How long an Extract Brewer?

[kh54s10]

I have been brewing extract kits for about a year and a half now, for the longest time I used dextrose only and have recently started spending the little extra to switch to DME. I want to switch to all grain when I eventually get my own place and have more room to work on it. IMO I think the biggest difference between kits and all grain is the ability to have more control over flavor profiles, IBU's which is the main reason I will want to change down the road.

Cheers and happy drinking!

I got my first homebrew starter kit back around 2000 and have been an extract brewer since. I was in college so I didnt have extra money to buy, or room to store, upgrades or accessories. As a young adult, i would brew up to a couple times a year, depending on the hectic schedule of life/kids/work/ect. I had heard of all grain brewing in the books, but because i brewed so infrequently, and only had the basic gear, i rarely have it much though. And the electric stove/lack of fryer.
A couple years ago, i gave up my one weekend a month, two weeks in the summer job, so i had more time to spend on my hobbies. Now I was brewing more, but all grain required more eqpt that i didnt have, and was hesitant to buy. I kept brewing, but needed upgrades. Slowly started upgrading. Now for my extract brewing, i have a dark star burner, wort chiller, extra buckets, extra carboys.
But still an extract brewer, and i am still happy with the results.

You do realize that you can brew all grain with the equipment you have now don't you?? All you need is to get a bag to hold the grain. If you are using a 5 gallon pot you can use a paint strainer bag that you can get almost anywhere they sell paint.....

 

[DaNewf]

I started brewing with Coopers kits back in 2012. Added steeping grain and DME to the kits. Then started doing mini mashes using Coopers kits as a base. Realized mini mashing was nearly as time consuming (and more expensive) than all grain so I made the switch. A couple of years ago life got hectic so I stopped brewing breifly. Now I'm back to Coopers kits, DME, steeping grains and dry hopping.

I'm getting the itch for all grain again so maybe this spring after the snow goes I'll dig out my gear and make a batch of Centennial Blonde Ale or Common Room ESB.

 

[kh54s10]

I did a couple of kits when I first started (Northern Brewer kits). I quickly realized that I could save up to half the price of a kit by buying all the ingredients separately. Northern Brewer lists the ingredients online in their kit instructions. I also make my own recipes in Beersmith and have for over 9 years.

 

[Joshua Hughes]

I’m really new to this; as in my first brew is bottled and waiting on me. I bought a kit for brewing 5 gallon extract brews. What extra equipment do I need to go all grain? I lack storage space to buy in bulk unless we are talking enough for 2-3 brews. My pot is too small for a 5 gallon all grain brew

 

[AZCoolerBrewer]

I’ve been brewing all grain for several years now. A while back I brewed a SHaME beer with DME. I’ve never used LME so I can’t say anything about it. The SHaME beer turned out great. Easily as good as my all grain beers. I think the big difference between AG an extract is that extract being a commercial product is controlled to a much higher standard than a homebrewers mash and therefore is much more consistent than homebrewed AG batches. I think that AG brewers believe all grain taste better and so due to this bias, their experience is that it does taste better. Which I actually think is valid. I brew all grain because it makes me feel like a cool kid and I’m not trolling or joking when I say that. One benefit of an all DME batch is a reduction in trub. Extract is just another way to brew not a better or worse way to brew.

 

[Joshua Hughes]

SHaME is Single hop and malt extract?

 

[AZCoolerBrewer]

Yes. Really tongue in cheek name. It was a delicious beer.

 

[AZCoolerBrewer]

I’m really new to this; as in my first brew is bottled and waiting on me. I bought a kit for brewing 5 gallon extract brews. What extra equipment do I need to go all grain? I lack storage space to buy in bulk unless we are talking enough for 2-3 brews. My pot is too small for a 5 gallon all grain brew

If you want you can make an extra strong wort and then dilute with boiled and cooled water. This will make a normal strength beer with a much smaller pot.

 

[Immocles]

I’m really new to this; as in my first brew is bottled and waiting on me. I bought a kit for brewing 5 gallon extract brews. What extra equipment do I need to go all grain? I lack storage space to buy in bulk unless we are talking enough for 2-3 brews. My pot is too small for a 5 gallon all grain brew

What kind of pot do you currently have? If you have a 5 gallon kettle, you can do stovetop all grain biab for 2.5-3gallon batches. I had just your garden variety basic starter kit from NB that I hammered out extract brews with. The only additional equipment I *needed* to buy was a bag. I quickly bought myself a mill as well, since I was not satisfied with the crush I was getting when purchasing milled grains.

 

[Joshua Hughes]

I probably have the same pot, northern brewer starter kit for me too. Guess use an app of some sort to adjust the numbers so I know what to add?

 

[Immocles]

I use beersmith3 for recipe building and water quantities. It takes a few to get your profile dialed in, but once you have that, its been very reliable for me. My first few all grain brews were scaled down from recipes I found on the site and some really basic pale ales until I got the hang of things.

 

[ReaperOnefour]

Home brewing is the greatest hobby in the world. I think that every brewer should brew their beer any way that he/she wants. If brewing extract kits makes you happy, cool. All grain, that's cool too. I started with Mr. beer. Then i switched to Northern brewer extract kits. (Which i stuck with for a few years.) I recently started creating my own recipes using extract. I do plan on trying all grain for the first time, some time in the future. However, i am happy brewing extract recipes for the time being.

 

[coonmanx]

I'm kind of stuck in between at the moment and that is because I live in an apartment and have an electric stove. That may change very soon as a friend and I may go in together on a Mash N' Boil electric system. He sounds like he wants to go for it and he has brewed with me before.

I am a partial mash guy as I am actually mashing 3 lbs. of grain (often Maris Otter) at the beginning of my brew process. I use a 90 minute mash and then a fairly large mesh sieve covered with a nylon bag to rinse the grains. I sparge by using a coffee cup to pour the sparge water onto a spoon where it makes a nice shower onto the bed of grains in the sieve. Very low tech and who knows how efficient I am with the process but the beers come out great and I would put them up against any all grain recipe.

My specialty grains like crystal malt don't get added in until later when the previously mashed wort is already in the brew kettle, I have added some more water and the temp gets back up to about 150. At that point I have those grains in a nylon bag and I tie that bag to a large spoon so that it dangles into the liquid and the grains steep for about 40 minutes or so. This method takes longer to do but the results do speak for themselves.

Back when I started out I used to only mash about a pound of grain (2-row). It is fairly easy, kind of like cooking oatmeal. LOL. You just need to make sure that your mash temperature stays at the right place while you are doing it. For me that usually means keeping the pan on the burner at the lowest setting and constanly checking the temperature with a thermometer and stirring. It can vary slightly but keep it at around 154 or so and you will be fine. Just saying this because you can start getting into mashing without going all the way to all grain. And it is a good way to learn before making the leap.

 

[coonmanx]

Home brewing is the greatest hobby in the world. I think that every brewer should brew their beer any way that he/she wants. If brewing extract kits makes you happy, cool. All grain, that's cool too. I started with Mr. beer. Then i switched to Northern brewer extract kits. (Which i stuck with for a few years.) I recently started creating my own recipes using extract. I do plan on trying all grain for the first time, some time in the future. However, i am happy brewing extract recipes for the time being.

You might consider doing an extract batch like normal but then also mashing say a pound of 2-row and sparging it through a small strainer. I did batches like this for a long time and it is a good way to "get your feet wet" with mashing and start to understand the process. Also testing for conversion by taking a small drop of the liquid on a plate and adding a drop of iodine will help you understand when conversion has occurred. The liquid also becomes sweet. Just a good way to learn what is going on and the process. I am still stuck between all grain and extract brewing because now I do a partial mash of about 3 lbs. of usually Maris Otter malt.

Mashing is usually done for about an hour because conversion will usually have taken place by then but I go for 90 minutes to get maximum flavor out of those grains. Mashing one pound of grain probably won't do a whole lot for the beer but you can learn a lot by doing so and it definitely won't hurt. Just be prepared to add some extra time to the process.

 

[Fabricio]

I've been extracting brewing since 2003, I have my brew pot set up so it's electric and doubt I will ever go to all grain. I'm extremely comfortable with the process and quality of home brew I can make.

 

[Hoakster]

Started brewing in 2008, shifted to all-grain in 2015, switched back to mostly extract in 2018. So I’m back to brewing extract for efficiency and quantity. With the equipment I have, Igloo mash tun and hot liquor tank, 8 gallon kettle, + several 4 gallon kettles, etc, I felt limited to a 5 gallon all-grain batch that took me 6+ hours (sometimes 7) from breaking out the first piece of equipment to cleaning, drying and putting away the last. Alternatively, I can brew two 5-gallon batches of extract simultaneously in about 3.5 to 4 hours from start to finish (double burner camp stove). Twice the beer, half the time, I pace them about 20 min apart so one boil ends 20 min before the other. I use the igloos to treat water on Friday night for brewing two batches on Saturday. I still do a 5-gallon all grain batch every now and then and enjoy it… but you can’t beat the time efficiency for brewing quantities of extract. more beer in pipeline also makes me more willing to share rather than hoard for only myself.

 

[MadLuke]

I have been brewing about 6 years, maybe? And I am still on the extract-partial mash side. Would I prefer to go full-grain? Kinda...sometimes.
Started brewing when on PhD scholarship - enough to get along, not enough to buy a grain father. Moved about 10 times, so portability was also kind of important, and the fermenting bucked it actually a good container as long as you don't mind your trainers smelling like Amarillo for next few weeks. But to be honest, even with partial mash (pale extracts, all the rest from grains), I got some pretty impressive stouts and porters. Plus few special 4 l testing batches (e.g. my 60% sherry smoked malt barley wine). And now with a 1 year old to look after, well... might stick to half-day extract brewings for a while.

But yeah, at some point, full grain is the way, I totally get it. Can see the benefits...At some point.

 

[RevA]

I did two kits before I switched to all grain BIAB. But since then when the beer is low and I don't have time I will brew an extract kit. The beer is still good, I just prefer styles that I can't get kits in.

 

[PetteriSeppanen]

I have been at it for nine years and most of the batches have been from adequate to good.

 

[bracconiere]

I think that AG brewers believe all grain taste better and so due to this bias, their experience is that it does taste better.

not for me, lol....using extract just kinda seems like cheating to me

@Joshua Hughes , this is my all-grain rig....

all in all cost me about 400-600 bucks back in 2002 or so....been brewing 10- gallon batches on it once a week since 2005....

 

[hout17]

I've been brewing for about 8 years. Love the extract kits. In fact I have a brew in the fermenter right now (NB Fresh Squished IPA Kit). I've got a cheap all grain setup built (Batch Sparge setup inspired by Denny Conn I like his style and approach) but the extract kits are so easy and good that I haven't moved to all grain yet. Even when I do venture in to the all grain world I'm sure I'll still brew extracts every now and again.

Also I would recommend the kits from Austin Homebrew Supply. They have a tasty oatmeal stout kit I brew quite a bit and most of their recipe kits are stellar.

 

[Fabricio]

 

[Velnerj]

I put this up here not to brag but to encourage people to step out. For some reason I hear extract brewers speak of all grain like it's some sort of rocket science.

Basically the only difference is the mash. If you're able to ferment wort well you've mastered 90% of the craft.

I get that there's an extra time commitment to all grain but as others have already mentioned even that can be minimized.

I went straight to all grain for a lot of reasons, price being a big factor. I also really enjoy cooking and will almost exclusively cook things from scratch. Living in Europe means there's no box of mac and cheese readily available. If you're craving it, making it from scratch is the only way you're going to get it. I discovered the made from scratch recipes faaaar superseded the ready-made box option. So I went with the same philosophy to my brewing.

I understand my situation in Europe is very different than those in USA. But if you're dedicated its the next logical step (if you're looking to take a step). I also understand that many are happy staying extract brewers and that's fine too. But if you're thinking about all grain... What's the hang up?

 

[KaptainKarl]

Been extract brewing for not quite ten years. I’ve never felt the need to go to all grain, but I’m not a perfectionist trying to dial in an ideal brew. I’m a guy who likes making stuff and extract’s been making plenty good stuff for me.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

What's the hang up?

Too many memes that don't promote (or encourage) deeper discussion? Too much "old information" being recycled?

There was a time when ...

• ... brewing "all-grain" required making a mash tun.
• ... "water chemistry" (seemed to) require a water analysis from a lab.
• ... (apparently) malt extracts and dry yeast were of poor quality.
• ... the "end goal" of home brewing was 5 gallon all-grain kegged beer.

Since then ...

• ... BIAB
• ... simplified "water chemistry" using distilled / RO water
• ... quality of DME/LME & dry yeast has improved
• ... dry yeast (has recently) become "just another ingredient"
• ... it has become acceptable to talk about brewing small batch sizes, bottling, etc.

There may be a time when ...

• ... we view DME/LME as "just another ingredient".
• ... rather than using a "next level" model, we view home brewing as just a big bag of techniques and ingredients.

 

[Saunassa]

Been extract brewing for not quite ten years. I’ve never felt the need to go to all grain, but I’m not a perfectionist trying to dial in an ideal brew. I’m a guy who likes making stuff and extract’s been making plenty good stuff for me.

It's a hobby and if you like the beer that's all that matters.

 

[okiepc]

Almost 8 years into extract brewing & planning on staying with extracts. Extracts are fast, fun & you can shoot for what you like with a little change here and there. I enjoy it!

 

[RevDroz]

How long have you been brewing beer using only extract kits? I was wondering how many here are content to brew only with extract kits and not taken the step to go "all grain"?

I've been brewing extracts for a while and have yet to make a batch that was undrinkable. In fact, a vast majority have been great beers and I'm happy to stay where I am but I still look at taking that next step, it's a fun hobby!

I brew with extract kits and like the ease of them. One day I will venture into AGB once I perfect my everyday extract brew.

 

[NGD]

Going on 4 years now. Occasionally a partial mash, often steep but my favorite brews lately have been straight extract, 20 min boil session brews. Usually a SMaSH of some type.
Quick, easy and tasty.

 

[mlanoue]

I started brewing extract kits back in 1997. Usually extract with stepping grains, but sometimes pre-hopped kits. I wanted to save money so I bought a turkey fryer and tried all-grain with a really primitive BIAB method back around 2006 or something like that. The problem for me was that it took all day. Boiling and cooling and cleaning. The thing is, I just didn't drink fast enough or know enough people to give beer to that I ever really had to brew enough to get the process down and do it quickly. So, I kind of lost interest and just did a few kits now and then. Last month I decided to get back into it with one-gallon kits. So I bought a Mr Beer fermenter and am just going to stick to really small scale extract stuff I can do fairly quickly.