Out of date tin

[pmclaren11]

Hi all,

I am sure this has been asked before... however, I have a tin of Morgans Chairmans Selection English Bitter that's due date is up at the end of this week. Do I try and ferment this ASAP or can I wait a month or so? I have all of my kegs full and don't want to make an all bottle batch of this as I haven't brewed it before, plus I think it might be a nicer drop once the weather cools down a bit.

I plan to ditch the yeast and use safale when I do brew as I am sure it's been through a lot...

Thoughts? If anyone has brewed this I would also be keen to hear any reviews.

Cheers and beers.

[Bum]

Never done it but I understand that most manufacturers set the use by date according to the likely longevity of the yeast. Of course, extract brewers everywhere suggest that the fresher the malt extract is the better the beer will be. I reckon you'd be fine after the month with a new yeast but if money isn't too tight a fresher tin might yield somewhat improved results.

[rotten]

Not saying your tin will be the same, but the only brew that has gone really south for me was a tin that was out of date. It was also a morgans tin, aussie pilsener from memory. It could have been further out than yours but I'm not sure. I did use the tin yeast at the time. If it has been stored O.K. it SHOULD be O.K. Only one way to find out for sure.
If adding extras apart from different yeast, I wouldn't risk it personally.
My 2c
Cheers

[Oliver]

I'm drinking a beer at the moment that was brewed with a tin that was more than four years out of date and even though it's only been in the bottle a week it's already showing promise.

Admittedly I did a very mini mini-mash and added some extra hops (Fuggles, at 60, 20, flamout and as dry hop).

Another thing to keep in mind that liquid malt extract will darken over time.

Cheers,

Oliver

[bellboys backyard brew]

I agree with Oliver, generally it will be a bit darker and so will not "look" like the beer you're trying to brew but will taste absolutely fine. I've brewed them years out of date, making sure I NEVER use the yeast (which I never use in any case). No problems at all, done it many many times. As per previous post, I think the use by date's for the yeast more than anything.

[lethaldog]

Agree with Oliver, i have used tins in the past that have been up the back of the cupboard and forgotten about for god knows how long and they turned out fine but yes they do get darker over time, only difference i could tell, Rotten i would say it was your yeast, i have never used kit yeasts for the reason that even though you may have taken care of it, how long was it on the shelf before you bought it ( no way to tell ) + i have always gone for a better quality yeast such as a liquid or at least a good quality dry!! Also think that all yeasts should be refridgerated or at least kept cool which doesnt happen with kits!!

[rotten]

Everything that could have been wrong with my tin and yeast, was. It also fermented at 27c Bloody tin instructions.

My experience was before I 'saw the light'
My kit days and fermenting at those temps are long gone.
Cheers

[lethaldog]

Yeah i bassically gave the kits up cold turkey when i started AG, will have to do one oneday just to remember the ease of it lol!!!