Longevity of extract kits

Is there a local shop near you? Often times you can look at the ingredient list, make notes and go buy it fresher at your local store.

The hops, yeast, and steeping grains, once crushed, would all be weak points in one of these kits.

Liquid malt extract can last over a year but I wouldn't want to use it at a year old. Dry malt extract can last much longer as long as it's packaged and stored properly. I personally prefer the dry for a couple reasons that I won't bore you with.

 

Fair enough. I've been to the LHBS several times expecting them to have X hops and have to settle for Y because I didn't call ahead to see if they had them. They may be able to order some for you but like you said...it's a hour drive. That's a pretty good clip.

I've never ordered a kit from Midwest, or NB for that matter. I'm sure someone who has will be by in a while to chime in on the freshness.

 

Peter, your inclination is correct. You will be fine ordering the kit today and brewing it in November.

Cheers!

 

Freshness of kit ingredients depends on age and how they were stored. But once you get the kit, but sure to freeze the hops, refrigerate the yeast, and keep the LME (if any) in a dark place.

 

Some things last longer than others. Dry malt extract (DME) out lasts liquid malt extract (LME) for shelf life. I think you will be ok. You can always but them in the fridge, or even freezer. I would order dry yeast, and throw that in the fridge when it comes in. And make sure you put the yeast in your fridge as well.

 

just beat me to it

 

If you're just excited about the El Dorado, then order a pound or half pound from YVHOPS.com and make your own recipe up..its really not that hard. Try 1/2 lb Light Carastan + 1 pound white wheat + 6 pounds Extra light DME then hop it with an ounce at 60, 2 oz at 10 and 2 oz dry hop (I always like a 2 oz 10-15 minute hopstand at flameout too for any of my IPAs). Should give you a beer around 5.5 % and around 70 IBUs. Then you'll also have some left over to through into another batch some other time!
http://www.yakimavalleyhops.com/ElDorado2oz_p/hopseldorado2-2014crop.htm

 

White wheat needs to be mashed, no?

 

Since you are new to brewing, most people will tell you to read: How to Brew by John Palmer. And it's a great book, you should read it over if you haven't already. But if you want some good recipes, check out the book: Brewing Classic Styles. You really can't go wrong with the info in there. Also, Northern Brewer lists their ingredients for their kits on the info sheet for their kit. So you could piece together any kit you want.

I feel your pain with the distance to your LHBS. I'm 45 - 60 minutes from mine depending on traffic. But I find myself heading that direction at least once a month anyways so I just try to coordinate it.

 

Yep...I'd recommend @Hop-Droppen-Roll buy a brew-in-a-bag bag (around $9 or so) and just doing a mash in the kettle. This would require no other equipment from extract brewing except the bag and a thermometer, unless he already has one.

 

Nothings wrong with what you're doing. Extract is a great way to "get your feet wet" by taking some of the heavy lifting out of the brew day.

BIAB is a great next step. The BIAB is basically taking some base malt or a malt that needs to be mashed in order to be used (in this case white wheat), combining it in a bag with your other specialty grains, and mashing them, or soaking them in water at whatever temp is called for (usually between 145-160 give or take). Then you remove the grain bag, rinse them with hot water to get the rest of your sugars out, then top up the kettle with whatever amount of water for your batch...heat that up, disolve the extract (if you're using any, some BIAB will use the entire grain bill....yes its a big bag!!) and boil away as you normally would have.

 

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brewmaster-filter-bag-214-214
Sorry, $6 The white wheat adds good head retention, a little mouthfeel and it adds a subtleness that helps accentuate many hops, including El Dorado IMO. You can get the light carastan at Northern Brewer as well or you can sub Crystal/Caramel 10 from your LHBS if you don't want to order it. Mash the wheat and carastan/C-10 at around 150-153 for 60 minutes and follow the above directions to sparge (rinse with hot water) and proceed with normal extract batch. Good luck..and you got this!!!

 

Good article "Fresh Is Best"in BYO Oct. 2015 by Aaron Hyde re. Storage and Spoilage of Malt Extract. LME "twang" is evidently due to Maillard reaction in the container caused by (more) temp changes, condensation, exposure to heat and bacteria.