How old

[Oscar Mild]

I`ve been given a load of brewing gear and this was in the box, I`m thinking its from the 80`s judging by the price. I `ve also been given a top tap barrel by Brewiton ? , probably from the same period, question is, is the barrel ok to use once thoroughly cleaned and new washers fitted ?

Many thanks
.

 

[BarnBrian]

I`ve been given a load of brewing gear and this was in the box, I`m thinking its from the 80`s judging by the price. I `ve also been given a top tap barrel by Brewiton ? , probably from the same period, question is, is the barrel ok to use once thoroughly cleaned and new washers fitted ?

Many thanks
.View attachment 19875

Like a lot of others on here I was making Tom Caxton's in the early 70's.
I would put it on a shelf and leave it there, it won't have improved with age, it wasn't even good in the 70's

 

[Banbeer]

Nice one, I would soak everything for a few hours in a solution of your choice (VWP, Oxi etc) and rinse thoroughly before use, I wouldn't use the kit tho' it maybe out of date by a few decades, looking at the price they don't seem to have gone up that much over time.

Happy brewing

 

[Gerryjo]

I would certainly brew the purely out of curiosity to see what you missed from that era in time and compare to kits nowadays and how far they have come.What you got to lose....

 

[DavieC]

Yes, get it brewed! If the tin is intact ,no rust etc.The malt will be dark with the age, but if it looks ok brew it and let us know how it turns out.

 

[Oscar Mild]

I wasn`t planning on doing the kit but, maybe. . Will the barrel be ok after all these years, ( theres a song there somewhere).

 

[DavieC]

As @Banbeer says, give it a good soak and sanitize, youll see if its got any leaks (possibly at the tap). If you do brew the kit you'll need new yeast.
I brewed a youngs lager kit which was out of date(6 years), did have a more caramel taste and was a darker colour but very drinkable.

 

[GerritT]

I wasn`t planning on doing the kit but, maybe. . Will the barrel be ok after all these years, ( theres a song there somewhere).

 

[Oscar Mild]

Been doing a bit of delving into the rest of the kit i was given, it seems the brew kit is from about 1985. I`ll leave it in the tin it might be collectable in the near future. . Thanks everybody for your responses. I`ve just cleaned and changed the seals on the keg (rotokeg) and filled it with sanitizer, no leaks so far.

 

[GerritT]

Been doing a bit of delving into the rest of the kit i was given, it seems the brew kit is from about 1985. I`ll leave it in the tin it might be collectable in the near future. . Thanks everybody for your responses. I`ve just cleaned and changed the seals on the keg (rotokeg) and filled it with sanitizer, no leaks so far.

Another appropriate link:
https://www.getholistichealth.com/12133/the-oldest-foods-ever-consumed/

 

[Gerryjo]

Been doing a bit of delving into the rest of the kit i was given, it seems the brew kit is from about 1985. I`ll leave it in the tin it might be collectable in the near future. . Thanks everybody for your responses. I`ve just cleaned and changed the seals on the keg (rotokeg) and filled it with sanitizer, no leaks so far.

Get a couple of bottles of cheap cola and some mentos and pour into your keg.With your cap at hand out the mentos in and screw on the cap quickly.
This way you will also be able to pressure test to an extent.

 

[An Ankoù]

Get a couple of bottles of cheap cola and some mentos and pour into your keg.With your cap at hand out the mentos in and screw on the cap quickly.
This way you will also be able to pressure test to an extent.

Fascinating. What are mentos?

 

[Banbeer]

Fascinating. What are mentos?

Chewy mints

 

[GerritT]

Fascinating. What are mentos?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diet_Coke_and_Mentos_eruption

 

[Drunkula]

@Oscar Mild they're good for curiosity pieces but you find really ancient kits on ebay and they really don't have any value, sadly. I'm with the others here that say get it brewed for the lulz or send it to a forum member to brew. It would be good to know all your kit was good before starting on such a fun experiment. Ashens on youtube eats like 110 year old olives, somebody should do the same thing with a kit of this wonderful heritage. I bet it's a dark as all hell by now.

That puppy dawg has got to be given its day. It's got the potential for comedy gold.

 

[Drunkula]

Oops, forgot to say, I'm with @Gerryjo - there are a few ways to get some test pressure - first way, pour a kettle of boiling water in, get the cap on, pick it up and shake the hell out of it The water will heat the air and temporarily create a lot of pressure. Or a couple of big spoons of bicarb and pour in vinegar and the then get the lid on. It's how we did film cannister rockets at school.

 

[GerritT]

I`ve been given a load of brewing gear and this was in the box, I`m thinking its from the 80`s judging by the price. I `ve also been given a top tap barrel by Brewiton ? , probably from the same period, question is, is the barrel ok to use once thoroughly cleaned and new washers fitted ?

Many thanks
.View attachment 19875

Finish its travels. Give it closure. Brew it. End it.
Tip: boil the yeast for a 10 minutes in a cup of water, and add it. It's a nutrient.
Then use a proper modern yeast to finish its final journey.

To become beer.

 

[Gerryjo]

Fascinating. What are mentos?

Mentos are a mint sweet that cause a geyser in coke due to the reaction between them as can be seen here.

 

[Clint]

Brew it and keg it in the keg it came with...then have a 1980's party.

 

[DavieC]

Ahh...1985...