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**kombat** · 12-04-2012, 12:49 PM

Personally, I went all-grain in an effort to eliminate the omnipresent sweet-metallic extract "twang" that was in my canned extract kit+LME beers. Having made the transition, I now feel much more pride in my beer. When I serve someone an extract kit beer, and they ask, "This is homemade?", I feel compelled to offer a disclaimer, "Yes, I made this, but it's from an extract kit, not from scratch." Conversely, when I pour a guest a pint brewed from grains, I proudly answer, "Yup, made it from scratch. Come on downstairs, I'd be happy to show you the brewery."

It's empowering knowing you have complete control of the entire process, from grain selection, milling tolerances, mash temperature/schedule, plus (of course) everything after the mash, which is in common with extract brewers. It's a source of pride for me.

**Golddiggie** · 12-04-2012, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kombat

Personally, I went all-grain in an effort to eliminate the omnipresent sweet-metallic extract "twang" that was in my canned extract kit+LME beers. Having made the transition, I now feel much more pride in my beer. When I serve someone an extract kit beer, and they ask, "This is homemade?", I feel compelled to offer a disclaimer, "Yes, I made this, but it's from an extract kit, not from scratch." Conversely, when I pour a guest a pint brewed from grains, I proudly answer, "Yup, made it from scratch. Come on downstairs, I'd be happy to show you the brewery."

It's empowering knowing you have complete control of the entire process, from grain selection, milling tolerances, mash temperature/schedule, plus (of course) everything after the mash, which is in common with extract brewers. It's a source of pride for me.

IMO, a good number of us go all grain more for the control than cost savings. Although you CAN save good money if you buy your grain right.

Raise a pint if you brew all grain.

Well, maybe a pint of coffee at this wee hour.

**AnOldUR** · 12-05-2012, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golddiggie

IMO, a good number of us go all grain more for the control than cost savings.

I'd guess that the OCD that drives someone to AG also means that they'll never save money by homebrewing.

ryno1ryno · 12-05-2012, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnOldUR

I'd guess that the OCD that drives someone to AG also means that they'll never save money by homebrewing.

Especially if you end up picking 8 different types of specialty grains.

Okay, I have already seen recipes that call for different darkness but of the same type... for instance, Carmel 30L, Carmel 60L and then Carmel 130L in the same recipe. I mean, cant all that just be averaged and simplified?

zachattack · 12-05-2012, 11:49 AM

No. Each of the caramel/crystal malts brings a completely different flavor profile, from light sweetness, caramel, toffee, burnt sugar, raisins, etc. Averaging them might give you the same color, but not the same flavor.

**Golddiggie** · 12-05-2012, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnOldUR

I'd guess that the OCD that drives someone to AG also means that they'll never save money by homebrewing.

Not really. At least not if you're smart about buying your ingredients. Paying $80 per sack of grain is insane (after shipping and such). But getting in on a group grain buy means you might spend half that. Buy hops in bulk and you save again. Easy to save on yeast with at least a few methods too.

**AnOldUR** · 12-05-2012, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golddiggie

Not really. At least not if you're smart about buying your ingredients.

Wasn't talking about just ingredients. Have you put a price tag on your entire system?

(. . . and not the one you show to your wife

)

**Golddiggie** · 12-05-2012, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnOldUR

Wasn't talking about just ingredients. Have you put a price tag on your entire system?

Nope... Don't need to. Most of the gear is actually stuff I've made/modified. The few exceptions are the Duda Diesel chiller, Monster Mill MM2-2.0 and Blichmann burners.

Quote:

(. . . and not the one you show to your wife

)

Not married.

So I don't need to show anyone anything.

Also, IF you're decent with tools, you can make a good amount of the gear you'll use.

Nightshade · 12-05-2012, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnOldUR

I'd guess that the OCD that drives someone to AG also means that they'll never save money by homebrewing.

I guess the complacency that allows you to stay with extract or prefab kits will only ever allow you to make someone elses beer recipe.

see what I did there

**malweth** · 12-05-2012, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightshade

I think you are vastly underrating the ingredent selection and quantity as well as quality of each which takes your mash technique up a bit higher since they are related in some fashion.

No way! Sure, it plays a role in technique, but a much bigger role in recipe formulation, which I purposefully excluded.

There's just not that big a difference in recipes between all-grain and extract with steeping grains. I'd say the biggest difference between the two comes during fermentation and fermentability of the wort (which also comes from mash technique)

If you're talking about straight extract brewing (no grains), I would certainly agree with you, but who does that?