it turned out like a session version of Salvator from paulaner.

 

[beaksnbeer]

Look into Lambic's they NEED old hops

 

[unionrdr]

Another good point,forgot about that one! Very true that. Seems to me an episode of brewing tv showed that once. The hops were at least a year old (whole leaf/raw) & looked a bit brown or pale tan/green. It's supposed to be part of the flavor profile.