SMaSH brew: extract brew

I just read the article on SMaSH brewing and I was planning on doing a Brewers best IPA kit this weekend as my first foray into IPA's. But now I'm thinking to learn about what I'm doing to create my own IPA I need to start with the essence of the beer and tweak from there. That means SMaSH brew.

The recipe looks like all grain in the article. I usually steep grains for 30 minutes then add appx. 6.6 pounds of malt extract to the wort to finish then add my hop pellets once boiling.

So for extract, would I just take say a pound or so of US 2 row to steep and add regular light LME to that to get a close interpretation of all grain?

Thanks! That article has me fired up!

 

I don't know how you would do a true smash with extract.

I'm not an expert on DME but as far as LME light extract that has more than one grain in it.

You would have to find out what the extract you're using is made out of in order to do a smash.

I wrote an article a little bit ago about doing BIAB instead of extract. Check it out and you may just want to do BIAB instead. It takes 30 minutes longer and it's all grain.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/right-biab-extract.html

 

100% Maris Otter Extract: http://www.northernbrewer.com/maillard-malts-maris-otter-malt-extract-syrup

6lbs will run you $20.

Unfortunately, I don't see any other extracts that are 100% single malt.

Worth a shot in my opinion.

 

Brewpint....

Now I'm really fired up! That looks like the perfect next step for me. I've done some extract kits and I have that process down. I want to get to all grain one day but this looks like a great setup! My guy at the LHBS mentioned all grain in one pot but he said I needed to start with 3-4 kits to learn the process. This must be what he was talking about.

What does the acronym stand for?

Thanks!!!!!!!

 

It stands for "Brew in a Bag."

I 100% disagree that you need to do 4 extract kits before moving on. The article is about bypassing extract altogether. It's basically the same thing and the beer is different and in my opinion lots better.

 

Well I'm going today and getting that 10 gallon pot and bag. You said painters bag so I'm assuming Home Depot will have that?

Edit: yep HD has them. The 5 gallon one right.? There's a one gallon version and a 5 gallon version.

 

If I was going to do it, I would hold off until you get a good bag like from Wilser or Brewbag. I've heard horror stories of the paint strainer bags coming apart.

Also I would get a 12 or 15 gallon pot so that if you want to brew a large grain bill such as a double IPA or RIS you would be okay. Also a pulley will do you wonders.

I assume you have all of the other equipment since you've already done extract?

 

I agree with this, buy a good bag. I used a paint strainer bag my first BIAB brew and the seam tore. Bought a Wilser bag and haven't had a problem since.

 

Ok great! Thanks! I'll get the good bag. And I'll get the 12-15 gallon pot.

Yes I have all other equipment. I even have pulleys in my garage.

 

It's possible that your LHBS has a good bag but the two I listed are the only bags I would recommend. You can get a large concord pot on Ebay for about $80 free shipping. I have the 50 quart for 5 gallon batches. I also do 5.5 gallon batches and just figure the .5 extra is trub since everything goes into my bucket.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CONCORD-Pol...hash=item20fd189049:m:mpPuevxvxy2IzMuXj4gs9ow

 

It looks like you're moving on to a BIAB setup, but just in case someone else reads this thread, I need to point out: You can't steep 2-row. You have to mash it.

 

I have a buddy who has steeped 2-row and got a lot of sugars out of it when he's done extract cream ales. I don't know what his steep temp was but he got sugars out of it.

 

Yeah you'll get sugars out. But they won't be very fermentable because that's what mashing does; enzymes break down malt sugars into simpler ones yeast can convert to alcohol. So it'll be more like steeping dextrin malts (like carapils) than anything else.

 

I'd question the utility of smash brewing with extract except for understanding hops. Is the goal to evaluate one extract brand to the next?

 

Not particularly. I am interested in learning the difference between malt flavors and different hops. How does a 2 row with cascades differ from 2 row with magnums? That type stuff. I want to get the basics. That way when I have an idea for a flavor profile I can put the foundation together. I think smash brewing would help with that. Develop my pallet and understanding of how the different malts and hope taste.

Extract is all that I am setup for that is why I singled out that method. But now that I'm setting my sights on BIAB I can throw out my original question regarding extract. I may have brewed my last extract beer last weekend.

 

To evaluate hops then you're on the right track, to evaluate the malt component you have to be established on your format, be it extract or all grain. I feel that the knowledge accumulated regarding extracts won't fully transfer when you change brewing styles.