Out of date grain pack

[hughjamton]

Some advice please, I ordered an essential starter kit from Northern Brewer which arrived today.
My plan was to brew tomorrow, this would be my first brew.
I've been waiting for swmbo to go to bed so I can open the box to look at the contents without getting moaned at.
In the box is a pack of Mallard Malts Amber ale grains.
The pack states the grains will stay fresh for 6 months from the packed date, 11th August 2018!
So they're 10 months old. 4 months out of date.
I have just emailed the company but they won't get that until Monday.
As I said I was going to brew tomorrow, swmbo will be at work, but if the grains are no good I'll have no time until next weekend, providing I can get out of other plans.
I'm going on holiday in 3 weeks so I wanted to get the beer in bottles before I went.
So I guess my question is do you think the grains will be any good?

 

[Oneflewover]

Some advice please, I ordered an essential starter kit from Northern Brewer which arrived today.
My plan was to brew tomorrow, this would be my first brew.
I've been waiting for swmbo to go to bed so I can open the box to look at the contents without getting moaned at.
In the box is a pack of Mallard Malts Amber ale grains.
The pack states the grains will stay fresh for 6 months from the packed date, 11th August 2018!
So they're 10 months old. 4 months out of date.
I have just emailed the company but they won't get that until Monday.
As I said I was going to brew tomorrow, swmbo will be at work, but if the grains are no good I'll have no time until next weekend, providing I can get out of other plans.
I'm going on holiday in 3 weeks so I wanted to get the beer in bottles before I went.
So I guess my question is do you think the grains will be any good?

They'll be fine, crack on is my advice!

 

[robster62]

The grain I buy from LHBS have dates of about 12 months so they should be good to go

 

[Clint]

Photograph everything and do the beer...send the photos..at least if it's no good you've got proof.
Send the photos to back up your email ..if they're any good they'll send a replacement.

 

[Llamaman]

I assume this was from Beer Hawk?
This explains why it’s 50% off!
I’ve had good experience with their customer relations, so hopefully they’ll sort you out.

I’d still brew the kit though. Never waste a brew day! :)

 

[MyQul]

I keep crushed grain for months. If it's packed well, dry and ideally cool, it'll be fine. Taste and smell it. You'll be able to taste if the grain has gone stale. It has the same stale taste that biscuits do when they have gone stale. Having said that, years ago a I brewed with some stale grain. Initially it had the same twang you get from some kits, but with some extra conditioning, the beer tasted fine

 

[Richie_asg1]

It would be nice if they gave the reason for the discount upfront if they are past their prime. We don't mind using them up just as long as we know why they are being sold off cheaper.
Maybe you could mention that in any email to be more constructive. The alternative is that they would raise the standard prices to account for the wastage and just bin them.
I would rather use them than waste them.
I would also like to see a few freebies thrown in to orders if they are out of date too rather than going to landfill. It's a no waste policy for the company if they give it all away gratis if it still doesn't move on offer.

 

[Llamaman]

To be fair, it’s already good value without the kit (assuming this is the Beer Hawk offer, but they are the only UK stockist so a reasonable assumption) without the Block Party Amber Ale.

But as you say, being upfront (as they are with their Mystery boxes) avoids any ill will.

 

[hughjamton]

Thanks for the reply's, yes it is the Beer Hawk offer £50 for the Essential starter kit.
Seems really good value to me, however, it does not say anywhere that it's out of date stock, so I would expect it to be current stock.
I've done the brew, had to wait for the boss to go to work at two before I could start.
I'm interested what they come back with.
Incidentally, since I bought mine, they are doing the de luxe beer kit for £87,50 that I would have bought instead of the one did.

 

[GerritT]

It will be fine. In the past I ordered plenty of near-BBD from 247 homebrew (because they had Polaris hops at the time, noone else had) and just trust your nose: if it doesn't smell funky (or shows suspicious spots) it should be fine. IF it's packaged properly.

 

[GerritT]

Thanks for the reply's, yes it is the Beer Hawk offer £50 for the Essential starter kit.
Seems really good value to me, however, it does not say anywhere that it's out of date stock, so I would expect it to be current stock.
I've done the brew, had to wait for the boss to go to work at two before I could start.
I'm interested what they come back with.
Incidentally, since I bought mine, they are doing the de luxe beer kit for £87,50 that I would have bought instead of the one did.

Let your first replacement be a digital thermometer. It saves half the worries.