Malt preference poll

[BlightyBrewer]

Hey y'all!

Different strokes for different folks...Whatever floats ya boat!

As long as it's beer at the end, then who cares how it got there...enjoy!

 

[anthrobe]

I have only been doing extracts with steeping in grains since I started brewing a couple years ago. I would love to and plan to and move to AG brewing but space is a premium at my residence as well as my knowledge on the matter. Primarily why I joined this forum is that the people here are excellent, knowledgable, and will definately help me get the the "Dark Side." Although, I do believe that you can get a great bear with using grain with extract. Last year I did a christmas porter that everyone loved and got great reviews. Even the local cigar shop wanted me to keep brewing it and put it on tap there. My local HBS still asks if I have any left!!

 

[david_42]

As far as making great beers from extracts, it is quite common for people to win awards up here in the PNW using all-extract. One meeting a year at the Oregon Brew Crew has a "theme ale" of all-extract. There are ales where 97% of the flavors are generated by the yeast and controlling the fermentation environment, that lend themselves to extract brewing.

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

I'm AG because it's a bigger PITA than extract and that's just my personality. Plus it gets me in the garage for half the day with a good excuse. I think extract-only is ultimately limiting for most people despite the infinite hopping schedules and yeast variations, but I defy anybody on here to blind taste test a good extract or extract/grains beer beside a good AG beer and be able to determine which is which.

 

[Orfy]

I'm just setting up to do AG.

 

[DeRoux's Broux]

how's that going orfy? finging the parts/equipment you need??

 

[Orfy]

It's getting there. I hopefully have 8 kegs arriving next week. (I only wanted 1 but at the price and considering the lack of availability I thought I'd take the lot)
I need to decide layout etc.

I got set back a week by the Venice trip.
I went without the swmbo so I don't think I should do to much beer related stuff this week.

 

[DeRoux's Broux]

good call! and you did good by getting more kegs. you'd be kicking yourself if you hadn't.

 

[brackbrew]

I've been brewing sporadically, sadly, for five years. I started right with extract brewing and because of space and $$ limitations have remained there. While I've been happy with most of my brews--I had an iffy porter and an ale using honey that turned out to be a disaster--but more importantly, brewing with extracts has let me refine my brewing technique and given me time to understand the different processes on as deep a level as I'd like without some of the extra variables that come into play with all-grain brewing.

I'm finally at a residential and financial place in my life where I can start using a full-wort boil (see my question in the equipment forum if you'd like to give me some advice), so hopefully my next step will be all-grain. I have no doubt that all-grain makes the best beer, but I'm glad I've taken the time to understand everything that goes into brewing before attempting it.

I think had I tried to start all-grain, it would have been a disastrous mess. I think I'd recommend anybody starting out to begin with extract brewing, until they're comfortable with their level of knowledge and understanding of how everything in brewing works.

 

[DeRoux's Broux]

it just depends on each persons level of confidence and comfort level w/ their brewing. a friend of mine has been brewing for a lot longer than me, yet he still does extract w/ grains, and makes damn good beer. he doesnt make starters or have any control over ferm temps. me, i do the all-grain with the big keg-kettle system, controled ferm process, yeast starters, etc. i think it has to do more with the personality of the brewer. i am never content and my worst critic. so, i tend to be always jacking w/ technique, gadgets, recipes, etc.
as long as we have fun, enjoy our brews, and buy less of the big 3!

 

[brackbrew]

I think you hit the nail on the head. Plus, I'm an unrelenting perfectionist, so I know I'm my own worst critic as well. It's good, though, it constantly pushes our art to a higher level. Brew on!

 

[DeRoux's Broux]

I think you hit the nail on the head. Plus, I'm an unrelenting perfectionist, so I know I'm my own worst critic as well. It's good, though, it constantly pushes our art to a higher level. Brew on!

brew-on bro! are you my evil twin??????

 

[brackbrew]

brew-on bro! are you my evil twin??????

I have been known to be EVIL from time to time. Hahaha...ah, bad joke on my part...sorry...haha

 

[BlightyBrewer]

I think you hit the nail on the head. Plus, I'm an unrelenting perfectionist, so I know I'm my own worst critic as well. It's good, though, it constantly pushes our art to a higher level. Brew on!

Know what you mean dude! SWMBO gets hacked off with me saying my beer tastes funny, it isn't right, etc...

I suppose you can be too much of a perfectionist, but I find it a great challenge to keep trying for the beer that really impresses me. I keep asking myself, if I bought this in a real ale pub, would I be impressed or would I send it back?

 

[Orfy]

We nipped to a Camra pub of the year pub last night and I had a pint of wychwood Dogs Bollocks.

My mate said, that tastes like the stuff you do. That'll do for me.

Saying that though, they normally drink Strongbow.

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

I just like screwing around with stuff. Ever since I got married (best thing I ever did, I swear) I've curtailed a lot of other activities so I invent stuff to do around the house. SWMBO leaves for Christmas with her family a week before I do, and I've pretty much got myself convinced I need to do a decoction mash once I've got the palace to myself, even though by all accounts it doesn't amount to much with today's fully modified grains.

 

[DeRoux's Broux]

not all true BeeGee! 'fests, bocks, alts, doppelbocks, even belgian brews will be much better from a decoction mash. helps bring out the maltiness in the beers.

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

not all true BeeGee! 'fests, bocks, alts, doppelbocks, even belgian brews will be much better from a decoction mash. helps bring out the maltiness in the beers.

Good point, although I don't don't do lagers I would like to get into some Belgians. And I don't see how a protein rest can really hurt anything as long as it's timed properly...might be able to get my eff. >75% one of these days.

 

[DeRoux's Broux]

do a bock and use the White Labs European Ale yeast on it, or the German Kolsch/Alt. not true to style, but can still eek out some maltiness w/ the decoction and cool fermenting.

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

do a bock and use the White Labs European Ale yeast on it, or the German Kolsch/Alt. not true to style, but can still eek out some maltiness w/ the decoction and cool fermenting.

Hmmm...I'm currently fermenting on Wyeast 1338 European Ale...would this be an acceptable substitute for this scenario?

 

[DeRoux's Broux]

yes-sir-ree-bob-aroonie!
just call it an aletoberfest!

 

[DAAB]

Too lazy to read all posts imho all grain makes the best brews and I try to produce an ag batch at least 3 times PA. An extract recipe can produce a good beer given the right recipe, I get mine from Dave Lines Brew Beer Like those you buy. Kits can produce a good brew, i'd avoid the most popular manufacturer in favor of the brupaks range.

 

[Jens-Kristian]

All-Grain for me.

I've never actually tried Extract brewing, but just went straight for AG. The reason for this was not really as much a matter of whether it'd be better (although I do believe it is) but more that for me, the reason for brewing in the first place has as much to do with wanting to go through the process as with actually seeing the beer done.

I'm a newbie, really - I've only got three brews behind me, but honestly, about AG - it is just not as difficult as a lot of people make it sound. I can understand the "excuse" of not having the time. It *does* take an entire day to do an AG, but the complexities are not overwhelming in my opinion.

As for what equipment costs . . . Well, you know, there are a lot who claim that you have to go all the way and spend a lot of money before you can brew good beer on AG, but my set-up is very simple indeed and it's the same set-up as I know homebrewers have brewed medal-winning beers on.

My own beer is excellent - sorry for the bragging, but it is! Much better than most beer I've bought, and I really do seek out the good stuff. SWMBO and myself have tried about 150 different bottled beers over the last year and a good number at our local pub, which always has 270+ different beers.

As for malt, I haven't tried that much, but so far I am very fond of:

Maris Otter Pale Malt

Caramel Red and Amber

Wheat Malt

Munich

Smoked Malt (though in small doses).


Cheers,

Jens-Kristian

 

[NEPABREWER]

I will be brewing my first batch in a few days and I'll be doing a partial grain - partial extract brew. Why not? What could be easier that throwning in a grain tea bag for a few before the water boils. I like beer with a complex, but smooth flavor and if I have read correctly one of the easiest ways to achieve this is to ad some grain to the pot. I am not as much of a beer 'snob' as most accomplished snobs on this board, but only because my home brew tasting is limited. If I can brew something 10% better than what I drink commercially for a fraction of the cost and all the satisfaction that comes with it. Partial Extract / Mashes will be all I need.

 

[Brewpastor]

I started All-grain brewing on my third or fourth patch, so I really don't know any other way to brew. I use extract now and again for yeast starters, but that is about it. In my judging I have had amazing beers made from extract and all-grain. So I say learn all you can, watch the sanitation and have fun.

I am really biased about the difference fresh yeast makes. I thinki this calls for a poll!

 

[Glibbidy]

All Grain all the way! After the initial capital investment, it's all gravy! I opened cans for nine years, and then was converted by a local brewer. I started AG in 99 and have not looked back since.

 

[mysterio]

I'm trying to accumulate as much equipment as possible to do my first all-grain batch. I'm a 21 year old student so it's all getting done on the cheap! I'm nearly there, all I need is some kind of mash/lauter tun, which shouldn't be too difficult. I did my first mini-mash lager in a fairly thin plastic bucket wrapped with a blanket which wasn't ideal but I'm sure the beer will turn out OK. My main reason for going all-grain is the price, grains are just so cheap compared to cans of extract.

 

[BlightyBrewer]

Just done my first AG batch...with Halycon Pale Malt...tasted great so I'm getting excited about AG now. But as I said earlier, you can produce great beer with any of the methods...extract, AG, kit....whatever floats ya boat.

All of my extract brews had a bad medicinal taste...which was my water...not the extract! Number one rule, get your water right since it is the main ingredient. I used 1/2 crushed campden tablet (thanks DAAB for the advice on that one) to remove the chlorine.

 

[VermontFreedom]

I just made the move from all extract to extract with partial grains. What a difference!

But you (original poster) said it: space and time. As much as I enjoy homebrewing (I actually make a lot more wine than beer), I still have lots of other hobbies and getting the equipment and having to go that extra step for all-grain brewing seems prohibitive now. Maybe in a few years...

 

[nitro4040]

ALL F-ING GRAIN!

50 Pounds of grain for $30
add some special grains fora few more bucks. So much variety. So much creativity!

I started partial mash, 4 or 5 batches, then went all grain. No looking back. Just as easy as partial and its your beer! No other like it. If you can brew with a burner, outside , then you need to do all grain. Dont be a wuss! :rockin:

ok, for you who say space, time, money.. etc.. excuses, excuse, excuses........

brew pot and burner cost about $75
a couple of food buckets with spigots cost about $30
make your own false bottom, spaghetti strainers work well
wort chiller will help another $75
after about 4 brews you make your money back

your beer willl be better, you will like brewing more.

you won't burn up your stove, piss the wife off by spilling on the floor, hmmm... what else..