Aging Ingredients

[chazwicke]

My nephew is getting into home brewing. I have several old cans of extract and kits from the old days as well as pelletized hops and yeast that have been in the fridge for a long time. I have advised him to buy new ingredients but as I was looking through my old equiptment I found some of the old cans and kits. I wondered what the shelf life of these whould be. I long ago tossed the whole grains and even powdered extracts. Should I just toss the cans or let him have them to experiment with? How long will refigerated Hop Pellets keep and the same with un smacked packs of Wyeast yeasts?

[BrewDog]

EXACTLY how long have they been sitting?

[Mad Scientist]

the cans might be okay. toss the hops if they are more than a year, and if the smack pack swells, use it.

[BrewDog]

Actually, if he is hardcore into belgians, the hops might be old and cheesy enough to do a lambic.

[chazwicke]

Well the can of Grand Cru extract can has to be about 13 years old. The same with the Wyeast pack and the hops. They were tucked away in the butter holder of my beer fridge all these years. The Woodfordes Norfolk Nog kit from England is probably 5 years or so. I was just curious in general how long these things remain good. If they would even be safe to allow my nephew to experiment with.

[Mad Scientist]

Safe....yes (as long as cans are not swollen)

Tasty?....unlikely

[MrNate]

Originally posted by Boerne Brew
Safe....yes (as long as cans are not swollen)

Tasty?....unlikely

I dunno... I've never tried brewing with 13 year old ingredients. Someone was brave about this sort of thing a long time ago and we got beer, so maybe it's worth a shot.

[MichaelM]

lol use them and consider it a pratctice run... if it works out fine if not dump it and chalk it up to test run on equipment.... either way doesnt cost anything lol

[wortchillergoal]

I say use them. Some of the LME my ole employer sold came in small plastic bags. Some came in containmated, swelled package. I used them and got a good beer out of it.

[Mill Rat]

Originally posted by wortchillergoal
Some came in containmated, swelled package. I used them and got a good beer out of it. You're brave. That may or may not be taken as a compliment. When I see any questionable foodstuff or find an "interesting artifact" during a refrigerator archaeology expedition, I compare the cost of tossing and replacing it with what the local medics charge for a stomach pumping. Toss it.

[MichaelM]

ahh its being boiled for an extended period I would think it would kill any nasties that could possibly be in it

[barleyburps]

Sometimes the nasties are actually the byproducts of the living organism, and boiling won't remove them. . .

[Fir Na Tine]

I was reading through Wyeast's website and they claimed as long as the pack still swells it's safe to use. They listed some guy brewing a batch with yeast 8 years old!
I'd see if it works and if so, let Wyeast know. Who knows, they may send you something (like some free yeast!).