My first extract brew?

[vacant]

I've got 60 or so AG brews under my belt, and 15 kits before that. I've been given a Tom Caxton beer kit that was BB 2008. I have hops in the freezer (EKG, Amarillo, Willamette, Pilgrim, Green Bullet), Wilko's Ale yeast in the fridge and around 500g spraymalt that I use for yeast slants and starters, and granulated sugar.

Options I thought of:

• chuck the lot
• make it up as a kit, take a chance with the liquid hop extract packet from the kit but obviously use fresh yeast*, maybe dry hop.
• incorporate the malt extract into my next AG
• do some sort of extract brew with fresh hops & yeast

The last option appeals as a new experiment, in which case advice and recipes are invited. I'd be looking for a session beer.

TIA

* I'll probably rehydrate the old yeast just for laughs on brew day you never know

[Jim]

I would definitely have a go. I used up an ancient tin of extract a few months ago, went wild with all my left-over hops, tried WIndsor yeast for the first time ..... it turned out a really nice beer!

I would just wing it and add tons of late hops (anything you've had lying about for a while) and see what comes out.

[vacant]

Well, my "next AG" turned out to be another experiment yesterday - first proper no-chill using a hdpe jerry can. I though I wouldn't introduce two major new-to-me techniques, so the tom caxton extract will be next.

[vacant]

"AG66 kit resurrection" turned out lovely, bottled 13th October

Code: Select all

Brew length 29.0L

Carafa Special 3   40g	
Maris Otter      3250g	
Crystal Malt      300g	
Munich Malt	    350g	
beer kit can     1700g

Green Bullet 20g  60 min (Boil)
Kohatu       50g  10 min (Boil)

no ill effects from the six year old malt extract

[RobWalker]

I do all grain but still brew short run extract beers too - It might be a good opportunity for you to brew a special beer with ease, like an Imperial Stout, Belgian Tripel, etc. I know that's not what you're after, but with dry "craft" yeasts available the world really is your oyster. This also has the benefit that you can store it in demi johns for quite some time if topped up, allowing it to bulk age for a while before bottling - just keep it in total darkness.

If not, with the super dry finish you tend to get with these kit beers, I'd probably brew up a standard Saison with your Willamette, or dry hop it with Amarillo for something more exciting. It's a very difficult style to get wrong.