shelf life of additives

Oct 22, 2006 3 Replies

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Jake Speed 19 years ago

I discovered a box in my attic that must have got stuck there when we moved in 11+ years ago. In the box I found some extra wine & beer making materials, including yeast energizer, grape tannin, calcium carbonate, crystal malt, a bag of dried malt, and oak chips.

My first thought was to toss everything except the oak. But I figured I'd ask if anyone knew the shelf life of things before doing so. I'd rather not throw out anything good, but ruining a batch of *anything* isn't worth it.

Thanks! Bryan

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Thomas R. 19 years ago

You haven't mentioned anything particularly expensive so I'd throw it out. I have a cheapskate in me that's always trying to show his face. He's telling me to save the tannin, CaCO3 and oak chips. Sugars and energizer get spread on the parts of the lawn that deserve it. Maybe the malt would be good on ice cream?

Tom

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Ray Calvert 19 years ago

Check Jack Kellers site. Somewhere on it is some pretty good info on shelf life. It is not as long as you might think on most items.

Ray

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jmreiter 19 years ago

Bryan, toss and buy new. Actually, now is the best time to buy yeast with the cooler temps. Apparently, the yeast packets we buy at winemaking supply shops is no longer shipped in refridgerated trucks. So the potency of yeast shipped during the summer months can be doubtful. Keep current materials in your fridge, especially yeast and energizer. Other materails can be kept in a cool, dry place. Garages are not good as they go through temperature extremes. Joanne

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