Canned Malt Extract

[BigGarr]

I bought a bunch of homebrew supplies from a thrift store for $20, and it came with a can of malt extract. Does anyone suppose the malt extract is still usable?

[BrewDog]

Welcome to the board-

Any idea how old it is? If the can looks old and dusty, I wouldn't use it.

[BigGarr]

The can and label are still in very good shape. It is John Bull Unhopped Amber. I don't know how old it is.

[BrewDog]

You'll just have to use your judgement.
What else did you get for the $20?

[BigGarr]

I Got A 6 Gal. Fermenting Bucket, Airlock, Hydrometer, Bottle Brush, Siphon, Bottle Caps, Capper, The can of malt extract, and a few other items I have not been able to identify as of yet. I got it from my local Salvation Army.

[BigGarr]

Considering it is canned, and the can is still sealed, I think it might be safe to use.

[BrewDog]

Sounds like a good deal. The capper and hydrometer alone are worth more than 20 bucks.

Sanitize the $hit out of it all. Beware of scratches in the plastic ferm. bucket. They can hide bacteria. If it's scratched, just pick up a new one. They are cheap as hell, and not worth risking your beer on. Remember, you'll spend 25 bucks just on the ingredients for an extract batch. 10 bucks on a new bucket is money well spent.

Or, you can get a 6.5 gal glass Carboy for about 20 bucks and you can watch the show...

By siphon did you mean Auto-Siphon?

[BigGarr]

I don't know if it is an auto siphon

[Trogger]

Do you have a digital camera to post a pic or two of the equipment?

[fretlessman71]

An auto-siphon has a brass fitting with a ball bearing suspended inside of it - pretty hard to miss. The idea is that you lower the brass end into the liquid, and start shaking that same end up and down (like you were playing with the straw in your Big Gulp, getting it to make that horrible sound) pretty vigorously, and if you do it right, you should see the liquid rising into the tube. When it gets high enough to reach the bend, gravity will take over and you're all set. They're pretty nifty!

[HogieWan]

My auto siphon is vbasically a small racking cane with a rubber gasket at the end that slides inside a large plastic tube (same size a my thief) with a one way valve. as you pick up the inner tube, it fills the larger outer tube. Then you push down on it and the valve causes the beer to only go up throught the inner tube. One good semi swift push and gravity takes over.

[fretlessman71]

Wish mine was like that - it can be quite a pain sometimes...

[BigGarr]

Sorry, No Digital Camera. But I have ordered a catalogue from EC Kraus, and if it has pictures, maybe I could identify the equipment that I don't know.

[HogieWan]

Here you go, fret. (http://www.beer-wine.com/product.asp?sectionID=1&CategoryID=8&productID=1113) They are pretty cheap.

[fretlessman71]

Now I know where to get 'em when it's time! Thanks! :)

[PFDarkside]

They're real nice, Fret. The bottom ensures you leave all the gunk behind, too. You don't even want to know how I used to use my standard siphon. ;)