Bulk LME

[bradleyj00]

Having made several extract beers, using a full boil and steeped grains, and being very pleased with the result; it became obvious that I was spending too much on small quantities of extract. So, I purchased a couple of 30kg pails, and an ample supply of steeping grains and hops.

I'm interested in suggestions as to how I should store the extract, and how I can dispense it from the pail. I haven't tried pouring it yet, but I'm assuming it's going to be ugly.

Thanks

[MightyMouth]

Assuming you are using about 3KG per brew you are going to have to make 20 brews give or take to use up the extract. Not sure how much you are brewing but that could take a long time. Could you put it in 1 litre zip lock bags and freeze it?

[bradleyj00]

I brew 10g batches, so I'll get about 10 brews at 3 weeks per fermentation, gives me almost 8 months to use this up. I'm assuming the extract will be fine if stored cool for that long?

[MightyMouth]

I don't think it would spoil but it might go stale so you might get the "Home Brew Taste" from it.

[oxford brewer]

I purchsed a 25kg drum of John Bull LME about 6 months ago and it is starting to go stale(I think its stale as I have done the same recipe twice,once when the LME was fresh and another 4 weeks ago and there is a lack of hop aroma and taste in the latest brew).The best place to keep it is somewhere cool(colder the better).For getting the LME out of the tin I use a sterilised ladle to scoop it up with then pour it into a 1l jug(I found that 900ml was roughly 1kg) and then from the jug into a stockpot that has 5 litres of boiled water in it.Once mixed in well it is added to the boiler then all the wort is brought to the boil.
If you find any mould growing on the surface of the LME just scrape it off with a sterilised spoon.
The tub of LME that I have has a sealing ring around the lid to help seal it up again afterwards( when it is empty it will be cleaned out and then used to store grains in as it is an ideal container).

[andyp]

I keep my 15K tub in the garage - cold enough this time of year and tub seals well, although thinking about it it'll be there in the summer as well. Then bring it in overnight, stand it by a radiator then pour into a jug standing in a large pot. Works fine.

[mixbrewery]

I used Brupaks Dark extract nearly a year past the BBE date, jerry can was about 1/3 full when used. Beer was perfectly ok.

[beardybrewer]

I use Brupaks pale 15kg, partly because of the smaller size means I can use it up within 3 months. I just keep it indoors in my beer press. I had the same question about how to use it without making a huge sticky mess. I found a solution which works pretty well for me. I have a wide metal mixing bowl and have a electric scale which takes up to about 3kg before ODing. I just zero the scale and pour in about 2kg. I then pour/stir this in to the boiler. Then, although there is still some malt in the bowl I just zero the scale and measure out the remaining malt (total - 2kg = kg to measure). After measuring out remainder I scrape in most of the LME with a spoon.

I sit the boiler on the draining board of the sink. The tap overhangs the sink and the bowl fits in the sink. I open the tap, rotate the metal bowl, and this way dissolve and mix in the remaining LME. Works well for me and doesn't make a mess!

[bradleyj00]

Thanks for sharing that. Sounds like a good plan. Hoping to give it a go next weekend with a 10g dry stout.

Has anyone ever considered vaccum packaging extract? I have a "foodsaver" vacuum sealer, and thought if I measured out 2kg portions in each bag, then vacuum sealed and refrigerated, then I might significantly extend the life of the extract. No doubt, this will be a messy process, and it might even be impossible.

Thanks to everyone for your help.

Jim