I love DME...

[mixedbrewer]

How can so many people frown on this wonderful product? Someone already did the mash, and is selling the sugars from it. Thanks, you just saved me 3 hours. I can still add hops, other grains, adjuncts, sugar, other malts, anything. I can add it to a mini-mash to make a full batch. I can use just a small amount to experiment with a small batch. I can prime bottles with it, or make a starter with it. Here is to DME! I think you are a great product.

 

[RegionalChaos]

It's got a much better shelf life then LME, I'll give you that

 

[duckmanco]

I'm an extract brewer, but primarily use LME (bulk on nitrogen from my LHBS) and have to say, as primarily a hop forward beer brewer, I have yet to really be concerned with my malt profile yet, I am entirely more concerned and fascinated by hop profiles. I like my IPA's dry and citrusy anyway, but for my malty brews (RIS, and Bourbon Barrel Porter so far) extract has been great.

So I agree, I like extract (although use mostly LME) but either way, its been good to me.

 

[Rev2010]

100% agreed, I love DME too. And the funny thing... so far two of the first beers I've brewed stand as better than the commercial beer equivalents according to me, my wife, and father in law. No kidding, I've been feeling guilty, no joke, that even my favorite beer seems a bit bested by my home brew. And when it comes to my amber (the second I mentioned) it's waaay better than the commercial beers I was pitting it against. And all this was done with no more than DME and steeping grains so far. Amazing.


Rev.

 

[belmontbrew]

I recently decided to stop thinking of myself as On The Way to all grain brewing. I don't have the space, or the time, or the money to build a setup, and that's ok. Extract has been great to me too, and I am proud to be an extract brewer! Yeah!!

 

[Indyking]

Extract can result in excellent beers. There is no need to even help it with mini mashing, just steeping of specialty grains combined with the variety of extracts available today on the market is enough to produce a variety of great beers.

Having said that, I love AG not just because of cheaper ingredients and more flexibility to be creative in designing recipes since I don't clone or copy, but because I truly enjoy the process of AG brewing. Brewing day with AG is fun day for me!

 

[mixedbrewer]

Good for you Belmontbrew. I feel like the only one here not trying to push everyone into all grain. I mean, if you love getting into the process so much... then thats great. You might as well start malting your own grain too, and roasting your own barley, hell, even grow it in your back yard and learn to harvest it. I guess some people must really love the mashing process. To me, its the least enjoyable part... and a pain to clean up.

 

[mixedbrewer]

Extract can result in excellent beers. There is no need to even help it with mini mashing, just steeping of specialty grains combined with the variety of extracts available today on the market is enough to produce a variety of great beers.

I am not using the mini mash to help the DME. I am using the DME to help the mini mash turn into a bigger beer. Its all about convenience. I can do it on my stove and counter. No huge boils, no wort chiller, no huge mash tun, no sparge... great beer made in a small space. This thread is here to praise DME, not to tell people why you don't use it.

 

[corbomite]

I am not using the mini mash to help the DME. I am using the DME to help the mini mash turn into a bigger beer. Its all about convenience. I can do it on my stove and counter. No huge boils, no wort chiller, no huge mash tun, no sparge... great beer made in a small space. This thread is here to praise DME, not to tell people why you don't use it.

I have done all-grain, but my mini-mashes have been just as good(actually better). I love DME as well. I use AHS extra light DME in absolutely everything I brew. From hefes, to IIPAs, to Stouts, every single brew gets at least 3 lb extra light DME.
I think the reason many brewers dislike extract is b/c as their process evolves, their beer gets better. They think that going all-grain has increased their beers quality, when in reality the concomitant changes going with the switch to all grain have a much better impact. For example, I began making starters, controlling fermentation temp, and sanitizing better about the same time I started mashing. When I kept all other things equal and went back to mini-mash, I didn't notice a damn thing change in my beer quality. I did, however, stop getting stuck mashes...
Heres to DME

 

[Indyking]

Good for you Belmontbrew. I feel like the only one here not trying to push everyone into all grain. I mean, if you love getting into the process so much... then thats great. You might as well start malting your own grain too, and roasting your own barley, hell, even grow it in your back yard and learn to harvest it. I guess some people must really love the mashing process. To me, its the least enjoyable part... and a pain to clean up.

I am not using the mini mash to help the DME. I am using the DME to help the mini mash turn into a bigger beer. Its all about convenience. I can do it on my stove and counter. No huge boils, no wort chiller, no huge mash tun, no sparge... great beer made in a small space. This thread is here to praise DME, not to tell people why you don't use it.

I understand people who have tried AG but simply prefer the simplicity and/or less work/hassle of extract brewing, but those who never really brewed whole batches of AG, yet feel the need to argue against it, seems like are just looking for a strong need to justify their choice.

Like I said, extract can result in great beers, but the only time I do it is when I don't have time for AG, buy I feel like my grandpa could do it too, so I don't really enjoy the process.

It's not about the destination but the journey is a wonder too and that's the way AG feels to me. I don't mind the extra time and extra work at all, in fact, I love it!

 

[mixedbrewer]

Well, I welcome all Grandpa's to come brew with DME! And please don't come to this thread bashing extract by saying its simple, or less, or for grandpa's.

 

[Indyking]

Well, I welcome all Grandpa's to come brew with DME! And please don't come to this thread bashing extract by saying its simple, or less, or for grandpa's.

Quite the opposite. I'm not bashing extract brewing. I do it every once in a while too. I'm just saying the reasons why I like AG much better. This looks a lot more like bashing to me...

I can do it on my stove and counter. No huge boils, no wort chiller, no huge mash tun, no sparge... great beer made in a small space.

But we could discus AG vs. Extract for ages and still not find consensus. It's really a pointless argument. I have yet to find someone who actually do both processes like me but favors extract over AG. I'm sure there must be someone out there that feels that way.

 

[mixedbrewer]

I do! I could just boil and bottle a mini mash and it would be all grain. And you aren't reading everyone's posts, because someone above mentioned the same thing. They said they went back to extract too and can't even tell the difference. Please go to an all grain thread if you want to point out why you like all grain. This is a thread about DME, and its under Extract Brewing.

 

[Indyking]

I do! I could just boil and bottle a mini mash and it would be all grain. And you aren't reading everyone's posts, because someone above mentioned the same thing. They said they went back to extract too and can't even tell the difference. Please go to an all grain thread if you want to point out why you like all grain. This is a thread about DME, and its under Extract Brewing.

There we go... To each his own! Happy extract brewing ;-)

 

[commonsenseman]

Cheap, easy to use, adds body, adds flavor, makes starters, etc. What's not to love?

 

[unionrdr]

You know,after reading this whole thread,I have to agree. I just put down a brew last night,using Munton's extra light SDME with a can of Cooper's OS Lager LME. Boiled Kent Golding in 1 1/4 gal water for 15 mins. Wow! Does that stuff smell good when all mixed up. Now I'm getting what the hop heads are talking about! My wort hit the hydrometer at 1.044,a beautiful lite golden brown. It has a slightly toasty/buiscuty smell,with the lemony/citrusy,herby Kent Golding smell under that. Can't wait to dry hop with the Willamette hops! But the munton's SDME has that great smell to it all by it's self! So here's to adding SDME to LME's!!

 

[mixedbrewer]

Great to hear! DME is the most versatile brewing product out there. It can add so many good qualities to your beer.

 

[CidahMastah]

I hear you on loving the extract, but cost is one key issue to me. Based on the cost, you almost make out better buying your brews in the store that you love. However, the former chef side of me loves the brewing process and the science.

You guys should all consider BIAB (brew in a bag). It is all grain (or you can do partial mash). All you need is a 6-8 gallon pot, or maybe two smaller pots, and a fine sparge strainer from your LHBS. If you get your grain ground at your LHBS, it only takes about 1-1.5 hours extra, less if you already steep specialty grains. Instead of steeping for 30-45 minutes you steep ("mash") for 60-75 minutes. Then the rest is like a DME brew day.

I did my first run with it this past weekend and hit 1.060 for the pale ale I was making (target S.G. was 1.054-1.056).

About 13.5 lbs grains for the mash, cost about $18. If I had gotten DME it would have been $33+tax. Now if you get in on a bulk grain buy, that would cost $7.36. Don't know about you, but my time is free (extract or grain isn't), and I would like to brew more for less$.

 

[mixedbrewer]

Please stop selling all-grain in this extract thread. Thanks.

 

[CidahMastah]

Please stop selling all-grain in this extract thread. Thanks.

Please stop being a monkey :cross:

I didn't disagree that DME isn't great. I just gave an opinion on the matter.

Do we all need your permission to say something on this thread? Or perhaps can we give our opinions?

 

[mixedbrewer]

If you are just going to try and undermine DME by saying your all-grain method is better, or cheaper, or whatever the case might be... why not start your own thread about how great your method or products are? In case you haven't read the posts here, some people already do all grain (like myself) and still choose DME. This thread is titled "I LOVE DME", not "Please come in here and try to tell me what I should love instead of DME". DME isn't for morons and people who don't know what they are doing. Its for people who choose DME. Thanks.

 

[CidahMastah]

If you are just going to try and undermine DME by saying your all-grain method is better, or cheaper, or whatever the case might be... why not start your own thread about how great your method or products are? In case you haven't read the posts here, some people already do all grain (like myself) and still choose DME. This thread is titled "I LOVE DME", not "Please come in here and try to tell me what I should love instead of DME". DME isn't for morons and people who don't know what they are doing. Its for people who choose DME. Thanks.

Dude - you need a chill pill.

No one is telling you you have to do All Grain or BIAB or whatever. They are expressing opinions. Some people don't know how easy and inexpensive All Grain can be (I didn't). I thought I would never do AG batches, then I was surprised that it took about maybe 30 minutes more to convert grain starch to sugars.

Nobody said DME is for morons. You have some serious insecurity issues about your DME use. Perhaps you personally can't handle all grain, and that is ok.

Again, forums are about posting opinions from personal experience. Let people say what they want from their experience and everybody grows in knowledge as a result. Or are we only allowed to drink the koolaid?

 

[mixedbrewer]

Dude - you need a chill pill.
Nobody said DME is for morons. You have some serious insecurity issues about your DME use. Perhaps you personally can't handle all grain, and that is ok.

I am not the one saying people are insecure, or that they can't handle their grain. This thread is for people who want to read and talk about DME. If you want to give opinions on all-grain, do it in an all-grain thread. Thanks.

 

[Indyking]

Please stop being a monkey :cross:

I didn't disagree that DME isn't great. I just gave an opinion on the matter.

Do we all need your permission to say something on this thread? Or perhaps can we give our opinions?

Dude - you need a chill pill.

No one is telling you you have to do All Grain or BIAB or whatever. They are expressing opinions. Some people don't know how easy and inexpensive All Grain can be (I didn't). I thought I would never do AG batches, then I was surprised that it took about maybe 30 minutes more to convert grain starch to sugars.

Nobody said DME is for morons. You have some serious insecurity issues about your DME use. Perhaps you personally can't handle all grain, and that is ok.

Again, forums are about posting opinions from personal experience. Let people say what they want from their experience and everybody grows in knowledge as a result. Or are we only allowed to drink the koolaid?

I agree 100% with CidahMastah.

Mixedbrewer, these are just our opinions in the subject. OK, DME is great, we got that. How many posts do we really need just to say how great DME is anyway? So, why not give some food for thought and introduce new opinions on the matter, like we are doing here? Nobody is trying to convince you AG is the way to go. Some people just can't do AG for several reasons that range from equipment limitations to lack of patience. I'm not saying you fit any of those examples, but IMHO you should try a full AG run (not just mini-mashing) with a friend or some local beer club to get a real feel for it.

After I experienced AG, I do whatever it takes to stick to it, but sometimes I just don't have the time when in need for a quick batch.

Cheers!

 

[Rev2010]

How many posts do we really need just to say how great DME is anyway?

How many posts do we need for "is my beer infected" or "how much priming sugar do I need?" or, "does this recipe checkout ok?". Why not shut the whole forum down because at this point everything's been said/asked before? The fact that you keep following this thread and responding in it seems like you're intending to create friction.

Geez you guys. If he wants to have a thread about the merits of DME let him, why the need to argue the matter?


Rev.

 

[mixedbrewer]

Of course you all-grainers are gonna stick together to push your agenda in the extract section.

Sorry. I just don't want to do 5 gallons of all grain. You guys just don't give up do ya. How many times do you have to keep coming back to push all grain?

 

[Indyking]

How many posts do we need for "is my beer infected" or "how much priming sugar do I need?" or, "does this recipe checkout ok?". Why not shut the whole forum down because at this point everything's been said/asked before? The fact that you keep following this thread and responding in it seems like you're intending to create friction.

Geez you guys. If he wants to have a thread about the merits of DME let him, why the need to argue the matter?

Rev.

So, I'm not the only one responding to the thread and supporting a opinion in favor oh AG. Why picking just on me!?!

 

[Indyking]

Of course you all-grainers are gonna stick together to push your agenda in the extract section.

Sorry. I just don't want to do 5 gallons of all grain. You guys just don't give up do ya. How many times do you have to keep coming back to push all grain?

Not pushing anything but if you see that way, there is nothing I can do.

I'm an all-grainer and an all-extract brewer! No more pushing from me.

BTW. DME is marvelous. It's the apotheosis of all extracts!

 

[mixedbrewer]

So, I'm not the only one responding to the thread and supporting a opinion in favor oh AG. Why picking just on me!?!

No one is picking on anyone. The topic here is love for DME. You are off topic by posting about all grain. There is a different section for that.

 

[mixedbrewer]

DME is marvelous. It's the apotheosis of all extracts!

All right! This comment is on topic. Thanks.