Opinions on use of ingredients

[swenocha]

As mentioned, I have a friend going through a second bout of kidney cancer. I have been working at his house to inventory all of his beer to do a blind auction (240ish bottles), and while doing so uncovered this:

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6lbs of sealed Briess wheat DME
6lbs of sealed Briess golden light DME
sealed bags of crushed 2 row, munich, vienna, honey malts
sealed bag of uncrushed victory malt
sealed bag of flaked rye
sealed Munton carb tabs, and a sealed bag of priming sugar

as well as equipment... several corks and airlocks, hand capper and caps, some tubing, homebrewing book, and other stuff. Also one keg. I think I saw a carboy, but forgot to go back and check.

Jeff's wife insisted that if we could use these items, we take them. The other guy working on this with me wanted the keg and associated tubing, and I took the ingredients.

So now my question... I know that Jeff hasn't brewed since his father died (they brewed together), which I think was maybe 1.5 to 2 years ago. So this stuff is likely at least 2-3 years old. Thoughts on using it? I'm inclined throw it away, or maybe to maybe ditch the grains but try out the extract, but I may consider giving the grains a go if thoughts differ. Maybe I should just use it all... It would be essentially free beer (outside of my time and labor)... I have smatterings of hops that need used, and several yeasts reharvested and ready for service.

Thoughts? Opinions?

[Beer-lord]

I would be more weary of the crushed grains than the DME. Unless the grains are kept airtight, after weeks to a few months, from all I've read and heard, they are no good.
Here's pretty much what I've followed over the years.

[RickBeer]

Given the value of the grains (max of $2 per pound), I would toss all of them. DME lasts forever, as does the rest of it.

[BlackDuck]

Or, you can honor your buddy and make a small batch and see what happens. Maybe it will be crappy beer and maybe it will be decent beer. Either way it would pay honor to your friend.


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[John Sand]

I would at least taste the grains before tossing. You'll know if they are stale.
If you decide to make a batch, why not a small one? 1-3 gallons of extract+grains can be accomplished very quickly. Steep from cool to 170, do a 15 or 30 minute boil, you probably can finish in an hour or so.

[mashani]

I think that dried extract is probably fine as long as it's still free flowing.

The flaked grains contain a bit of oil and it's probably rancid by now, those are toast for sure IMHO.

The rest I'd be sketchy about. Crystal malts might be more stable then the 2-row/base grains, so I'd at least give them a look/taste and then decide.

[swenocha]

Thx, all. Glad to see your thoughts coincide with mine. My initial thought was to keep the DME but ditch the grains (esp. the crushed). Really, as someone said, it's a few dollars in grains... not worth ruining a beer over.