2 year old dme

[malc]

Hi all

I've not been on here for a couple of years, I moved house and only just getting set up again. I have ordered some new ingredients but have come across my old stock all the dme is unopened. Does anyone know if this would be any good either for brewing with or making a starter? Or should I just bin it? I have some crushed ingredients too which has been opened which is of the same age.

Or should I just put it all together and see what happens?

Thanks
Malc

[simon50]

i think DME only has an expiry date because it's a food stuff, and if stored correctly can be used indefinitely like sugar.

i'd definitely use it! although if you have any reservations, just put on a 10l batch and then you can pitch the yeast cake on top some more, when, i can only presume you will be happy with the outcome?

no idea about the grain though ?, i would be more hesitant to use that although perhaps for no apparent reason.

[malc]

Thanks for your advice think I'll get started this weekend and see what happens.

Cheers

[Fuggled Mind]

I'd say give it a go and brew a recipe, DME, grains and all. I had a fair bit of DME stored in an airtight container and although it wasn't two years old, it had sat around a bit. Brewing with it, I couldn't notice any real difference to 'fresh' DME. I suppose the way it is stored plays a big part.

With grains, obviously, it's not as simple. It depends on how you store them too. I'm fairly sure they lose their flavour over time - might even take on a stale taste but I have some crystal wheat which is almost two years old but kept in an air-tight container and it still has a good aroma and has been used in two recipes recently which in my opinion, taste very good (I know you should never admit things like that).

Grain is fairly cheap though so I'd replace it if you have any doubts - but the DME, I can't see it being a problem.

Cheers and happy brewing

Jason

[malc]

Cheers guys will make a starter from some of the DME tonight

[Jocky]

Only repeating conventional wisdom rather than experience here - but any extract starts to age from the moment it's made, and the fresher it is, the better.

I wouldn't use DME over 12 months old, because to me producing the best quality beer is important, and I don't like brewing something that is potentially not at its best - my time is limited enough as it is, and saving a few quid is not my priority.

[simon50]

Only repeating conventional wisdom rather than experience here - but any extract starts to age from the moment it's made, and the fresher it is, the better.

I wouldn't use DME over 12 months old, because to me producing the best quality beer is important, and I don't like brewing something that is potentially not at its best - my time is limited enough as it is, and saving a few quid is not my priority.

but!?, if you wouldn't use it, then one would assume you would throw it away(?), so... it may as well be "free beer" you were binning, you know; "free beer" as in the holy grail for many a "disillusioned man"?, also may i add; potentially very tasty "free beer".

if one doesn't set ones expectations too high from the offset, although by all means prepares oneself to be very pleased by the outcome then why not ?!.

lumping it all together takes little time, especially when one can be more haphazard then usual because any outcome is somewhat of a bonus!?

wisdom smishdom!

[Jocky]

That's fair enough - but for me, the hours I'd spend brewing, cleaning and bottling that beer are worth more to me than the few quid of DME.

I have limited time to brew, so I'd prefer to minimise the chances of a wasted batch.

[malc]

i'm thinking as i've not used any of my equipment for two years as well, it would be wise to use my old ingredients just incase anything goes wrong, as i'm sure i'll be a little rusty too.
thanks for your advise guys

after a slow start to the day, the boiler is coming to the boil

[malc]

well it's all gone now! it turned out very well considering i even used the 2 year old dried 04 yeast i found from the same order.

it all made quite a decent brew, getting another on this weekend with fresh ingredients and just put an order in with the malt miller, think i've got the bug again.

[Jocky]

Good to hear!

[Geezah]

good stuff Malc.... dont let the pure'ists put you off.

DME has a BBF date.... it can sit on a suppliers shelf until that date and then in a brewers cupboard until use.
Dont let the BBF date put you off anything.... its only a foodsafe advisory, not the law

[TC2642]

I remember using some DME that my dad bought in the 1980's when I started brewing some 13 odd years ago, used it for starters too, never had a problem with it, was only a small amount though.