All Grain or kegging?

[Bobby_M]

I don’t necessarily agree that all grain or biab is a “step up”. If you’re making beer you are happy with using extract then there is nothing wrong with that.

The upside of all grain is you do have more control over your final product. When you start with extract you are using concentrated sugars that somebody else extracted from whatever grain bill they used. When you start with all grain you have total control. Pound for pound, grain is cheaper than extract.

The downsides of all grain are first a longer brew day. Add at least 2.5 hours to your current extract brew day when you go to all grain. You have to measure and grind grain, heat mash water, mash usually for an hour, rinse your grain (sparge), runoff your wort, then clean out your mash tun and dispose of the grain. Second, you need more equipment. You need a grain mill to grind grain. You need a mash tun with the false bottom to mash and drain your grain, or a good bag and a large enough pot to do biab. You need a hydrometer to check your gravity pre-boil and post boil. Some other stuff. There is also a learning curve to all grain.

You stated you didn’t want it to turn into a job. All grain will definitely extend your brew day and give you more to do than extract.

It depends on what you want to do. If you are happy with the beer you are making with extract there is no reason to switch “just because”. If you are not happy with the beer you are making with extract and feel your beers are lacking then maybe you want to try grain.

There’s much to be said for kegging. I keg and I still bottle some, but not as much. I also feel my kegged beers are for the most part better than my bottled beers. I could be biased. More to go wrong with bottling.

The last thing I want to do is get into a debate between whether extract or all grain brewing is "better". It's a futile exercise because there is more to the hobby than just the beer in the glass and how to get there with the least effort possible. There are brewers who just want it easy. There are brewers who want it the hard way. There are brewers who will do whatever it takes to make the beer the absolute best it can be. Diverse goals. What makes something feel like a job to one person is a dream Saturday to another.

TLDR: The OP could clarify goals and we can all make recommendations to help achieve those.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

I really like that when I close my fermenter, my beer won’t see air again until I fill my mug!

And putting that system together sounds like a lot of work a labor of love.

+1 for applying engineering skills to the hobby.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

And putting that system together sounds like a lot of work a labor of love.

+1 for applying engineering skills to the hobby.

The “engineering” is half the fun! Reading this forum, thinking through a problem, or speculation on a change of procedure are all part of the process of solving puzzles. Putting together the solution and experimenting is the next part. Not everything turned out as expected, but I always end up with beer! Not a bad consolation.

It was mentioned above that it’s not about which is “better” and that some folks just like it simple. I agree. I bought a very nice brew pot and mash tun really cheap from a guy last year. He was an educated fellow who said he just wanted to do all grain and understand the whole process. Now that he had done that, he bought a programmable electric system and sits on the couch watching TV while his system brews his beer. Good for him! That’s not for me, (don’t even have TV) and I enjoy the process, but glad he found his comfortable spot.

 

[Wolffie]

Soooooo....I've been extract brewing for a couple of years and am comfortable with it, but feeling like it might be time to up my game. I have thought about switching to All grain brewing(BIAB), but balk at the equipment I will need, and also, I don't want this to become a JOB. I don't want it to become too complicated and too much work. I have also thought about kegging rather than bottling. I am retired, so the time to bottle is not that big of an issue, but simpler would be nice. I balk at the equipment for kegging as well, but then again, I am a cheap SOB, so take that with a grain of salt.

Were you in my shoes, which would you do, and why?

TIA for the input....

Lon

After reading all the information I, and all of us would like to know your thoughts on this LON! Brew on no matter what . PS Kegging in my opinion is the best and easy. I love all Grain also.

 

[Teufelhunde]

Thought I might take a minute to update this thread. First of all, thanks again to everyone for their input, I carefully read/considered every reply. A couple of clarifications....as far as not wanting brewing beer to be a job, I meant it less about the amount of work involved than I did about needing to be an expert and know everything about it. I had that responsibility for a whole bunch of years, and now that I am retired, I want to rest my mind. I freely admit to being a cheap SOB, but I also will spend the necessary money to get good quality tools to preform a task that I want to do.

And now........the envelope please.........I have decided to look into getting an all in one BIAB electric system for now. I may keg at a later time, but I really don't mind bottling, and a keezer or kegerator would require re-arranging things in the house to accomodate it and I'm not sure that SWMBO will take kindly to that.

So now, the question is:
1. Mash and Boil
2. Brewzilla
3. Digiboil
4. Another, as of now, unnamed brand

Grainfather is out of the price range I am wiling to pay, so it is out. Any input on any of those is solicited and appreciated. I will likely post that question to the folks in the BIAB forum

Thanks again

Lon

 

[MHBT]

Thought I might take a minute to update this thread. First of all, thanks again to everyone for their input, I carefully read/considered every reply. A couple of clarifications....as far as not wanting brewing beer to be a job, I meant it less about the amount of work involved than I did about needing to be an expert and know everything about it. I had that responsibility for a whole bunch of years, and now that I am retired, I want to rest my mind. I freely admit to being a cheap SOB, but I also will spend the necessary money to get good quality tools to preform a task that I want to do.

And now........the envelope please.........I have decided to look into getting an all in one BIAB electric system for now. I may keg at a later time, but I really don't mind bottling, and a keezer or kegerator would require re-arranging things in the house to accomodate it and I'm not sure that SWMBO will take kindly to that.

So now, the question is:
1. Mash and Boil
2. Brewzilla
3. Digiboil
4. Another, as of now, unnamed brand

Grainfather is out of the price range I am wiling to pay, so it is out. Any input on any of those is solicited and appreciated. I will likely post that question to the folks in the BIAB forum

Thanks again

Lon

I have a mash and boil original, it makes wort but its not that good at holding temps and it will drop out of your set mash temp and then over shoot temp, but it’s affordable now they have pumps on newer models which is cool, i have made some very tasty beers on it, i modified mine and can honestly say i like it more then the grainfather and its alot less expensive, thats my vote mash and boil, never used brewzilla or digiboil im assuming they are equal or close to M&B, how about the anvil foundry?

 

[Bobby_M]

Foundry 10.5.
Run it on 240v if possible

 

[Teufelhunde]

Foundry 10.5.
Run it on 240v if possible

Limited to 110

 

[Bobby_M]

Limited to 110

Well, you're retired. You can afford to wait the extra heat up time I guess.

 

[IslandLizard]

Limited to 110

Got a dryer socket nearby your brewing area? That's the easiest.

I put a 240V 20A outlet in the kitchen for my induction plate, took me about 3-4 hours, the panel is underneath the kitchen, so it was a short run. I regret not putting in 2 of them while I was at it... Some day, maybe.

 

[JoeSpartaNJ]

Well, you're retired. You can afford to wait the extra heat up time I guess.

The Anvil 110 volt isn’t that bad. It is what I use.

If you are an early bird like me, I set the timer so when I wake up in the morning, the water is already heating or hot.

I am done usually within 5 hours total including clean up.

 

[MHBT]

The Anvil 110 volt isn’t that bad. It is what I use.

If you are an early bird like me, I set the timer so when I wake up in the morning, the water is already heating or hot.

I am done usually within 5 hours total including clean up.

Totally, 110 is fine for 5 gallon batch, takes longer to heat, less vigorous boil but its a non issue IMO

 

[MarkS1]

Love my Anvil and 220 is much faster

 

[MHBT]

Love my Anvil and 220 is much faster

For sure it is

 

[bwible]

Limited to 110

I have a Foundry 6.5 that I use for 3 gallon batches. Runs fine on 110v. If you don’t have 220 you’re going to have issues running anything larger

 

[cajunrph]

So now, the question is:
1. Mash and Boil
2. Brewzilla
3. Digiboil
4. Another, as of now, unnamed brand

Clawhammer. But that might be out of your preferred price range.

 

[Yesfan]

I was going to mention Clawhammer too, but didn't know about the price range. Honestly, I have an old school 3 vessel propane setup, so I can't tell you much on these all in one setups.

I can tell you that there's a review of the Foundry, Brewzilla, and some others on a YouTube channel called Short Circuited Brewers. I'm not an eBrewer, but love Brian's channel!

 

[MHBT]

Yeah, the clawhammer is a great option, its price comparable to the grainfather though

 

[Teufelhunde]

Well, it's a done deal. I spent all of today researching, watching youtube vids, etc. and was pretty much down to Brewzilla or mash and boil. I was looking on amazon and found a new brewzilla 3.1.1 for $329. Couldn't pass that up.

 

[crazyjake19]

Little late to the party here, but between those two I'd have to say kegging 100% unless you really enjoy bottling for some reason. You can still make phenomenal beers with extract, and kegging is so much better than bottling.

Upgrading to all grain can be very inexpensive, especially with BIAB. All you need is a good mesh bag and you could likely keep using your existing equipment.

Ultimately, the decision is yours as to which part of your process you want to change.

 

[Wolffie]

Well, it's a done deal. I spent all of today researching, watching youtube vids, etc. and was pretty much down to Brewzilla or mash and boil. I was looking on amazon and found a new brewzilla 3.1.1 for $329. Couldn't pass that up.

Thanks for the quick response! I have a brewzilla and works great, (retired also) I was heating sprag water with turkey fryer (propane) found a Digiboil on sale just for sprag water and a whole back up to the brewzilla and good temp control compared to propane. Good luck!

 

[cajunrph]

Well, it's a done deal. I spent all of today researching, watching youtube vids, etc. and was pretty much down to Brewzilla or mash and boil. I was looking on amazon and found a new brewzilla 3.1.1 for $329. Couldn't pass that up.

That's a great deal. Best of luck with the brewing.

 

[MHBT]

Did the brewing system arrive yet? Did you brew yet on it? How was it

 

[Homebrewer20]

Used kegs cost $38 when on sale, you can convert a mini fridge Into a kegerator for less than $100. Co2 bottles can cost less than $60 on Amazon empty, and the serving line costs a little too.. Less than $200 to get setup nice though..

If you want to fly sparge get a 10 gallon cooler and a ball lock valve on amazon with a false bottom.

 

[Teufelhunde]

Yep, its here. I have set it up and tested it, but not brewed yet. I still have all the ingredients for a couple of extract batches, and want to use those up before I buy any more. Still putting together all the little things as well, but will likely do the first all grain batch in a couple of weeks.

 

[MHBT]

Yep, its here. I have set it up and tested it, but not brewed yet. I still have all the ingredients for a couple of extract batches, and want to use those up before I buy any more. Still putting together all the little things as well, but will likely do the first all grain batch in a couple of weeks.

Right on! Keep us posted

 

[brewcat]

If you go all grain, you'll be kegging soon enough...

 

[MHBT]

If you go all grain, you'll be kegging soon enough...