All Grain Advantages?

Seeves1982 · 07-03-2009, 12:53 AM

What are the advantages to brewing all-grain instead of extract. The process seems alot more complicated.

Thanks,
Mike

BigEd · 07-03-2009, 01:09 AM

Making anything from scratch is more complicated than using pre-fab ingredients. This horse has been beaten to death many times over and a quick search will yield tons of reading material. However, the short answer is control. All grain gives you the ability to use any brewing ingredients a professional brewer would and the ability to determine through mashing how these ingredients ultimately become the beer. All grain does take more time and effort but in short there are virtually no limitations on what styles you can brew and how you can brew them.

Trencher · 07-03-2009, 01:11 AM

Geekiness.

**weirdboy** · 07-03-2009, 01:18 AM

Don't forget reduced cost per batch. If you brew a lot, you will quickly recoup whatever you spend on upgrading equipment due to the price differential between extracts and grain.

Nanobru · 07-03-2009, 01:20 AM

By altering the temp of the mash, you can create different mouth feel
Different proportions of fermentables
Cheaper (after equipment of course)
spent grain makes good bread

**Yooper** · 07-03-2009, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nanobru

By altering the temp of the mash, you can create different mouth feel
Different proportions of fermentables
Cheaper (after equipment of course)
spent grain makes good bread

As the others said, and I agree:

Better tasting beer overall

More customizable- want more maltiness, more body, thinner body, thicker mouthfeel, etc? Easy with AG

Cheaper- buying grains and hops in bulk, most of my batches are $10-$18 for 5 gallons

Some malts must be mashed, so I can use more ingredients than an extract brewer.

Great hobby, and more time and energy to into each batch

**CharlosCarlies** · 07-03-2009, 01:40 AM

Agreed w/ all the above...however, I think the cost difference is kinda negligible (for most) considering the extra equipment necessary AND the extra hours involved in the brewing process. I work from home, so anytime spent brewing is time I could be working (not that I'd rather be...brewing is wayyyyyyy more fun!). Basically, IMO, you won't see the cost advantage unless you brew a **** ton like some of these guys/gals do on here.

W/ that being said, I'd never ever ever go back. My beers are MUCH better and there's just an awesome satisfaction you get from crafting your own from scratch. I love having this much control over the end product.

**EdWort** · 07-03-2009, 01:50 AM

Better Beer. Much better beer IMHO. Better than many commercial micros in fact.

The process is more geekier and can get as geekie as you want or you can keep it simple.

I have a couple of brew buddies that don't measure anything and throw together good beer in spite of it, but it is all grain.

alcibiades · 07-03-2009, 01:58 AM

my LHBS convinced me not to jump into all grain....for now...

He won me over with his arguments about all the extra equipment and the lack of consistency. Also, a pretty damn good beer can be made with quality extract and steeping grains.

Sill, I'm a geek, so I'll probably dip my toe into the all grain mash tun eventually.

**EdWort** · 07-03-2009, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alcibiades

my LHBS convinced me not to jump into all grain....for now...

He won me over with his arguments about all the extra equipment and the lack of consistency. Also, a pretty damn good beer can be made with quality extract and steeping grains.

Sill, I'm a geek, so I'll probably dip my toe into the all grain mash tun eventually.

I beg to differ on lack of consistency. My beers are consistently the same. Of course I measure grain to the 10th of an ounce.

LBHS make much more money off extract brewers than all grain brewers, so his perspective may have a little bias to it.