How long can you keep wort before it goes bad?

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Peterpasha
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How long can you keep wort before it goes bad?

Post by Peterpasha » Mon Mar 06, 2023 2:34 pm

Maybe an odd question, but how long can you keep wort before it goes bad?

I picked up 5 gallons of Irish Stout wort at BrewHQ on Friday afternoon (my home brewing has been on hiatus since Christmas owing to major unexpected renovations, so I've been buying wort from BrewHQ and fermenting it at home) intending to transfer it into the fermenter on Saturday morning, so I put it into my keezer to keep cold. Then on Saturday morning before I got around to it, I had to unload a bunch of drywall and managed to pull a major muscle in my back. I can't lift the 5 gallon pail of wort out of the freezer until my back is better cause I risk dislocating a rib from my spine (done it before, don't recommend it) so I'm wondering, how long can I keep it before it goes off?
On Tap:
Irreplaceable Pale Ale
On Deck:

Fermenting
Black IPA
Planning
Irish Red Ale

JamesM80
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Re: How long can you keep wort before it goes bad?

Post by JamesM80 » Mon Mar 06, 2023 3:31 pm

Lots of kits online say a year or more. As long as it didn't pick up any fun stuff during packaging you should be good for a while.

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McGruff
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Re: How long can you keep wort before it goes bad?

Post by McGruff » Mon Mar 06, 2023 4:27 pm

Ask a friend to help.

Bradbrewsbeer
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Re: How long can you keep wort before it goes bad?

Post by Bradbrewsbeer » Mon Mar 06, 2023 6:24 pm

I picked up a couple of no chill bags from brewhq to try out. I brewed an American wheat and bagged it, it was well over a week before I put it in the fermenter and pitched the yeast. It was left at room temp the whole time with no ill effects.
Kegged - Cold IPA, NEIPA, Fieldberry Wheat, Dark Abbey Ale, Apple Pear Cider, American Lager, American Stout, Belgian Wit

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wcturnedec
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Re: How long can you keep wort before it goes bad?

Post by wcturnedec » Tue Mar 07, 2023 3:29 pm

Ya same as Brad, I have a no-chill cube that I have left at room temp in the sealed cube for a few weeks without issue. I've heard Aussie brewers, who pioneered the no-chill brewing, leaving wort in their cubes for months at a time.
On tap: APA, Dubbel, Dark Mild
Fermenting: Brett Saison 2022, Schwarzbier, APA, Sour Brown,
Coming up: American Wheat (Fruited), Vienna Lager, Dortmunder
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Re: How long can you keep wort before it goes bad?

Post by Peterpasha » Wed Mar 08, 2023 9:00 am

Thanks for the replies and offers of help! I figure I'm good till I can catch my breath.
On Tap:
Irreplaceable Pale Ale
On Deck:

Fermenting
Black IPA
Planning
Irish Red Ale

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