I started with small batch (1.5 gallons) BIAB. My very first beer went down the drain: tap water was way too hard, and the beer ended up undrinkably astringent. (That would have been an advantage to starting with extract.) Batches 2-5 were fine but nothing special. Batch 6 was the first beer I thought came out better than what I'd typically get commercially. It took another half a dozen batches before I was regularly making something very good.
So it might be a bit of pressure to come up with something you're proud to give away by Christmas.
(Edit: looking back at my notes, #6 wasn't all that hot. But #11-16 were all good.)
So it might be a bit of pressure to come up with something you're proud to give away by Christmas.
(Edit: looking back at my notes, #6 wasn't all that hot. But #11-16 were all good.)