Best Value source for LME

[canarytim]

It's £63.60 for 23kgs of light LME at the Malt Miller (I know - I've just brought one!) plus postage.It's a good price.

However then I came across the Home Brew Shop, where the same amount of LME appears to be £54.60

http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/aca ... syrup.html

With free postage over £65

Is this the cheapest?

[canarytim]

The correct address for the LME is here:

http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/aca ... syrup.html

Has anyone found anything cheaper?

[greenxpaddy]

That seems to be the best price. I have just ordered a drum, the rate I have been getting through spray malt I thought it was ridiculous plus spray malt is more messy. You just need to realise lme contains 80 per cent of the sugar of Dme.

[greenxpaddy]

Just a word of warning if you get a large supply of LME, like the 25kg cedarex tubs. I found two small colonies of mould growing on the surface yesterday. I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought mould needed a higher moisture content to grow.

Anyhow, it would be a good idea if you will need to store the LME for months ( because 25kg is a lot of supply for most people) to squirt CO2 into the tub after you pour it out. This will exclude oxygen from the surface of the LME, which will not only stop mould growing but will also prevent oxidation which can turn the taste of LME. As I only use LME for growing starters and occasionally priming that latter point has never concerned me before, but mould sure does concern me! Luckily using a long skewer I managed to scoop up the colonies. However of course I will be making sure this LME is boiled up very well and used quickly from here, as it will have a higher propensity to mould growth from increased spores levels.

[phatboytall]

Worcester Hop Shop selling 25kg for £48 plus postage, so great value

http://www.worcesterhopshop.co.uk/index ... 8829157323

[canarytim]

Just a word of warning if you get a large supply of LME, like the 25kg cedarex tubs. I found two small colonies of mould growing on the surface yesterday. I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought mould needed a higher moisture content to grow.

Anyhow, it would be a good idea if you will need to store the LME for months ( because 25kg is a lot of supply for most people) to squirt CO2 into the tub after you pour it out. This will exclude oxygen from the surface of the LME, which will not only stop mould growing but will also prevent oxidation which can turn the taste of LME. As I only use LME for growing starters and occasionally priming that latter point has never concerned me before, but mould sure does concern me! Luckily using a long skewer I managed to scoop up the colonies. However of course I will be making sure this LME is boiled up very well and used quickly from here, as it will have a higher propensity to mould growth from increased spores levels.

presumably if it does get moldy for a long time then that's that. No chance of boiling the spores/mold away?

[Jocky]

While extract doesn't really go 'off' when kept in sterile conditions (it's not going to kill you), it does age and can result in stale or soapy tasting beer if it gets too old. Even in a pasteurised can. Dry extract lasts longer than liquid, but it still suffers the same fate eventually.

LME shouldn't be used if more than 6 months old if you want the best quality end beer. DME will last up to a year.

[canarytim]

While extract doesn't really go 'off' when kept in sterile conditions (it's not going to kill you), it does age and can result in stale or soapy tasting beer if it gets too old. Even in a pasteurised can. Dry extract lasts longer than liquid, but it still suffers the same fate eventually.

LME shouldn't be used if more than 6 months old if you want the best quality end beer. DME will last up to a year.

Thanks,
Mine's a year old (BBE October 2012) with only 3kgs left so I'm edging towards binning it. While soapy or stale beer may technically be drinkable I want a nice drop!

[canarytim]

Worcester Hop Shop selling 25kg for £48 plus postage, so great value

http://www.worcesterhopshop.co.uk/index ... 8829157323

by the way, where's the best place to buy LME these days? The Worcester hop shop 15kgs doesn't seem to be available any more. The 25kg Cederex is probably a bit big (and will go off before I've used it all, as I've found!)