Coopers Kit's past their best before date

[DCLavs]

I haven't brewed in over 2 years but after attending the Maiden City Brewers meet on Saturday in Derry I decided to get all my gear out and get a couple of brews going.Thing is they've just past the best before date on the can.Have a Coopers Stout and Australian Pale Ale which had a date of mid-June 2013 and a Coopers Irish Stout and Canadian Blonde which were up a couple of weeks ago.Would it be OK to go ahead with these or would I be better cutting my loses and buying some fresh kit?

[Bubbles]

I haven't brewed in over 2 years but after attending the Maiden City Brewers meet on Saturday in Derry I decided to get all my gear out and get a couple of brews going.Thing is they've just past the best before date on the can.Have a Coopers Stout and Australian Pale Ale which had a date of mid-June 2013 and a Coopers Irish Stout and Canadian Blonde which were up a couple of weeks ago.Would it be OK to go ahead with these or would I be better cutting my loses and buying some fresh kit?

They'll be just fine. Maybe a bit darker than originally intended, but you'd be mad to chuck them out. Maybe chuck the yeast and use a sachet of good commercial yeast like US-05 or Nottingham..

[LordEoin]

They're fine. It's just a 'BEST BEFORE' date, not a 'USE BEFORE OR IT WILL KILL YOU' date.
The hop flavors might be a little less, it might be a little darker.
The yeast would be my main concern as it's alive. Maybe replace it.
Otherwise it'll  still be just as good.

[LordEoin]

Wow Bubbles, that was fast! 

[Bubbles]

eye of the tiger! 

[Eoin]

Replace the yeast and get it brewed.

I've seen some of the tight brits brewing stuff from the 80's, the malt extract is a little darker nothing else.

Also as long as the tin is not bowed out at the sides you're grand.

[DCLavs]

Cheers all.New yeast it is then.....I guess that's my other question answered too.....have about 15 different sachets of yeast which have been sitting 2 years as well.Bin for them (or will dehydrating before pitching tell me if they're still alive?).

Any yeast recommendations.....for the stouts and the blonde/ale?

[Bubbles]

have about 15 different sachets of yeast which have been sitting 2 years as well.Bin for them

Bin, for certain.

will dehydrating before pitching tell me if they're still alive?

No. Attempting to make a starter will tell you if it's still alive. But I wouldn't take the risk, personally. The yeast is just too old.

Any yeast recommendations.....for the stouts and the blonde/ale?

Danstar Nottingham is a good all-purpose yeast, suitable for both of your beers. Clean profile, highly attenuative and flocculates well.

[irish_goat]

Glad to hear you're getting back into it.

As Bubbles says, Danstar Nottingham is good and I seem to get good results with US-05 too.

If you buy some hops you can give the kits a bit more life as well.

[LordEoin]

Aye, the yeasts might be fine, but are you willing to risk 23L of beer on it? bin them all.

Coopers Stout and Canadian Blonde- id go with fermentis S04 or danstar nottingham
Australian Pale Ale - I'd go with fermentis US05.

Dryhopping will fix anything that age has taken from each kit 

[Bubbles]

If you buy some hops you can give the kits a bit more life as well.

+1 to that.

Do a hop tea or dry-hop the APA and Canadian Blonde kits for some extra flavour and aroma. The APA kit is a real good 'un. I did it several times myself and makes a great base for an American Pale Ale with the addition of extra hops.

[Bubbles]

Eoin, ya beat me to it that time! 

[LordEoin]

eagle eyes!

[mr hoppy]

You can use out of date yeast as yeast nutrient. Not sure how with a kit, but with extract or all grain you'd just throw in toward the end of the boil.

[LordEoin]

I've heard that alright. Something to do with the contents of the yeast sachet being a mix of yeast and nutrient.
Suppose you could just put it in a cup of boiling water and dump it into the FV.