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how long does the yeast live?

• sporr

  

  Member
   

  May 3, 2009

  The wife and I bought this kit to brew an Irish Red about 4 years ago but never actually did it. I'll admitt we were a little intimidated to give it a try. A good friend of mine has been brewing for a couple months now and while we were down at their place sampling his home brew our interest got up again. So while we were down there he and I brewed up a batch so I could see how to do it. Came home and dug the unopened kit back out. Looking at the ingreidiant kit I believe that it should still be fine. Everything in it was either canned or vaccum packed. And has been in our basement for the last 4 years, so heat hasn't been a issue. The biggest thing would be the yeast packet. It is dry yeast so I'm actually thinking it should be fine as well. It doesn't activate until you put it into the warm brew batch, does it?
  Looking for some advise here. Should I just throw that old ingrediant kit away and get new or will it still be good?

  The wife and I bought this kit to brew an Irish Red about 4 years ago but never actually did it. I'll admitt we were a little intimidated to give it a try. A good friend of mine has been brewing for a couple months now and while we were down at their place sampling his home brew our interest got up again. So while we were down there he and I brewed up a batch so I could see how to do it. Came home and dug the unopened kit back out. Looking at the ingreidiant kit I believe that it should still be fine. Everything in it was either canned or vaccum packed. And has been in our basement for the last 4 years, so heat hasn't been a issue. The biggest thing would be the yeast packet. It is dry yeast so I'm actually thinking it should be fine as well. It doesn't activate until you put it into the warm brew batch, does it?
  Looking for some advise here. Should I just throw that old ingrediant kit away and get new or will it still be good?
• ironarrow42

  

  Member
   

  May 9, 2009

  Does the yeast have a use before date? I would pick up a new package of dry yeast, myself. That's always been the advice I've heard for baker's yeast - if it's sat that long, replace it. The malt extract should be ok (check the can like you would for any canned good - make sure it hasn't become puffed up). If the kit came with hops and they haven't been frozen, they'll probably have lost potency and aroma, so you may want to replace those, but I doubt they'd hurt anything if you used them.
  
  Hope that helps, and good luck with the brew!
  Bill

  Does the yeast have a use before date? I would pick up a new package of dry yeast, myself. That's always been the advice I've heard for baker's yeast - if it's sat that long, replace it. The malt extract should be ok (check the can like you would for any canned good - make sure it hasn't become puffed up). If the kit came with hops and they haven't been frozen, they'll probably have lost potency and aroma, so you may want to replace those, but I doubt they'd hurt anything if you used them.
  
  Hope that helps, and good luck with the brew!
  Bill
• Norm

  

  Leader
   

  May 10, 2009

  There are too many variables to tell if the yeast is still alive. Even if I have dry yeast cool I only keep it for a year at most. It should be fine unless it got hot. Dry yeast is also only about a dollar so myself I would spend the buck to ensure the batch comes out fine.

  There are too many variables to tell if the yeast is still alive. Even if I have dry yeast cool I only keep it for a year at most. It should be fine unless it got hot. Dry yeast is also only about a dollar so myself I would spend the buck to ensure the batch comes out fine.
• hopdog09

  

  Member
   

  June 10, 2009

  I agree with norm but also some extract will change over time and off flavors will happen, but it will still be beer.

  I agree with norm but also some extract will change over time and off flavors will happen, but it will still be beer.
• jezmez68

  

  Member
   

  September 18, 2009

  Get a different yeast. You can get yeast through either Northern Brewer or Midwest Supplies.

  Get a different yeast. You can get yeast through either Northern Brewer or Midwest Supplies.