Extract or go go full tilt

[Meyers]

I am getting back into brewing after more than a few years away from it. Trying to build my equipment base and get ready so when I come home from the Middle East I can get a batch going. I am trying to decide if I should maybe use extracts for my first couple batches or go right into it full tilt. I know I am not going to do bottles, going to start right off with cornies. Bottles and I never had a great relationship. Just wanted to get an opinion if you would think it would be better to get back in slow or just start full tilt. Thanks

 

[asterix404]

Good for you for getting back into the hobby. I would recommend, if you hate the time and money, go for all grain. I recommend this because you can completely control your mash and it's way cheaper. I think it took me about a year or two of savings to pay back my carboys, buckets, mash tun and crusher. In about 4 years it will pay back everything you own and then some. Basically, long term it is WAY cheaper to do all grain, in fact it's cheaper than buying beer. If you recycle your yeast you can get a full 5.5g batch down to less than 20$. Also, it does taste better, way better. The only time I have a hard time telling that it's not extract is when there is a partial mash and even then, limited DME usage.

 

[Brandonovich]

Agree completely that you should go all grain. I did the same thing, got back into brewing after several years off, and the amount of information available now compared to back then has made it a lot easier to go all grain.

 

[danorocks17]

If you wanted to build up your equipment a little bit at a time, i'd go with extract, just to get your process down and get back in the game. but you'll want to go AG sooner rather than later. I wish I would have moved to AG sooner, but oh well!

 

[HexKrak]

All of the tools you need to do extract you'll still need with AG. Go ahead and get enough stuff to do extract, and build up from there.

 

[speeddemon11L]

All of the tools you need to do extract you'll still need with AG. Go ahead and get enough stuff to do extract, and build up from there.

This is what I was going to recommend as well. Just know when purchasing your equipment to get it large enough to go AG. It will still work fine to start with extract brewing, then buy/make a few more pieces and you're ready to go AG.

 

[danorocks17]

just know when purchasing your equipment to get it large enough to go ag. .

+1

 

[HexKrak]

I still use my 5 gallon pot for an HLT, but a 6 or 7 gallon would have been better even for this.

 

[Meyers]

Makes me wish I hadn't given away my brew equipment last time. Forgot how the intial start-up is the money grabber LOL. I think I am going to go with better bottles this time around, didn't even have those last time I was brewing. Exploding carboy's always made me nervous

 

[GoHawks]

Buy a larger kettle. 30qt+ size. Then you wont have to buy another kettle if you upgrade to all grain.

I did a lot of extract brewing in college on friends equipment. I decided to get into the hobby and bough a 20qt kettle. Within a month I upgraded to all grain and now I have this $50 steel kettle that im not using anymore. I wish I would have just bought a 30qt or bigger kettle to begin with.

 

[danorocks17]

Buy a larger kettle. 30qt+ size. Then you wont have to buy another kettle if you upgrade to all grain.

I did a lot of extract brewing in college on friends equipment. I decided to get into the hobby and bough a 20qt kettle. Within a month I upgraded to all grain and now I have this $50 steel kettle that im not using anymore. I wish I would have just bought a 30qt or bigger kettle to begin with.

I would go even bigger than that. when i switched to AG I bought a turkey fryer with a 32qt aluminum stock pot. It works, but I am definitely going to be buying a 40qt or bigger pot sometime in the near future

 

[gr8shandini]

I'd definitely go big when it comes to the boil kettle. I bought a 40 qt to save some cash, thinking "I'm really not going to ever do 10 gal batches." Now that I've got more than a couple recipes nailed, I'm always thinking "boy I wish I could do a 10 gallon batch of this."

 

[jcdouglas]

I was in the same boat as you. I decided to purchase a 60 quart pot with a lid and strainer for $60 ( aluminum). Then I did a full boil extract. Now I'm doing BIAB and I'm itching to do a 10 gallon batch.

 

[huge1s]

Good for you for getting back into the hobby. I would recommend, if you hate the time and money, go for all grain. I recommend this because you can completely control your mash and it's way cheaper. I think it took me about a year or two of savings to pay back my carboys, buckets, mash tun and crusher. In about 4 years it will pay back everything you own and then some. Basically, long term it is WAY cheaper to do all grain, in fact it's cheaper than buying beer. If you recycle your yeast you can get a full 5.5g batch down to less than 20$. Also, it does taste better, way better. The only time I have a hard time telling that it's not extract is when there is a partial mash and even then, limited DME usage.

I already had a turkey fryer, but I had my capital costs paid back after 3 batches (1 extract and 2 AG). I created a spreadsheet to calculate costs vs what it would cost to buy the same quality (ie microbrew) beer. I am making good beer for about half of what I pay for it at the store.

 

[GoHawks]

I agree on bigger than 30qt.. but 30 is about the minimum you would need to do a 5 gallon AG batch.

 

[944play]

Do whatever method you think would be the most fun. If you like the idea of getting your geek on with mash pH and temperature, composting 20+ pounds of hot, wet spent grains, a roaring propane burner, and spending 9 hours on a triple-decoction brewday, go all-grain. If you like the idea of going from setup to pitch in three hours with minimal equipment in your kitchen, brew with extract.

 

[billf2112]

There is so much to grasp. For the most part it appears the masses are saying go either way but buy the equipment (brew pot, burner) to do all grain. Wish I did that.