How far out of date is too far? Mangrove Jack Partial Mash Kit

[CIsor]

Hi
I have just found one of these which I forgot I bought a few years ago. The best before date is March 2017.

Do you think I should bin it, replace some ingredients with new ones or just brew it as is?
I will definitely make a yeast starter, given the age of the dry yeast and replace if it doesn't start

I have never made a partial mash kit before so I have no clue!


Thanks!


https://mangrovejacks.com/collections/partial-mash-kits/products/american-pale-ale-partial-mash-kit

Kit Contains:
3kg Mangrove Jack’s Pure Malt Extract, 150 g Munich Grain, 200 g Crystal Grain, 500 g Dextrose, 20 g Herkules Hops, 50 g Centennial Hops, 50 g Nugget Hops, 2x Sachet M36 Liberty Bell Ale Yeast, Grain Bag.

 

[Northern_Brewer]

As long as it's been kept in reasonable conditions, it shouldn't be too bad. Dry yeast has a massive shelf-life so I wouldn't worry too much about the yeast, I'd be more worried about the hops which should be OK-ish but not at their best.

 

[MmmBeer]

As long as it's been kept in reasonable conditions, it shouldn't be too bad. Dry yeast has a massive shelf-life so I wouldn't worry too much about the yeast, I'd be more worried about the hops which should be OK-ish but not at their best.

Agreed, brew it as it is. I have read that DME keeps much better than LME, but what have you got to lose. If you have some Centennial or other citrussy hops available, it might be worth adding a little extra for good measure. Also to give the yeast the best chance, rehydrate it in about half a pint of sterile water at 30-35°C for 20 minutes before pitching, to avoid shocking it.

 

[An Ankoù]

Brew it up and get it darn yer. It'll do you a world of good.
Good advice above, but if you don't want to faff about sourcing fresher hops, it should be very ok anyway.

 

[Drunkula]

read that DME keeps much better than LME

Certainly does. I've still got 13.5 kg of dme manufactered feb 14, best before date feb 16 and I made an almost all extract beer with it a few days ago and it's tasting lush. I had a sneaky taste, I did, using a straw straight down the airlock hole. Yum yum.

 

[Winterbournebrewery]

I brewed a 2 year out of date lager kit... yep you guessed it tasted like a brand new kit .... *****

 

[DavidDetroit]

I see I'm in the minority here (throw it all away). Why keep it? The kits aren't that expensive and there's a lot of time invested--weeks and weeks--even though most of that isn't hands on. Sure, you can get lucky and maybe the expiration date is only a suggestion.
That I might be brewing with inferior quality would bother me and take the fun out of it.

 

[GerritT]

Brew it, and top up the hops. Dry hops.
Brew it, just for the hell of it. It's what we do.

 

[Drunkula]

That I might be brewing with inferior quality would bother me and take the fun out of it.

That's exactly why it would be fun for me. If it's good you've had fun and got something to drink, if it's awful you've had fun and learned a valuable lesson you can pass on.

 

[DavidDetroit]

That's exactly why it would be fun for me.

I can appreciate that and the adventure/fun it brings. As I said, I know I'm in the minority on this. My approach is to leave as little to chance as possible. I do five gallons (19l) at a time and if I made a stinker that I might have been able to avoid? That would bother me for a bit.

 

[An Ankoù]

I can appreciate that and the adventure/fun it brings. As I said, I know I'm in the minority on this. My approach is to leave as little to chance as possible. I do five gallons (19l) at a time and if I made a stinker that I might have been able to avoid? That would bother me for a bit.

Get a few down you. Have an early night and take Randy Mosher to bed with you. (Not in the flesh, but in the book). You'll feel a lot better about things when you wake up and have a homebrew for breakfast.

 

[DavidDetroit]

Get a few down you. Have an early night and take Randy Mosher to bed with you.

Is Randy the UK version of John Palmer (or vice versa)? Yes, being inebriated might light the devil may care fire for the moment but I can't stay that drunk (shouldn't stay drunk) and would regret it in the morning.

 

[GerritT]

Randy! Radical Brewing is one of my faves.

 

[DavidDetroit]

I'll have to Google him. It sounds like he is not at all like John Palmer.

 

[An Ankoù]

I'll have to Google him. It sounds like he is not at all like John Palmer.

He's not. He's one of your lads. And a splendid fellow at that.

 

[Slid]

I agree, Radical Brewing is a great eye-opener. I particularly liked the sections on Parti-Gyle (two or more brews from one grain mash) and Doble-Doble (this is now termed re-iterated mashing). These are great ways of doing those high strength beers that almost always disappoint, but continue to absorb "the longing" for something special.

 

[Richie_asg1]

I bought some so-4 yeast and two packs of hops from my local HBS as they were in the reduction bucket because they had just gone past date.
Going on previous posts they may be past their best but still good for bittering hops, and at 50p for 100g I'll have a go. I'm still learning what their profiles are.
Just wondering if using old yeast would effectively be underpitching? Used one before - started quickly and turned out great.

 

[CIsor]

Thanks for all the advice, people.

A few people are saying to top up the hops. What should I be adding and when? I'm totally ignorant of any sort of mashing!
Sorry for asking daft questions!

 

[dwhite60]

If it's been stored halfway decent, not too hot or humid, it's probably fine.

Go for it. I would.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[Drunkula]

Just wondering if using old yeast would effectively be underpitching?

Possibly, so I'd make sure you rehydrate the yeast properly.