Out of date kits

[Alside101]

Hi i have been given 3 out of date bulldog kits there dated 04/17 apart from the yeast will they be no good

 

[Clint]

They will probably be completely fine! What are they? For cheap ale yeast get to Wilko or for anything else CML...

 

[Alside101]

1. Evil dog double ipa
2. Hammer of thor
3. Triple tykes export ale

 

[Slid]

1. Evil dog double ipa
2. Hammer of thor
3. Triple tykes export ale

Wilko Ale yeast "Gervin" is the Nottingham strain, which will do these beers OK.

 

[Clint]

What Slid said. If you really aren't too sure I'll take them off your hands if you pay the postage.

 

[Clint]

As an after thought while in Wilko purchase extra fvs if you need them to get the whole lot on at the same time

 

[Alside101]

What Slid said. If you really aren't too sure I'll take them off your hands if you pay the postage.

Nice try haha. Il get some yeast and have a pop. Also there is about 10kg of glucose

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi @Alside101
I've got two unopened 3kg bags of DME dated Dec 2016 if you want to go the whole hog!
You could brew Old Ale

 

[Alside101]

Hi @Alside101
I've got two unopened 3kg bags of DME dated Dec 2016 if you want to go the whole hog!
You could brew Old Ale

I dont know how people do it if its there i have to brew it haha

 

[micklupulo]

Advice please! I have had difficulty sourcing Ritchie's Simply kits but today took delivery of a Simply Bitter kit ordered from Amazon. The best before date is 09/19. The pouch and contents feel malleable and the yeast packet rattles from which I infer the contents are dry. In principle I am vexed but in practice should I be deterred from going ahead and brewing?

 

[An Ankoù]

I've got a two-can Woodford Wherry kit, I bought in Wilco yonks ago and its use by date is 2016. Bought this when I was living in a flat and didn't have space for the full works, but never got round to it. I look at the American home brewing books which treat AG and extract with equal respect and they say that malt extract should be as fresh as you can get it otherwise the flavour will start to deteriorate. On the other hand, I've used kit yeast sachets which are well over ten years old and they're as good as yeast I bought yesterday.
My advice would be brew it up and enjoy it.
Clint, if you'd like to pass by, you can have it for a crate of Harp lager otherwise I'll use the malt for yeast starters.

 

[terrym]

@micklupulo
Beer kits, like most foodstuffs, deteriorate with time. With beer kits the yeast becomes less viable, and less significantly, the LME slowly degrades.
However if you have bought a beer kit from Amazon I think it is reasonable to expect it to have a few months left before the best before date. I would be looking to exchange it or get a refund. Thats up to you.
But if you go ahead
- you could do it as it comes and hope it all works out
- replace the yeast
I am one of the people who believe home brew twang comes from old or cheap LME and you have possibly got two of those in your kit.
Anyway the choice, ultimately, is yours

 

[micklupulo]

Thanks and I intend to perk it up by dry hopping anyway so should be ok and I was more worried about the yeast on which your experience reassures me.

 

[micklupulo]

@micklupulo upulo
Beer kits, like most foodstuffs, deteriorate with time. With beer kits the yeast becomes less viable, and less significantly, the LME slowly degrades.
However if you have bought a beer kit from Amazon I think it is reasonable to expect it to have a few months left before the best before date. I would be looking to exchange it or get a refund. Thats up to you.
But if you go ahead
- you could do it as it comes and hope it all works out
- replace the yeast
I am one of the people who believe home brew twang comes from old or cheap LME and you have possibly got two of those in your kit.
Anyway the choice, ultimately, is yours[/QUOTE

Thanks and my last comment was in response to An Ankou. The kit is apparently non returnable on the spurious ground that it contains, "gases " etc. and the whole process of rejection etc. seems to a labyrinthine challenge with which J cannot be bothered. The first thing I did was seek Ritchie's opinion who were encouraging (as well they might be) but at least I learnt that one can order from them direct at RRP. I think I will put this one down to experience but may well take up your suggestion of getting fresh yeast.

 

[Gerryjo]

As an after thought while in Wilko purchase extra fvs if you need them to get the whole lot on at the same time

You on the vino @Clint

 

[Gerryjo]

Advice please! I have had difficulty sourcing Ritchie's Simply kits but today took delivery of a Simply Bitter kit ordered from Amazon. The best before date is 09/19. The pouch and contents feel malleable and the yeast packet rattles from which I infer the contents are dry. In principle I am vexed but in practice should I be deterred from going ahead and brewing?

It's still in date....

 

[Gerryjo]

I've got a two-can Woodford Wherry kit, I bought in Wilco yonks ago and its use by date is 2016. Bought this when I was living in a flat and didn't have space for the full works, but never got round to it. I look at the American home brewing books which treat AG and extract with equal respect and they say that malt extract should be as fresh as you can get it otherwise the flavour will start to deteriorate. On the other hand, I've used kit yeast sachets which are well over ten years old and they're as good as yeast I bought yesterday.
My advice would be brew it up and enjoy it.
Clint, if you'd like to pass by, you can have it for a crate of Harp lager otherwise I'll use the malt for yeast starters.

Harp Lager, you've got to be kidding.Serious hangover material and I know that from plenty of experience.Great for putting out camp fires though....

 

[micklupulo]

It's still in date....

Yes technically and I have no problem scoffing food past BB dates but with a kit the worry is not just a potentially slightly bland taste but the prospects of successfully generating a chemical process which is not my speciality hence the request for advice.

 

[Gerryjo]

Yes technically and I have no problem scoffing food past BB dates but with a kit the worry is not just a potentially slightly bland taste but the prospects of successfully generating a chemical process which is not my speciality hence the request for advice.

It's nothing serious as I would be worried if it was a few years at that but the fact that it is sealed shouldn't be a problem and if it turns out rank just email the kit maker and tell them.

 

[An Ankoù]

Harp Lager, you've got to be kidding.Serious hangover material and I know that from plenty of experience.Great for putting out camp fires though....

I was absolutely kidding. Haven't had any for decades, but I recall it was as weak as gnat's pee but gave me a blinding headache half-way through the first pint.
As for putting out camp fires: straight on there, cut out the middle-man.
As for out-of-date kits: the yeast is the item least likely to deteriorate, trouble is it's possibly not the best to start with. So if you're going to change it, then change it even in a fresh kit.