Is there a specific formula?

[MT2sum]

Is there a specific formula to convert an extract recipe to an all grain recipe?

I've done some extract recipes in the past, just planning to get started with all-grain 1 gallon brews (we live in a small 'coop') ..... I've seen some recipes for 5 gallon extract brews here and on the web that I'd kinda like to brew up - is there a specific formula that can be used to convert an extract recipe over to all grain? I understand I have to convert the quantities 'pare them down' so-to-speak; but I wouldn't have the slightest idea of how to replace a can or two of malt extract with a pound or three of grain. Just a thought, since I don't want to have to parcel a can of extract over 5 different brews . I have an unlimited supply of 1 gallon cider jugs (my son is an Organic health nut ) and I have found some two and three gallon jars online for fermenters, as well as a 2.1 gallon jar at Target (has a plastic spigot in it for draining the beer which I will eventually change over to Stainless Steel ), I'll just have to put a rubber or plastic insert in the cap to protect the wort/fermentation/beer from the aluminum cap and make a good tight seal. I like the idea of 1 gallon brews becuz I can brew a different beer/style each time without having to down 5 gallons of my previous brew; I'm thinking that by brewing several/many 1 gallon recipes, I may find a favorite that I'll like enough to re-invest in a 5 gallon setup again. I think I have room to brew about 2 gallons a week, if possible.


BTW, I don't plan on using plastic buckets, so don't bother to recommend them to me. Even though the FDA says they are food-grade ..... The FDA also told us in the '40s and '50s that aluminum cookware and bowls were good too ........ now we find out that they are a contributing factor to the causation of Alzheimer's Disease! 20 or 30 years from now we'll likely find out that the toxins leached out of food-grade plastic is killing more of us with some new kind of disease.
Just my 2 centavos ........

 

[prandlesc]

Here's some info I've found on recipe conversion:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/dme-grain-conversion-359977/
http://byo.com/recipe-calculations/item/616-extract-to-all-grain-and-back
http://jaysbrewingblog.com/2011/11/17/lazy-chart-for-converting-dme-lme-grain/

I'd suggest you spend a few dollars on some brewing software. I use Beer Tools Pro and like it a lot. It will help you scale any recipe you find to the size batch you want to make. There are several good software options out there.

1 gallon glass jugs are good for small batches and you can get stoppers that will hold your airlocks for them. I'd suggest you stay away from department store iced-tea dispensers in your brewing an try to use more tried and true solutions. I've also got a 3 gallon glass carboy that works great for 2 gallon batches. I personally don't have any problem downing 5 gallons of a great homebrewed beer, but it sounds like you may have some other size restrictions. I generally have 4 beers on tap at any given time and a couple of kegs in waiting for tap space. I've been lucky enough to find some friends that will help me drink my homebrew if I have too much on tap - good friends are hard to find (unless there's free beer involved).

And you might want to google the aluminum/Alzheimer's connection. That's been pretty well de-bunked.

Best of Luck!

 

[erikpete18]

A formula depends on what kind of extract they're using, as well as the efficiency of all-grain you're able to get. Generally, I believe a good starting point is that [1lb grain = 0.75lb LME = 0.6lb DME]. If the recipe is light extract with steeping grains, you can keep the steeping grains the same (ie crystal, dark malts, etc) and use that formula to determine how much base grain (2-row, pilsner) to substitute for the extract. However, a lot of extracts don't just contain one kind of malt. For instance, even light extracts often contain a percentage of carapils-type malt for foam retention/head/body, darker extracts contain some crystal and dark malts, and specialty extracts (wheat, munich, etc) often contain a blend of base malts (like half wheat/half 2-row). A lot of times, you can find some information on the extract-makers website as to the composition of their extract. Otherwise, either a free or purchased software program can let you add enough base malt to get near the recipe's OG, then add crystal malts that look right until the color is correct.

 

[MT2sum]

@prandlesc - Thanks for your input, ..... I'm not really wanting to use 3 gallon carboys because of the "size restrictions" in our "cabin" ( And I use that term loosely ); but your comment about Ice tea dispensers is welcome. That is a good consideration to think about.
There are 2 and 3 gallon glass jugs available on Amazon for a few bucks more that might be a better way to go. We may go that way first, and just buy an auto-siphon for the time being, and go with the tea dispenser when we can afford the stainless spigot. I'll look into the beer software - Since I use Linux, most of the software won't work, however, there may be a Debian package available that I can download - I'll check and get back to this thread if I find one.

@erikpete18 - Thanks for that info, I'll be able to get a better handle on it by checking with the extract makers - I didn't think of that! I've seen a couple of extract beer recipes that sound good, so it sounds like I'll be experimenting as well as looking for some software that will do the job. I have a book from the local Library, Beer Craft, which has a lot of good info and recipes, so I'll be working on them first, but I was just wanting to get some info on converting commercial extracts to grains - it may end up being too complicated for this old man, but I'll give it a stab when I get to that point!

Thanks a lot for all the comments and advice from both of you, Much Appreciated!

 

[MT2sum]

I found a FREE, Open source brewing software for Linux, Mac, and Windows - Brewtarget
Here's some links:
brewtarget.org
Interview with the developer
@ Slashdot
Homebrewtalk
There's also a BeerSmith version for Linux (Not Free), but since it's still in Beta, I think I'll pass for now. Thanks again for the advice!

 

[MT2sum]

delete

 

[MT2sum]

Can't figure out how to delete an accidental post!!