Extract vs all grain
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oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer
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Read everything you can and watch youtube. There are a lot of videos on all grain brew in the bag and traditional cooler mashtun. I am pretty new but it is not that difficult. Just takes a little more time and a good size kettle.
halcyondays
Active Member
I would suggest starting with BIAB (brew in a bag). There's a whole forum here dedicated to it which has a lot of good info. It's the easiest/cheapest way to get started doing all grain and can be a good way to test whether or not you like it better (I almost guarantee you will). All it really requires is a bag and possibly a bigger kettle depending on what you're using.
histo320
Well-Known Member
BIAB is a great step into All Grain brewing. There is a sticky of DeathBrewer's method which is what I used before I went 100% all grain.
halcyondays
Active Member
Should clarify that BIAB is 100% all grain
That being said, it's not the traditional, full on mash tun cooler set up. Also, partial mashing is a great way to get your feet wet with using more grain as well. That was my progression--extract to partial mash to BIAB and that's where I've stayed.
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I personally jumped right into all grain myself...I had "participated" in some extract brewing and partial mash brewing in college with some frat brothers but when I made the decision to brew myself at home I jumped feet first into all grain.
BIAB is a great way to get your feet wet with all grain because you don't need any of the extra equipment other than a bag to put your grains in and maybe a larger pot if you are doing 5 gallon batches.
I say go for it! Either way you're making beer and that's the point right?
Cheers!
BIAB is a great way to get your feet wet with all grain because you don't need any of the extra equipment other than a bag to put your grains in and maybe a larger pot if you are doing 5 gallon batches.
I say go for it! Either way you're making beer and that's the point right?
Cheers!
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I would start with a simpler smaller beer than a Russian Imperial Porter for a first foray into all-grain brewing. I agree with prior posts in that BIAB is a great way to go. This is the method I use.
I brewed with extract for 13 years. jumped into AG almost 3 years ago.
I say, Go for it! The worse that can happen is it won't turn out exactly like you planned. You are 100% certain to gain experience. BIAB is my preferred method of doing things, mostly for reasons of space, but however you choose to do it you will not regret making the leap to all-grain brewing. It's more fun, you have more control, ingredients cost less, etc., etc.
bobeer
Fermentation Specalist
I started biab too and did that for about year before I got off my duff and made a mash tun. I didn't have the money to buy another pot for a hlt so I guess that was the bigger issue. I'm glad I took the road I did but you may find it easier to just go right for mash tun all grain brewing if you have the funds to get all the needed parts. Either way you'll make good beer so you can't really go wrong.
There's an old Brewing TV episode about biab that I watched a few times before trying it.
There's an old Brewing TV episode about biab that I watched a few times before trying it.
Clonefan94
Senior Member
I just jumped in myself. Built a cooler MLT after watching some videos on YouTube and got after it. It's no more difficult than extract brewing, but might take you a few times to really figure out your system. My big thing was dialing in my dead space. I did dry tests and found it left a little less than 2 quarts. But still didn't figure out the real number, just under a quart until I used the system a couple of times.
Also, if you will have the grass pre-crushed or crush them on a store's mill, up the grain bill a little bit. I never got great efficiency until I bought my own mill and set the gap how I wanted.
No better way to learn your system though than brewing. That learning curve will always be there, so no time like the present to start.
Also on your first day I highly suggest measuring everything out before hand and have everything ready to go before you start. Easier to adapt to the unexpected if you have what you know you need already laid out and ready to go.
I find the process a lot more rewarding. Not that an extract batch doesn't feel like my beer. But something about the all grain makes it feel more hand made to me. Kind of like the difference of baking a cake mix as opposed to starting with flour, eggs, coco, etc. both can produce good cake, but the one has a little bit more of yourself in it.
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Also, if you will have the grass pre-crushed or crush them on a store's mill, up the grain bill a little bit. I never got great efficiency until I bought my own mill and set the gap how I wanted.
No better way to learn your system though than brewing. That learning curve will always be there, so no time like the present to start.
Also on your first day I highly suggest measuring everything out before hand and have everything ready to go before you start. Easier to adapt to the unexpected if you have what you know you need already laid out and ready to go.
I find the process a lot more rewarding. Not that an extract batch doesn't feel like my beer. But something about the all grain makes it feel more hand made to me. Kind of like the difference of baking a cake mix as opposed to starting with flour, eggs, coco, etc. both can produce good cake, but the one has a little bit more of yourself in it.
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Made my first AG brew this week. Got a Brewers Best brown porter BIAB kit for 20$. Planned on going BIAB but I really wanted cooler MLT and HLTs so I decided to use my BIAB bag as my "false bottom" and I enjoyed it. Can't wait to try it
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1420785318.240572.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1420785318.240572.jpg
BlueHouseBrewhaus
Well-Known Member
+1 for GavinC. Whatever method you use (I do BIAB), you may want to start with a simpler, lower gravity recipe. Part of starting AG is getting to know your system and its efficiency. High gravity brews can be tricky if you haven't dialed in your system and methods. You can easily miss your OG by 10 or 15 points (or more). You also need to calculate your amount of yeast correctly. That said, as long as you can live with a certain degree a variability in the final product, it will still be beer.
For sure. I made my first batch in my buddy's 10 gallon kettle and then for Xmas I got a 30 gallon kettle, kind of a jump but I'll get the hang of it. I need to get more brews under my belt anyway.
Just means more beer🍻.
Trial and error right? Well thanks for the advice.
Just means more beer🍻.
Trial and error right? Well thanks for the advice.
Ok so I made my first batch with all grain... I was a bit ambitious and doubled it for a 10 gallon batch witch meant 37 pounds of grain. And well let's just say everything that could go wrong went wrong oh well we'll see how it turns out I guess. I wont let it scare me away from all grain tho just need more practice
Good that ye' ain't skeer'ed.
Seriously, tell us what went wrong that community is happy to help.
Glad you took the plunge. The first attempt always raises a lot of questions. I always urge anyone wanting to make the move to help someone with an all grain batch. While the variables from system to system still leave a good bit of variability, I feel like it gives a bit more confidence.
Good for you for going ahead! Let us know what you felt went wrong. It's really important to know that it's pretty rare that a first attempt will produce all of the expected results. Too little or too much wort and not hitting expected OG are really common, but take notes and make adjustments and you'll eventually hit your expected numbers (or at least close enough) every time!
Good for you for going ahead! Let us know what you felt went wrong. It's really important to know that it's pretty rare that a first attempt will produce all of the expected results. Too little or too much wort and not hitting expected OG are really common, but take notes and make adjustments and you'll eventually hit your expected numbers (or at least close enough) every time!
Bah, I have at least one thing go "wrong" almost every batch, even my extract batches. Most of them are quite minor issues and don't have much if any effect on the final product.
helibrewer
Well-Known Member
You would be surprised at how often things "go wrong" at small craft breweries, it is why you see "mechanically adept" in the descriptions for brewers in the help wanted section.....
Well... I'll start off by saying it was too much grain for the pot I have. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1422184766.241656.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1422184794.882208.jpg
So I started with the grain( all 37 lbs of it) I wasn't sure of how I should do it. my first thought was to do it out of the bags, but I tried using them anyways. A crapy attempt at a biab I suppose. But after I added them I realized it didn't fit that well so I took them out and dumped the grain it to the pot(strike 1). Then I thought it was up to temp and gave it a stir, then realizing i brought the hot water below the grains to the thermometer so it jumped to 180, I couldn't get it to drop the whole time(strike 2).
Then it was time to remove the grain.... Damn I wish I had used a cooler like my buddy said. That took for ever. The temp was fine after the grain came out and the hops went off fine but I had lost so much water it once came out to 7 gallons. And rather than adding more water like I should have I left it and pitched the yeast(strike 3).
So I started with the grain( all 37 lbs of it) I wasn't sure of how I should do it. my first thought was to do it out of the bags, but I tried using them anyways. A crapy attempt at a biab I suppose. But after I added them I realized it didn't fit that well so I took them out and dumped the grain it to the pot(strike 1). Then I thought it was up to temp and gave it a stir, then realizing i brought the hot water below the grains to the thermometer so it jumped to 180, I couldn't get it to drop the whole time(strike 2).
Then it was time to remove the grain.... Damn I wish I had used a cooler like my buddy said. That took for ever. The temp was fine after the grain came out and the hops went off fine but I had lost so much water it once came out to 7 gallons. And rather than adding more water like I should have I left it and pitched the yeast(strike 3).
My thought was that it will probably taste like crap but maybe it will have a bit more of a % since it was 3 gallons short. And my friend said it might have a poor after taste since the grains were too hot. Idk hopefully it will turn out alright live and learn I definitely learned a few things.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1422186095.126606.jpg
Looks super heavy
Looks super heavy
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