Choice for First All Grain

[mgortel]

I am trying to decide on what type of beer to do for my first All Grain Batch.

Currently I have (2) extract brews in fermentation: Blonde ALe and Irish Stout.

I know this is a subjective question because opinions will be based on individuals tastes...but I am entertaining any opinions and thoughts.

I am a big Stout fan.....but since I have a extract version fermenting I am leaning towards not doing that....unless perhaps an all grain stout will be significantly better than an extract...etc.


Any opinions?

 

[mtbrider]

Centennial blonde from the recipes section. You'll be happy you did. It's an awesome beer.

 

[mgortel]

Biermuncher's Cential Blonde?

That one was definately in my thoughts!

 

[craigbrew]

I did Biermuncher's Centennial Blonde for my first all grain and it is a great beer. You can also try some of EdWort's recipes, they are good recipes and he usually only uses 2 or 3 grains. nice and easy.

 

[Arkansasrebel]

I am trying to decide on what type of beer to do for my first All Grain Batch.

My first batch was an American Brown Ale. I like darker beers and wanted to brew a brown. My suggestion, brew what ever style that you like best.

 

[jetmac]

Do a simple American pale ale with some Crystal 40 and Munich with only a couple hop additions, That will be pretty easy and a good beer with a bit of color and some body.


Maybe something like this

Amarillo Ale

Or this

Awesome Amber Ale

I've also been happy brewing with all-grain "kits" from places like Northern Brewer
and Austin Home Brew

Here's a kit from Northern Brewer with 1 hop addition, about 10 lbs of grain that's dark called El Modelo Norte

 

[autoferret]

My first batch was an American Brown Ale. I like darker beers and wanted to brew a brown. My suggestion, brew what ever style that you like best.

I second that!!! brew what you like b/c you have to drink it!

 

[Hokie_Brewer]

EdWort's Haus Pale Ale

 

[Arkansasrebel]

The worst part of brewing your first batch of all grain, is deciding what the second batch is going to be. Just looked in the fridge and I only have 7 bottles of my American Brown Ale left. Waiting patiently for the Fed Ex truck to pull up with the ingredients to start brewing a Hefeweizen.

Back to the OP's topic. If you prefer Stouts, but already have a stout fermenting look for something similar in a different style, maybe a porter or a dark ale. When I developed my recipes, I thought back to different beers I have truly enjoyed of the years. There are tons of websites that have indexed recipes based on style. I like Hopville, but there are many more out there.

 

[jetmac]

There are tons of websites that have indexed recipes based on style. I like Hopville, but there are many more out there.

Seems interesting Hopville

 

[noggins]

How about BierMunchers' Cream of Three Crops

 

[Wakadaka]

How about BierMunchers' Cream of Three Crops

Thats what I chose for my first AG. I've been brewing light, summer beers, and I wanted something with a quick turn around for my first AG. I don't want to brew up more AG batches until I have tasted my first, to know what to change/improve.

Are you doing BIAB or do you have a mash tun? I think that with BIAB the ingredients don't really matter, but I have heard of people having stuck sparges or something with wheat when they use a mash tun.

I really have no idea on the specifications, but nobody has mentioned it so I figured I would bring it up.

And for BIAB I would recommend a light grain bill for your first one, just to see what all your equipment can hold. I used a calculator online that said my grain and water should take up about 3.7 gallons, but when I put it all in my 5 gallon brew pot it was very very close to the top. Almost too close for comfort.