extract supplements?

[Tizzomes]

I've brewed 5 batches so far, 2 from kit, 1 Irish Red trim the Joy of Home Brewing book (which is bottled and ready to be drank).Also Deception Cream Stout from this site(bottled), and a Dogfish Head 60 clone that is in the primary.I am planning the BIAB method next,BUT any thoughts before I move on to improve extract brewing?Maybe I'm expecting greatness but I know it could taste better.....

 

[avidhomebrewer]

Have you tried liquid yeast? Specialty malts? Have the brew store mill specialty grains? A lot of choices...

 

[pietro75]

I made a Cooper's stout and a couple Mr. Beer kits and got hooked. I too have a hand full of batches out of the closet. A lot of the changes to improve the basics are in the specialty grains and hops. It seems that a lot of guys start off some steeped specialty grains in the "pre-wort and then add DME or LME and then take it from there w/ hop additions @ different times of the boil as well as dry hopping to play w/ the taste that they are going for.

I have been ready a lot of clone recipes from beers that I know and enjoy and getting a feel for the ingredients and differences in hop choices/additions times in the boil.
Personally, I am going to keep playing w/ the LME/grains/hops. AG recipes are a bit cheaper(like half for some recipes) and more efficient.

I am stoked as I have pulled off a few really good extract beers for my first time around and I can tell you that my wife is the indicator for me. She has been amazed at the beer we have produced. I am in quest of the next best beer!

 

[windbreaker123]

Do a partial mash. Sub some base grain for the extract.

 

[logan3825]

About 3 months ago I was seriously thinking about going all grain but I have stuck with extract. It is simple and I have been very happy with the beer I am getting. Every one has been extract with specialty grains.

I have been using mostly dry yeast. I only use liquid in certain beers but it is just added expense and hassle in many cases.

One thing I do is steep in about 2 quarts of water per lb of specialty grains. I steep in a seperate pot then pour those grains and water through a strainer into the boil kettle. Then I rinse them with water I had heating in the boil kettle.

Try some of these things.

10 ways to better extract brewing

Homebrewtalk thread.

 

[nymtber]

Contests are still won using Extract beers. It is all in the execution. I too am new to this, my first beer was bottled today, a NB american wheat kit, and it taste very good right now, carbonation/aging and chilling it in a few weeks should make it even better.

All grain can save a lot of money for people who brew A LOT of beer, but for those of us who might make 5-10 batches a year Extract works just fine, and requires much less equipment.

My first beer taste better flat and quickly chilled (freezer) than does any BMC swill. And I do enjoy Budweiser and PBR as a mass quantity/fishin' beer...

 

[broadbill]

Fermentation Temperature Control....far and away the best way to improve the quality of your brew, regardless if doing AG or extract.

Assuming a solid recipe and a good way to control fermentation temps, the rest of extract brewing is just using quality ingredients (which is pretty easy these days).

 

[Tizzomes]

About 3 months ago I was seriously thinking about going all grain but I have stuck with extract. It is simple and I have been very happy with the beer I am getting. Every one has been extract with specialty grains.

I have been using mostly dry yeast. I only use liquid in certain beers but it is just added expense and hassle in many cases.

One thing I do is steep in about 2 quarts of water per lb of specialty grains. I steep in a seperate pot then pour those grains and water through a strainer into the boil kettle. Then I rinse them with water I had heating in the boil kettle.

Try some of these things.

10 ways to better extract brewing

Homebrewtalk thread.

Thanks for the link I'll have to try them on my next batch.