General homebrew discussion, tips and help on kit and malt extract brewing, and talk about equipment. Queries on sourcing supplies and equipment should go in The Store.
I have been given two tins of "Beermakers Ginger Beer" by a local Health Food shop owner who would otherwise have thrown them out. The Best By Date is 14/04/06. Would it be too optimistic of me to use them?
I would, of course ditch the accompanying yeast and opt for something still in date. Would the standard Coopers yeast be adequate? There isn't a decent homebrew store for 35mins drive away.
nah, thoroughly worth giving them a go. have a scout around to see what people have done with GB kits though, adding extra fresh ginger and DME doesn't seem to go astray
The date is mainly to do with the Yeast, however DO NOT USE A Coopers Yeast, as they are there for the price. Try a Morgans yeast at the very least, or Brewcellar or Safale.
One of the best beers I made was out of date, and simply by putting a $4.40 yeast with it, made the difference.
The Coopers yeasts are under appreciated, and can make good beers if you keep the temperature low and stable. Overseas, the Coopers yeasts are sold alongside the safales et al. I think they have got a bad name in Aus. due to all the sucrose-fueled cidery filth that people churned out during the recession.
Having said that, of course try a Safale or even a liquid yeast and you open up a whole new dimension of flavours. Yeast influences flavour quite a lot.
