i have an old Mr. Beer “Hopped Malt Extract” (American Ligjt) can that expired nearly six months ago. The seal is good and it had been stored inside. I was thinking I could use it and jazz it up with more malts and hops. It’s a small, one-gallon batch... so it wouldn’t take much. Would you try it, or just throw it out?
Brew 2 identical 1 gal. batches...but one with fresh extract, yeast, and hops and note the differences...very educational
Your Mr. Beer is expired? I am shocked. SHOCKED I tell you! You have 2 problems here. 1. Stale extract. 2. Mr. Beer. But it's not the end of the world. Stale extract should be avoided at all costs. It is just not worth the effort. However in this instance, 6 months is not terrible. Which leads us to #2. Mr. Beer. You could be Charlie Effing Papazian and you ain't getting stellar beer out of that kit. I don't care if the extract was made this morning. Though the experience is really worth it because if you enjoy brewing you will thank the person who got you the Christmas gift. Nobody brews with Mr. Beer for very long, it is a basic introduction, an impulse buy, made to a price point and invariably stale. But you know that. So, read this! https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...mprove-light-extract-kit.552725/#post-5802022 My advice, for what it's worth. Cheers.
'Nasty' may be an excessive word to use here, but that is subjective too. It's only a gallon batch and would be an educational experience, especially if the OP reports back to us the actual findings. OP, how about it?
Haha! Thanks everyone! It isn’t going to save me much money... so I think I’ll quit trying to be a cheapskate and just get some new grains & dme. I’ve got my first ever batch wrapping up it’s first week in fermentation, and I’ve got the itch to get something else going!
You could use it to make a yeast starter, but it sounds like you brew 1 gallon batches, so maybe it is never really needed. I don't necessarily think it would make an awful beer, but difficult to believe it could make a very good one. If you want to save money on light American beers, homebrewing may not be the answer.
I'd use it ONLY for a starter, that's absolutely it! I got my first brewing equipment as a Craigslist buy. Guy through it old extracts kits as part of the deal. Brewed once with one. Don't worry about the money off discarding it. It just isn't worth your time to make crappy tasting beer; it will taste like cardboard!
