Extract or All grain?
- Thread starter jessej122
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I think that is a very common question, have a look at these search results
The advantages are generally better control over your recipes and the ability to make beers you otherwise couldn't (those that require adjuncts that must be mashed with a base grain). Additionally, you gain very fine control over the fermentability of your wort by being able to control the amount of crystal malts in your beer, mash temperature, mash length, mash pH and mash thickness. It really allows you to develop a brewing "style" that fits you.
Cons? Your brew day will be about twice as long, if that's a con for you (I cherish my long brew days). Also, you need a bit more equipment, as you need to move off the stove and onto a burner/pot that can boil 7 gallons of wort comfortably, but that's about all you need. If you want to do the BIAB thing, just grab a bag and that's it. You can do the cooler mash tun if you want, or build a crazy HERMS/RIMS system with full automation if you want. It's all about choice and your brewing style.
Cons? Your brew day will be about twice as long, if that's a con for you (I cherish my long brew days). Also, you need a bit more equipment, as you need to move off the stove and onto a burner/pot that can boil 7 gallons of wort comfortably, but that's about all you need. If you want to do the BIAB thing, just grab a bag and that's it. You can do the cooler mash tun if you want, or build a crazy HERMS/RIMS system with full automation if you want. It's all about choice and your brewing style.
Why not try partial boil partial mash biab? That's what I do in my 5 gallon SS stock pot. Put a cake cooling rack in the bottom to keep the paint strainer bag of grains off the hot bottom of the kettle. I typically mash 4-6 pounds of grains. 3-3.3lbs of DME or LME at flame out. The only extra thing I needed was a paint strainer bag & 2nd thermometer.
daksin brought up a point worth expanding on:
PRO: You gain MUCH more control over your process. There are a lot more "knobs & buttons" to tweak regarding the beer you make. I.e. you can make some beers all-grain that are simply impossible for extract.
CON: You gain MUCH more control over your process. There are a lot more "knobs & buttons" to tweak and potentially screw up with the beer you make. More control != better.
I've toyed with doing some extract batches to save time... As an example, I think the Rye LME product from Northern Brewer would likely make a Rye Pale Ale in the exact proportions I'd want, ingredients-wise. In the end, though, since I brew 10 gallon batches and buy my grain in bulk, the comparative cost of malt extract is high enough that I'll just spend the time and make all-grain batches.
(That's another potential PRO, actually -- All-grain allows you to buy grain in bulk, which is a significant cost savings... *AFTER* you buy all the new equipment PLUS a grain mill, of course!)
PRO: You gain MUCH more control over your process. There are a lot more "knobs & buttons" to tweak regarding the beer you make. I.e. you can make some beers all-grain that are simply impossible for extract.
CON: You gain MUCH more control over your process. There are a lot more "knobs & buttons" to tweak and potentially screw up with the beer you make. More control != better.
I've toyed with doing some extract batches to save time... As an example, I think the Rye LME product from Northern Brewer would likely make a Rye Pale Ale in the exact proportions I'd want, ingredients-wise. In the end, though, since I brew 10 gallon batches and buy my grain in bulk, the comparative cost of malt extract is high enough that I'll just spend the time and make all-grain batches.
(That's another potential PRO, actually -- All-grain allows you to buy grain in bulk, which is a significant cost savings... *AFTER* you buy all the new equipment PLUS a grain mill, of course!)
