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Author Topic: Six month old LME-Use or pitch?  (Read 3118 times)

Offline Phil_M

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Six month old LME-Use or pitch?
« on: February 04, 2016, 09:21:13 am »
Like the title says. Bought a recipe kit last June that had 6 lbs of pilsner LME that I never used. It's been stored cold in my fridge the entire time. I know cold storage increases the shelf life of LME, but after six months, what should I do?
Corn is a fine adjunct in beer.

And don't buy stale beer.

Offline JJeffers09

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Re: Six month old LME-Use or pitch?
« Reply #1 on: February 04, 2016, 12:08:24 pm »
What is the package date of the LME?  Go for an old ale is what I have seen.
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Offline Phil_M

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Re: Six month old LME-Use or pitch?
« Reply #2 on: February 04, 2016, 12:11:43 pm »
What is the package date of the LME?  Go for an old ale is what I have seen.

I'll check that when I get home.

Using it for starters is another option as well. Honestly I'm hoping that with cold storage it will be fine, but I plan on brewing a pilsner-esque beer with it, so any problems will likely come through in the final beer.
Corn is a fine adjunct in beer.

And don't buy stale beer.

Offline leprecaunjon

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Re: Six month old LME-Use or pitch?
« Reply #3 on: February 04, 2016, 04:44:54 pm »
in all honesty i have used  6 month old if not older LME without any problems, you might have a slight loss of flavor depending on light exposure but as long as it hasn't been opened and has been stored properly you should be good to go.

Offline Phil_M

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Re: Six month old LME-Use or pitch?
« Reply #4 on: February 04, 2016, 07:07:25 pm »
Checked for a date, didn't see one on the packaging.

It seems very dark, noticeably darker than the (fresh) gold malt syrup I brewed with last weekend. With that note, I'm thinking of relegating it to starter use.
Corn is a fine adjunct in beer.

And don't buy stale beer.

Offline leprecaunjon

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Re: Six month old LME-Use or pitch?
« Reply #5 on: February 04, 2016, 08:44:16 pm »
Checked for a date, didn't see one on the packaging.

It seems very dark, noticeably darker than the (fresh) gold malt syrup I brewed with last weekend. With that note, I'm thinking of relegating it to starter use.

that may be best, i had a gold DME go bad, some how the seal broke and it lumped into one big brick, i tossed it but debated on using it for a starter my self.

Offline Superlimllc

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Re: Six month old LME-Use or pitch?
« Reply #6 on: April 10, 2016, 01:41:48 pm »
Use the old malt to make a simple beer (hops and maybe one steeping grain).  if it isn't good, you are just out  The cost of the hops, a little grain, and the yeast versus throwing away the extract.

Offline brewinhard

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Re: Six month old LME-Use or pitch?
« Reply #7 on: April 10, 2016, 04:46:20 pm »
Use the old malt to make a simple beer (hops and maybe one steeping grain).  if it isn't good, you are just out  The cost of the hops, a little grain, and the yeast versus throwing away the extract.

This ^^^^^.

I would bet the LME is just fine (though I prefer DME for its storage abilities). But as stated above, make a simple beer and if it comes out good, then lucky you.  If it comes out bad, then oh well, its just beer - dump it!

Offline Phil_M

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Re: Six month old LME-Use or pitch?
« Reply #8 on: April 11, 2016, 05:53:21 am »
FWIW, I still haven't used this extract. I plan on making a batch of canned starters, and will use it for that.

The way I see it, why waste hops on this questionable extract when I know I need starters? Though it wouldn't be a waste of yeast, I'm turning into a chronic repitcher.
Corn is a fine adjunct in beer.

And don't buy stale beer.