Biab vs extract

[Owly055]

Clearly TIME is the issue here. YOU CAN make good beer from extract.... Some folks love to "bully" people into the idea that you are not a real brewer unless you go all grain. I brew all grain, but recognize that with the kind of beer I brew which tends to be heavily hopped, it really doesn't make any difference.

I've cut my brew day down drastically, by developing a system for a 20-30 minute mash, rapid heating and cooling methods. I was able to achieve a 2.5 hour start to finish including clean up (grain pre-crushed). Most all grain brewers are looking at in excess of 4 hours. I no longer "race the clock" ...... I plan things to fit my schedule so I can multi task, and sometimes leave a mash from noon until about 6 pm...... or even over night. The trick really is to break up the tasks so they fit with your schedule. I recently brewed a beer that was intended to be an "afternoon mash" to be finished in the evening.....It rolled over to the next morning due to "circumstances".......the beer was excellent.

The point is that you need NOT be locked into one way of doing things. Do what works for you.


H.W.

 

[Kharnynb]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=525556

biab thread with lots of good ideas, (including my own, cause i'm so modest )

 

[RM-MN]

If you do an extract batch with steeping grains or BIAB with grains that are milled fine so you can get by with a 30 minute mash, extract and all grain (BIAB) will take exactly the same time but the dollars amount will be different.

 

[FlyDoctor]

If time is a real issue, you can make a good hoppy pale ale with extract, some steeping grains, and a 15 minute boil. Some have, reportedly, even won competitions with that recipe! With a good fermentation, it comes out great.

Search for the "15 minute pale ale" thread, but essentially you "hop burst" by loading more hops added at 15, 5, and 0, and the extract has already need boiled - and only needs a short boil for sterilization.

Also - totally agree with all others - there is nothing wrong with extract - as long as it's fresh. If your buying from a small local HBS, go with dry. If you shopping from a large online seller that goes through extract quickly, then LME is great and expands your options.

The apparent issue, aside from bad extract, with extract brewing is often that people brewing extract (often beginners) have not learned many of the associated fermentation techniques required to make good beer. A temp controlled fermentation with proper pitch rate - added to a wort made with fresh extract - will give you every bit a good beer as the same recipe made AG.

 

[kh54s10]

If you've never done one why comment in the first place?

Well the only thing good I have heard about prehopped extract brewing is that you get beer!

 

[slym2none]

Until my post, that is. Which you then sorta crapped all over.

 

[kh54s10]

Until my post, that is. Which you then sorta crapped all over.

I will agree that prehopped extracts are better than they were. And they do fill a niche. But, I need more proof that they are on par with good extract with fresh hops, Partial mash, or all grain.

Of all the "my beer isn't good", Mr. Beer and similar seem to account for a large percentage of those.

Of course this is my opinion, If you want a hobby why settle for the entry level. Again my opinion.

 

[slym2none]

Everyone has to start somewhere, and sometimes it is MrBeer that does it.

I imagine if you had given all those people even an extract kit instead of an HME, some would give up before starting. Some would probably make just as bad of beer, because it is their first time.

Can you imagine those same noobs with an AG kit? Double the amount would make bad beer their first time, and feel like a failed mad scientist.

 

[Kharnynb]

I've made beers with the coopers "wheat" prehopped kit, that took me a very long time to make anything quite as good in All grain....

 

[slym2none]

*applause*

 

[FlyDoctor]

Again - my guess is that 90% of the bad beer made with LME is bad because of poor yeast management and poor fermentation. Do those well, and I'll bet the beer isn't bad. The Brewers who made the wort certainly were trying to make something good

 

[Kharnynb]

i would say 50/50 bad temps and chlorine in the (untreated) water

 

[slym2none]

i would say 50/50 bad temps and chlorine in the (untreated) water

You may be on to something. The Mr Beer kits say "If your water tastes good, it will make good beer!" but we all know that isn't necessarily true. Luckily, my tap water tastes & smells like a swimming pool, so I have always used cheap spring water for my beers. One day, I will use RO water with added brewing salts, but I am not there yet.

*edit* That is one thing I will give a point against MrB for - the kit instructions are crap. Going with their "2 weeks to ferment, 2 weeks in the bottle, then enjoy!" instructions are a great way for brewers to make mediocre beer AT BEST, usually terrible beer. I do wish they'd change that in the kit's instructions, although if you go to their site (or their forum) you'll see a lot of different & better info.

If anyone can't tell yet, yes - Mr. Beer got me started in this hobby. This hoppy hobby. Now I am all-extract w/specialty grains, and swear I will make one AG, BIAB recipe this calendar year!

 

[weeple2000]

A lot of great opinions here everyone, I appreciate the input. I'll have to look into that 15 minute ale. I did an all grain BIAB batch today, and it was a lot more painless than I remember. It has been a couple years. I was on call for work today, so I didn't want to go out anyway. Instead I invited a few friends over to hang out while I brewed. Unfortunately that made me put off cleaning up, but I can always tackle that tomorrow if I don't finish tonight.

It seems like making brewing a more social thing really adds to the enjoyment.