How often do you extract brew?

[AZCoolerBrewer]

I like to brew single hop and malt extract (SHaME) beers to really familiarize myself with a certain hop and how it tastes. I will use it as bittering and whirlpool. Generally they are excellent beers if not complex, but that’s the point. Malt extract is generally very consistent and takes the malt flavor out of the equation for exploring an individual hop/terrior.

 

[CJ-3]

I still brew extract recipes in the winter when it's too cold to brew outside

 

[rallenhall]

I've been brewing all grain for at least 25 yrs. When I try to save time by brewing with extract, especially dark LME, I always seem to end up with something that tastes like homebrew.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

When I try to save time by brewing with extract, especially dark LME, I always seem to end up with something that tastes like homebrew

When I was curious about "darker than expected" color with "extract", I read a number of topics from the 2013 - 2015 time frame that were basically:

• Person 1: "I get homebrew taste when I brew with extract"
• Person 2: "My extract batches are always darker than expected"
• Person 3: "When I brew with light DME, I get good results and color as expected".

In 2022, many brewers here are reporting good results using DME and solid recipes. There's also an occasional anecdotal reply that mentions good results with style specific LMEs from one (maybe more?) supplier(s).

A solid recipe and fresh ingredients go a long way towards preventing "home brew taste". How to Brew, 4e has a number of additional ideas on preventing "home brew taste".

 

[rallenhall]

When I was curious about "darker than expected" color with "extract", I read a number of topics from the 2013 - 2015 time frame that were basically:

• Person 1: "I get homebrew taste when I brew with extract"
• Person 2: "My extract batches are always darker than expected"
• Person 3: "When I brew with light DME, I get good results and color as expected".

In 2022, many brewers here are reporting good results using DME and solid recipes. There's also an occasional anecdotal reply that mentions good results with style specific LMEs from one (maybe more?) supplier(s).

A solid recipe and fresh ingredients go a long way towards preventing "home brew taste". How to Brew, 4e has a number of additional ideas on preventing "home brew taste".

Oh, totally agree. I've used portions of light DME without issues. I think that the LME has it's own set of issues, especially when the age is unknown.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

I'll extract or mini-mash brew every 5 or 6 batches or so. There are a few of my recipes that are just better extract than all grain. I've tried replicating, but it's just not the same. I'll also do an extract when I'm experimenting with something. If it turns out well, I'll move onto all grain.

 

[jtgoral]

More and more often because I only boil for 20 minutes. Big time saver and no taste difference in my case compared to BIAB.

 

[marc1]

I haven't made an extract batch since starting all grain, but I started a cider for the first time the other day and it only took 5 minutes, so that was a change!

 

[Drewch]

I haven't made an extract batch since starting all grain, but I started a cider for the first time the other day and it only took 5 minutes, so that was a change!

Try mead, too. Mead and cider feel like cheating compared to brewing.

 

[pjm805]

If one of my 1 gallon kegs are empty or I have at least 8 16oz bottles available, I'll do a 1 gallon extract to make good use of them

 

[Andres Falconer]

I’ve been all grain from the start, but found I had to brew nearly every other week to support our drinking habit (family & friends). I did not have the time and was unable to keep up. Then I realized I could brew a double batch (10 G) of extract in the 10.5 Anvil Foundry. Saved time and got twice as much! This solved my problem: I stick to all grain but occasionally brew an all grain crowd pleaser to keep stocks replenished.