First All Grain Brew

[kempoguy]

I have been brewing extract recipes for about 3 yrs. Want to move to all grain. What is a good type beer for a first time all grain?

 

[kh54s10]

Whatever you like. Just pick a recipe or kit that is not too complicated. My first was an Oatmeal Stout. It had only a 60 minute addition of Glacier hops.

Something a little darker will cover up any off flavors you might get more than a light pale beer.

All grain is not really more difficult than extract. There is a little more to pay attention to but not that much. Temperatures mostly.

 

[kev211]

^^ This.

Go simple. No need to do a vanilla, orange, green tea infused, chocolate coffee IPA on your first AG brew. Try doing a SMaSH. probably about as simple of an AG brew that you can do

 

[brewbama]

I vote English ESB. 92% British Pale Ale malt, 5% crystal 15, 3% crystal 120. Mash at 152° F. 2 oz EKG at 60 min, 1 oz EKG at 2 min. Ferment at 68° F (20° C). When finished, carbonate to 1.5 to 2 volumes.

 

[C-Rider]

I vote for the SMaSH as well keep it simple. The main thing to learn here is HOW TO DO ALL GRAIN. Making beer the first time around is secondary.
Keep good records of what you do, when you do it. Times, Temps, Boil off rate, trub left behind. How much water you need to start with to wind up w/5 gallons

 

[catdaddy66]

I began with an amber ale and an Irish stout. Both very basic and I was able to get comfortable with my process. I also like the idea of a sMasH beer for a beginner.

 

[Jbrew]

I started with a kona big wave clone that I really enjoyed, and plan to do it again this weekend. As stated before, maintaining temps and determining how much water is needed to end with 5 gallons are the major items.
Good luck.

 

[bleme]

I would brew something you have done before and liked, just converted to an all-grain recipe. That way you have some idea how your final product is different.

How many grains you have in there doesn't really matter because it all gets thrown in together anyway. It's just measuring and anyone can do that.

Your boil is going to be exactly the same so how many hop additions you have won't matter if you were comfortable with them before.

The only real difference you will see is it is going to take you at least an hour longer, you need some way to measure temperatures, you need to do some math to figure out temperature and volume, and there is a little more to clean.

 

[Kent88]

I'm with the people who are saying SMaSH. If you can make a style you already like and are familiar with and it has a simple grain bill with no or few adjuncts or odd ingredients, go for it. My first mostly-grain recipe was all Munich malt that I added a little Pils DME to, somewhere around 6% abv, lagered.

Know how much grain and water your mash vessel can contain.

Plan for anywhere from 60% to 75% efficiency.

 

[KatjesMitFett]

Can't go wrong with the SMaSH, if you'd like to brew something more interesting but not much harder, look up the recipe for "Edwort's Haus Pale Ale". You should find it here in the forums! It was my first brew, I thought it was idiot proof and while I probably did everything wrong it still turned out way over my expectations.