Shelf Life

[Restin]

After getting the Brew Bug about a month ago, I have devoured a ton of information and am excitedly awaiting Christmas when I finally get all my equipment.

Up until now virtually all of my questions have been answered by research (in large part because of this message board!) but I now have a question that I've only found a partial answer to.

What is the shelf life(fridge?) of a standard extract kit? And, more specifically one that has the following characteristics:

- It will be purchased over the holiday season from Midwest Supplies which already boasts a high turnover rate.
- Contains White Lab Burton Ale yeast.
- Has both liquid and dry malt extract.

Someone wants to get me this gift but as it will be for my first brew I really don't forsee myself using it until mid January.

Thanks!

[Payson]

Welcome! Everything should be plenty fresh by mid January. Worry not. Just store the yeast according to the instructions. (refrigerated)

[Restin]

That's what I wanted to hear! Christmas can't come soon enough. :)

[danno]

Restin, welcome! the only issue with a kit will be if, in addition to the malt extract, it comes with some specialty grains. once milled, their shelf life is fairly short. perhaps mention to your gift-giver that they should pick a kit with no grains, or don't get them milled when they buy it...

oh, and don't let the yeast freeze...

[Restin]

It does have grains in it but they are not milled. I wouldn't have even thought about the grains. Thanks danno.

[sallad]

if the grains aren't milled, be sure you have means to mill them! most homebrew shops will do it for free if you buy the grain there.. but grain mills are expensive, and not typically part of the "starter" equipment.

[Restin]

Is there a way to "make do" with some sort of hand milling? ie can of soup or rolling pin? We're not talking a lot of grain, it's just for steeping.

[danno]

since you're not going to worry about efficiency, just cracking open most of the hulls will be sufficient, so a rolling pin/soup can kinda setup will be sufficient for the color/flavor you're trying to extract.

If you're really worried about it, take it back to Midwest with the box (so they can see it's their kit), I'm sure they'll run it through their mill...

[BrewDog]

Welcome to the board and the obsession!

My LHBS will vacuum pack crushed grains for you if you ask them.
I gave a friend a brew kit for his birthday with some crystal malt (to convert him from Mr. Beer) and in the vacuum pack, they smelled great (I helped him brew the batch).

Or, maybe they can include a receipt for the grains instead of actually including them, and you can bring the receipt in a day or 2 before brew day and exchange it for the grains.

HTH-

[Grog]

Grains can be milled with a 3# sledge hammer, a cookie sheet and a cutting board that fits inside the cookie sheet. Really. They can!

-G-