How long does the beer kit last once I receive it? I’m wondering if I can buy multiple kits at once to save on shipping
Yeast and hops are the most volatile. If you stash those cold, you’re good for a bit. Hops in the freezer for months, yeast in the fridge for weeks (liquid) months (dry).
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Ditto to the above but also if you have the capacity to crush your own grain crushed will stay fresh longer.
You are being VERY conservative here.
If sealed, hops can last a couple of years in the freezer, though that can be very variable depending on if they are cones or pellets, how they are packed, and things you have no control over, like harvest conditions etc.
Liquid yeast can remain viable and built up with starters after a year in the fridge, though that is not recommended. Liquid yeast is best used as fresh as you can get it. Dry yeast can go a couple years in the fridge with only minor loss of viability.
True enough. I’m also a bit biased by the fact that I’m ten minutes away from NB, so I never really felt the need to sit on yeast. I’d always rather just pick up my yeast when I’m ready to brew. While it is easy to make up a starter for old yeast, I’d rather just start with the freshest I can get.
I often do this. Typically I order 2-3 kits at a time. Then when the box arrives, I open it up and take the yeast and toss them in the fridge. I set the box down in my basement in the back until I’m ready to brew. This timing can range from a few days to a few weeks. Technically I really should put the hops in the freezer as well but I typically don’t bother until after the brew is done when the dry hops go in the freezer until it’s time to add them
Rad
Just did the same thing. Although I’m usually an AG brewer I got 3 kits on sale for when we head south for the winter and can only do them. Remove the (dry) yeast and put it in the fridge. Remove the hops and freeze them. The crushed grain I just keep dry and hope it is OK.
Many commercial companies nitrogen flush and vacuum pack hops so they should last a long time frozen.
Lucky you 
I’m 40 minutes from my local brew shop, and until last year, he only got shipments of smack packs once or twice a year, so I’ve often had to work with very old yeast. A few times I’ve had to build up starters from packs that were more than a year old, because that was the only option.
