Mini-mash or full AG

[pshel]

So I am thinking about brewing my first AG batch, but not sure if I should make my first a mini-mash or just jump right in and do a full AG??? The equipment I would need is a cooler if I do a full AG, which really isn't a big deal. My thought was to go mini-mash just to get the general concept and process down and move up to full AG after a couple.

Any thoughts??? or does it really not make a differance.

Thanks

 

[djsethall]

Umm, I would try mini mash first to get an idear of what you are doing. Use beersmith to calculate your numbers and see what your efficiency is. After a mini mash, do an all grain and you will never go back to any extract, trust me. At this point we are on the borderline of the addiction.

 

[cykoduck]

As a recent mini-masher I'd advise it to anyone. You do feel a bit more "into" the process with more then enough steps to NOT worry about

Mainly I did it because it didn't require another round of equipment purchasing

 

[djsethall]

If you have a wife, you will have to put together a rig 1 piece at a time sorta like

I'm only about $1,000 away from having my brewery complete.

 

[Jdk261]

Just jump in and do an all grain batch...it's all bark and no bite. You'll be fine.

 

[kapbrew13]

I started with BIAB because it was the cheapest way for me to go AG quickly. Brews come out well so it works for me.

 

[terrapinj]

you could also do an AG batch and just keep some LME/DME on hand incase you don't hit your #s and need to boost your gravity

 

[Yooper]

you could also do an AG batch and just keep some LME/DME on hand incase you don't hit your #s and need to boost your gravity

That's what I'd do! There really isn't any advantage to doing a partial mash over an AG batch, except being able to rely on the extract if you miss your gravity by a lot!

So, do the AG batch. Take an SG sample, cool it and check it. If you're way, way off we can help you add the extract to make up the difference!

We're always around so if you're brewing, you can even post a "help!" thread and we can walk you through what to do.

AG brewing isn't hard, and if you have the techniques and concepts down, you'll do fine. Heck, even I can brew and I'm not very bright, so if I can do it, I'm certain you can!

 

[pat3rol]

With my vast experience of 1 biab batch I would recommend it. I did a lot of reading and biab seems to be the best fit to get some experience. You could move up to "real" all grain after biab with some more equiptment or just stay with biab if space is a problem.

 

[noggins]

Kick it up a notch:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/easy-stovetop-all-grain-brewing-pics-90132/

BAM!

 

[ryandlf]

That's what I'd do! There really isn't any advantage to doing a partial mash over an AG batch, except being able to rely on the extract if you miss your gravity by a lot!

You can also use extract to adjust wort from AG if you really need to. If your interested at all at getting into AG just skip mini mash and get a cooler. You're going to do it anyways at some point...

 

[rycov]

Just jump in and do an all grain batch...it's all bark and no bite. You'll be fine.

this

If your interested at all at getting into AG just skip mini mash and get a cooler. You're going to do it anyways at some point...

and this. if your going to mash some, you might as well do it all. it can be intimidating reading about AG, but in practice it isn't. mash at a certain temp for an hour, then drain. from there on out the process is pretty much the same.

 

[pshel]

Thanks everyone for the comments!! I have done alot of reading on this forum and other sites, it seems like it is a pretty straight forward process, but I guess I just have that "little" bit of doubt in the back of my mind.

But at the end of the day I think I am going to jump right into a full AG batch. Wish me luck!! Now to go find a cooler at a garage sale this week end.

 

[rycov]

i had some doubt too, once i got going on that first batch it faded away. its all bark and no bite like jdk261 said.

 

[kapbrew13]

Take good notes and keep your process consistent. That way it's easier to fix mistakes or improve foe the next time.

 

[WCD]

If you have the equipment jump right into AG. I went straight from extract to AG. No issues all rewards! Extracts are great as well but I like the process of the AG. As someone else said kick it up a notch. You wont regret it.

 

[TerryM]

I had the same quandry (partial mash v. all grain) a few years back. The consensus after discussing it with some guys in my homebrew club was to jump right in to the full AG. You don't save that much time with the partial mash, and if you have a decent mash rig (I started with the DennyBrew cooler/mash tun) and dough-in at the proper temperature, you'll be pretty close to your target numbers.

tm

 

[djsethall]

Awesome choice. Just to bite the bullet and go for it!!! If you have any questions during your process, just let us know and we will do whatever we can to help.

 

[Wakadaka]

I agree with doing AG, but having some extract on hand just in case IF you are making your own recipes/ buying ingredients individually. I did a few mini-mashes before going AG because I was buying kits from AHS. Once I got my bulk hops, I ordered ingredients for my first AG batch, but kept enough DME on hand that I would have beer even if I completely messed up my mash.

I didn't have to use any DME, and actually over shot my efficiency, but it definately made the process less stressful knowing that I had a safety net.