All grain apprehensions!

[Tryger73]

Ok so I have been an extract and specialty grains and partial mash (probably only in my mind) brewer. I have 24 batches under my belt for the last year and a half. I have most of the equipment to go all grain need a bigger kettle and a propane burner to be ready. I recently purchased Gordon Strongs book "Brewing Better Beer". After reading some of this it makes me reevaluate my situation. Do I NEED ph measurements, efficiency calculations, the water treatment chemicals, and countless other things that are mentioned in this book ,which I readily admit that is above and beyond my skill level, to make good beer or should I just go for it and learn the hard way or hold off till I have the money to get the equipment I need? My personality doesn't allow me to jump into something if I am not prepared. Just looking for some advice on whether to try a simple first all grain and enjoy it or wait for more equipment.

 

[b-boy]

Start with what you have and add something new every couple of batches. Eventually you'll have everything you need and you'll have your techniques down pat. Plus you'll see constant improvements in your beer.

 

[sompls]

Go for it! I'm on my 5th or 6th batch of all grain biab...it honestly isn't that hard. I'm fortunate to have a pretty good water profile so that helps...I did however get a sample of my water done and just bought a ph meter to help dial things in. Having said that though...I really can say I believe my beer is better (or I want to believe that! ). I've read a ton just like you and the whole water analysis and adjustments has me baffled...but if I never took that next step I would be ok with that...just seems a natural progression. I recently sent out some HB to some other HBT members and received awesome feedback (they were very complimentary but offered some suggestions to tweak my process). I can't believe it took me a year to make the jump to all grain. Seriously, not sure what path you're looking at but biab makes it really easy to take the next step...you should look into it!

 

[Tryger73]

Right on! Thanks for the advice. I figured that's what I would hear from HBT and it's what I need for the next step.

 

[sompls]

Glad I could help...couple of other things that really helped me...if you're thinking about biab take a look that thread, those guys ( and gals) helped me out a ton! And if you haven't looked at beer smith ( there are other versions/brands etc. that's just what I use) there is a free version but it's so worth the cost! It makes it way easier
Good luck and keep us posted


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[te-wa]

water... ugh. i live in mesa. we have hard water. if i want to brew a pale, i use R/O water. if i want to brew an oatmeal stout, i use the filter under my sink. can i brew a perfect Kolsch? doubt it. a perfect czech pilsen? doubt it. but for all things but the most delicate beers, my .5 m and carbon filters work good with campden just in case.. i will add burton salts to R/O water on occasion. so far, i think that if the water tastes good, clean and filtered, it makes good beer.

 

[Zoidberg]

Go for it. I got into water/salt adjustments much after AG and mine all came out good. Efficiency calculations you will probably need to properly make recipes work on your system. A ph meter is probably overboard. Use ez water calc along with a water report to estimate ph and salt additions.

 

[adamelb]

I brewed 4 extract batches before I bought a 10 gal igloo, heat stick and grain mill. Haphazardly brewing in a 10 gal alum. pot on my stovetop. I referenced the water primer on this site and bought distilled water and added the recommended salts. I skipped the acidulated malt, figuring if I didn't have a PH meter, or the grains for that matter, why bother. It was by far my best batch of beer yet. I will probably try a calculated acid addition in the future, and hopefully invest in a ph meter, but for now I'm confident in soft water with small salt additions.

Don't be intimidated by the details, even if your first AG brew isn't great, you'll learn a lot and be able to correct. It's like the saying goes "if you wait for all the lights to turn green, you'll never leave the house". Definitely worth a shot, it gives you a lot more flexibility and you'll learn as you go, just as you did with extract in the beginning.

 

[Tryger73]

Thanks again to all who responded gonna give it a go after I return from a two week trip to Iowa. Really screws up my brew schedule.