Best Software to Convert Extract to All Grain

[joeldp144]

I currently own and operate Promash, and it has been a great success since I began brewing all-grain. As I explore new recipes, I have encountered several that are written based on extract, and I would like to convert them to AG. I can't see where Promash will allow for such a conversion, so I am wondering what software would allow for this conversion.

The recipe that I am looking to convert right now contains 6.6 lbs of light liquid wheat extract (that is it). I have seen a conversion in a forum on this site, but I want learn how to do it with software on my own. Teach a man to fish.....

I have read the "simple" hand conversion forums out there, but I want to be really lazy and have the software do it for me.

Any suggestions? Does such a software exist that can do this for me? Better yet, any free software that will do this?

 

[Yooper]

I currently own and operate Promash, and it has been a great success since I began brewing all-grain. As I explore new recipes, I have encountered several that are written based on extract, and I would like to convert them to AG. I can't see where Promash will allow for such a conversion, so I am wondering what software would allow for this conversion.

The recipe that I am looking to convert right now contains 6.6 lbs of light liquid wheat extract (that is it). I have seen a conversion in a forum on this site, but I want learn how to do it with software on my own. Teach a man to fish.....

I have read the "simple" hand conversion forums out there, but I want to be really lazy and have the software do it for me.

Any suggestions? Does such a software exist that can do this for me? Better yet, any free software that will do this?

Beersmith does it (it's not free but has a free trial), but I'll be honest. It's only so-so. The reason is, you can tell the program what to use but it's not always exact. For example, in your example of wheat extract. Brewsmith tells me to use 5 pounds 9 ounces of pale malt and 3 pounds 8 ounces of wheat malt. That's pretty good, and I'd go with that.

But sometimes, the conversion is sort of "off". Not bad, but not exact. So you also need to have some idea of what makes sense in a recipe, too. I can't think of any examples at the moment, but there have been a few that I've had to tweak by hand.

 

[joeldp144]

Beersmith does it (it's not free but has a free trial), but I'll be honest. It's only so-so. The reason is, you can tell the program what to use but it's not always exact. For example, in your example of wheat extract. Brewsmith tells me to use 5 pounds 9 ounces of pale malt and 3 pounds 8 ounces of wheat malt. That's pretty good, and I'd go with that.

But sometimes, the conversion is sort of "off". Not bad, but not exact. So you also need to have some idea of what makes sense in a recipe, too. I can't think of any examples at the moment, but there have been a few that I've had to tweak by hand.

Thanks for the reply. I think that I understand. One thing that I don't quite get is how the recipe states "light liquid wheat extract (55% wheat malt and 45% barley)". Therefore, I would expect the grain ratio to fall in line with that rather than having more pale malt than wheat. Aren't wheat extracts generally higher in wheat than in barley?

FWIW.....the recipe is from the book Extreme Brewing. Just trying to make sure that I get it right.

 

[Yooper]

Thanks for the reply. I think that I understand. One thing that I don't quite get is how the recipe states "light liquid wheat extract (55% wheat malt and 45% barley)". Therefore, I would expect the grain ratio to fall in line with that rather than having more pale malt than wheat. Aren't wheat extracts generally higher in wheat than in barley?

FWIW.....the recipe is from the book Extreme Brewing. Just trying to make sure that I get it right.

Sometimes a "wheat extract" is 35% barley/65% wheat (like from Northern Brewer). It depends on the manufacturer! Alexander's canned wheat extract is 50/50.

 

[joeldp144]

Sometimes a "wheat extract" is 35% barley/65% wheat (like from Northern Brewer). It depends on the manufacturer! Alexander's canned wheat extract is 50/50.

So, in the case where the author calls out the percentage, do you think that it would be best to stick with maintaining the wheat/barley contribution, or follow what Beersmith recommends? My expectation would be that Beersmith is assuming the conversion based on an input liquid wheat composition, so I am inclined to follow the percentages on the original recipe.

In any case, we aren't talking huge differences in the final brew flavor. I suspect that the yeast will be the major flavor contributor in this hefeweizen brew regardless, but I just enjoy learning the details of brewing.