Brupaks Malt Extract 25kg jerry can bulk buy question

[Otters]

Hi All,

I've been thinking about a 'bulk purchase' of liquid malt extract of good quality - basically to cut costs and efforts. Namely a 25kg jerry can of Brupaks extract. I brew once a month normally and wonder if anyone out there buys their LME in bulk - in this fashion?

it would be good to here some pointers on storage, use by dates, what to avoid and ease of use from users of this product.

All advice welcome, it may save me time, cost and effort!

Rgds

Otters

[SchemieRadge]

I got a 15kg jerry can back in april of LME (not Brupaks)... read lots of warnings about LME getting moldy when stored for a while.. but was pleasantly surprised when it sat quite happily in the garage for 5 months before I spotted some tiny spots of mold on it - I just carried on using it anyway (thinking the boil will kill anything alive, and there's not enough mold to give off flavors) and it's been fine for me.
It was a great buy in the end. Glad I did it.

I made an effort to have it open for as little time as possible, and not in humid conditions. And stored it in the jerry can inside a sealed bin bag. Apart from that it just sat in the garage through some very hot summer days.

[parkerwitton]

I have used the 25KG and have used it six months later and no effect...a little common sense a cool place and Bobs your uncle.
Fact 2 x 1.5 KG = £22 (almost)
3 KG of a 25 KG Jerry Can =£9.87.
If you can afford it it is a no brainer!!!

[woblylegs]

why not split it into clean plastic milk bottles and freeze it?
should keep for a long period and you could just take a bottle or the amount you need from the freezer the night before you want to brew.

[Jocky]

There's plenty of advice out there that says you want to use the freshest extract you can get, and you don't really want to use LME over 6 months old.

[SchemieRadge]

Before I bought my jerry can I read loads of stuff about storing extract being bad, it'll just go moldy, it must just be cheap extract, etc etc.. bottom line is I can't tell a blind bit of difference between beer made with brand new tins, and my moldy old jerry can. Give it a try and see if you're as undiscerning as I am - might save yourself a load of money if so.

[iann41]

I have just bought a 25kg jerry can of LME and i've read all the warnings about mould.

What I've done is to put a bolloon on the bubbler of the first brew. When it starts to escape due to pressure, 'blow' the CO2 into the jerry can from the bolloon. Do this several times to inhibit mould growth. Repeat every brew day.

Or just inject CO2 into the jerry can from a bottle, but i'm too tight fisted to buy one. Thx Ian

[Otters]

Hello All

Thanks very much for the advice.

have seen a 'Brupaks jerry can' lurking in the corner of a LHBS and was tempted by the prospect of very cheap - quality malt extract - 'if you bulk buy 25kg'

this would cut out - mashing and sparging steps (3 hrs) - from my brew day and seems a worthwhile compromise.

Have any of you every compared mash to extract and what was the outcome?

Rgds

Otters.

[iann41]

I'm a relative new comer to both. done about 10 brews with each. i find extract lacks a little something compaired to AG but i'm not sure what it is. i am currently using extract, as the beer i brew is cheap, tastes great and saves a hell of a lot of time and mess compaired to AG. Ian