I've found that I've got a couple of kilos of crushed Belgian Biscuit Malt which I haven't got round to using. It says on the packet -
'Best before 6 months from crushing/packing date' - which was 27/09/12 (!)
6 year old malt - best feed it to the birds? - Or is it worth risking a brew?
Old malt - only fit for bird food?
Re: Old malt - only fit for bird food?
Sealed and stored coolish? No limit*
*Well, Muntons say 12 months I believe, but whenever I've searched I found no evidence going over this makes a detectable difference. I've used black malt 2 years old.
*Well, Muntons say 12 months I believe, but whenever I've searched I found no evidence going over this makes a detectable difference. I've used black malt 2 years old.
I brew therefore I ... I .... forget
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- Hollow Legs
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Re: Old malt - only fit for bird food?
For a couple of kilo I'd just bin it, it will lack freshness and may have developed poor flavours. If it was a sack or two I'd probably use it
Re: Old malt - only fit for bird food?
Thinking about this. Why not steep a small quantity and see what the liquor tastes like?
I brew therefore I ... I .... forget
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- Hollow Legs
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- Location: Derbyshire, UK
Re: Old malt - only fit for bird food?
2 kg, already crushed and 6 years old.
About £5ish to replace assuming you have a recipe that needs it all in mind. What is your time for a whole brew and the other ingredients worth?
Our garden birds would love it at this time of year!
About £5ish to replace assuming you have a recipe that needs it all in mind. What is your time for a whole brew and the other ingredients worth?
Our garden birds would love it at this time of year!
- Eric
- Even further under the Table
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Re: Old malt - only fit for bird food?
With a maximum recommended content of 10%, it's hard to think it would spoil a brew when well mixed with a base malt, but then it will be even older before all will be used.
Without patience, life becomes difficult and the sooner it's finished, the better.
Re: Old malt - only fit for bird food?
I've tasted a bit - tastes OK but I might try steeping some as vacant suggests. (I too have used some very old dark malts with no obvious effect on taste). I presume that it would have lost some of its diastatic power but I only use about 250g of it in a 5 gallon brew anyway so that wouldn't be a concern.
I'll try a little bit on the bird table, see what the local sparrows think of it too!
I'll try a little bit on the bird table, see what the local sparrows think of it too!