Am I becoming an AG Elitist?

[Junebug]

I can detect the extract "twang" in all of my previous brews. They weren't bad, but I could always pick up on a syrupy flavor. Today, I brewed my very first all-grain, in the hopes that I will ditch this "twang". Things went a bit slow, but this was my very first attempt. If this beer (Christmas Ale) turns out o.k., I will never brew an extract beer again.

 

[billtzk]

I'm with WBC on this. I don't think there is anything elitist about preferring the highest quality food and drink. Hedonist maybe, but not elitist. And your HERF sounds a bit Hedonistic to me. Bravo!


I can identify the extract twang (sort of a flat, canned, prepared-food flavor) in many brew-pub beers. I'm not a fan. It's like the difference between Chef Boy-R-Dee Ravioli and a homemade ravioli made from scratch.

 

[carl spakler]

Unless you grow your own hops and grain as well as culture your own yeast you are just choosing your own line in the sand to make yourself feel superior to others IMO.

A well made beer with fresh ingredients tastes good, a poorly made beer with old ingredients likely won't.

Calling yourself and elitist is like being proud of being a snob that looks down upon anyone not up to your standards.

 

[zoebisch01]

Of course you are. It's like gravity.

 

[TeleTwanger]

My extract batches were about as good as my all grains, no twang. But, I would do mini-mashes with like 6 lbs of grain. If you add the dme late in the boil you get similar hop U.

 

[RIBeer]

I stepped up to all-grain several batches ago and, while still a complete novice, have noticed a general overall improvement in my brews. My brew buddy and I did an extract batch a while back that used canned extract - it has that extract "twang", but none of the extract kits we purchased from our esteemed host resulted in a twang. I have to concur that it seems to come from canned extract, as it certainly is slightly metallic.

 

[carl spakler]

I would love to see a double blind taste test of beers brewed by experience brewers and see how this truly turns out. My belief is that the placebo effect is stronger than reality here.

 

[FireBrewer]

Not an eliteist - just a discriminating palate and a sharp brewer. The "twang", as mentioned above, is a flaw. Noticing it doesn't mean anything beyond the fact that you know enough to identify a problem and also its solution.

+1. Your palate is improving and you're recognizing flaws, flavors, etc. Nothing more.