To Keg Or Go All Grain First?

[CPORT546]

I have done a half dozen extract batches and I'm all in and addicted. I've already built my own wort chiller that works damn well. Now i'm ready to keep going. I would like to both move to all grain and keg.

All grain affords total control over what goes into the beer so that is a wonderful thought. Kegging is a lot more convience. I currently dont lager but am planing on a keezer that will also allow for lagering.

The only other thread on this I found the poster was much more concerned on overall costs. While I'm not rich by any means or I'm not near as concerned with the cost, there is no wife to get permission from. All that considered the people who have done both what would you do first?

 

[malkore]

All grain first.

It'll force you to quickly go to kegging as those AG batches sit in primary (or secondary).

 

[Mikey_Dawg]

Well.... I went to kegging first myself. I've been brewing for about 6 years now and started kegging this past year and the convenience of it is amazing. I just converted my kegerator to be able to serve up to 3 beers at once as well... cant wait.

I love the idea of going all grain and having more control over my beer. However, I just haven't really had the itch yet. I think my extract brews (with steeped grains on most occasions) are very good and I have really worked at producing the best possible extract homebrew that I can and I have been happy with my results.

I also do not look forward to longer brew days for going AG... but I do think designing and building an AG setup will be fun. I just have not gotten the AH itch yet.... so my vote is for kegging!

 

[Palefire]

Depends on how little you like bottling. I personally don't mind it, nor is SWMBO that interested in having a kegerator in our house, so I'm still bottling. I mostly do it on brew days, squeezing bottling into the down times (mashing, boiling, etc.). But some people absolutely hate it.

Personally, I'd go AG. I did it about a year and a half ago, and I love it. Total control, plus my AG beers are definitely better than my extract beers.

 

[Golddiggie]

I second going all grain first... Once you start going down that road, you'll want to brew more and more, so then kegging becomes a good option for a next step...

I switched from extract to all grain pretty early on. Three extract batches, one PM, and then all grain since then (10 batches total to date)... Going all grain is one of the most rewarding steps I've made so far. So much easier to hit your target with all grain than when brewing extract, IMO... Plus, once you have a couple sacks of grain, some bulk hops, a grain mill, and yeast on hand, you can brew anytime you want. Not to mention your batch costs go way down... Even if I buy yeast, my typical batch won't run me over $20... Using washed yeast, that drops to $12, or less. Talking about 5 gallon batches of course. Buying grain as part of a group purchase is the best way too...

 

[kpr121]

I know you didnt say you were concerned with costs, but going all grain can be considerably less expensive than a kegging setup, depending on what you are looking for. A couple kegs to cut the tops off of, a rubbermaid container, a few fitting and you are there. Even cheaper would be BIAB.

Kegging, you are looking at a fridge (or freezer), regulator, co2, lines, and kegs. That aint cheap.

All being said, if you have the money to go for either, I would get the keg setup and start doing BIAB for now. That will let you scratch the itch that is AG, while giving you all the convenience and fulfillment that is pouring your sweet nectar from tap!

 

[CPORT546]

Well seeing as components are less expensive I'm thinking maybe the AG build will happen first while I look for sales or a good deal on CL on a freezer. I highly doubt however there will be much lag time between the two.

Other thoughts are still welcome....

 

[Golddiggie]

Do you have a cooler with a drain plug in it? Something in the 40qt or larger size? IF you do, then you have more than half of a mash tun. Add a ball valve and a manifold/screen and you have a mash tun (for $25-$75 more, depending on the route you take)... Have a 30-40qt pot? You're set for most 5 gallon batches. Have a good drill, and you can convert it into a kettle for about $30. Have another ~20qt pot? You now have your HLT for sparging... You can get a grain mill for as little as ~$45 or over $150 (I got my Barley Crusher with the 7# hopper for $120). Then it's just a matter of getting uncrushed grain... You can use that same drill to power the mill...

Personally, I went with a 32qt aluminum stock pot for my kettle (installed the ball valve myself)... Pot was about $45 with lid. Since you already have a wort chiller, you don't need to worry about that part...

For less than it will cost you to get started kegging, including the keezer (even an used freezer) CO2 tank, regulator, keg or two (even used ones), plus temperature controller, you can get the all grain hardware. When you DO find a good deal on a decent sized freezer, grab it. Then you can start gathering the items to be able to keg.

I know, most of us eventually get all of it, so it's just a matter of what order you do it in... I'm planning on making a fermentation chamber within the next year, or so... As well as being able to keg brews...

 

[pavs]

I have to say that I went to kegging first, but only because I really didn't like bottling at all, way to much work. Now I just clean and sanitize one thing!

 

[MBasile]

I have to say that I went to kegging first, but only because I really didn't like bottling at all, way to much work. Now I just clean and sanitize one thing!

Same here. I went to all-grain later because I was financially able to. I originally jumped into kegging because, as others have said too, I found a good deal on equipment. Look around and see what is currently available used or on sale. You may be able to afford to do both setups new, but why not save a few bucks if you aren't dead set on starting one before the other? Basically, they both make homebrewing easier, but they are exclusive from each other. Kegging doesn't make the brewday easier, and AG doesn't make packaging easier.

In terms of all grain brewdays taking longer... My days are 5.5 hours from setup to cleanup. Water/wort boils much faster with a blichmann burner than it does on the stove top

 

[msa8967]

Are you doing your current brewing on a stove top range (gas or electric?). Moving into all grain will require boilng 5-7 gallons of water which some electric stove tops cannot do..Thus I bought a used turkey fryer to go all grain.

 

[Gridlocked]

I asked the same question and I went kegging first and I am glad I did.

 

[tekknoschtev]

I tried one BIAB all grain batch before I ordered my kegging stuff and hunted down a fridge on craigslist. Its not that I dislike bottling - I actually enjoy it, and the ability to give some bottles to friends and family*. BIAB was super simple to jump to, so I started brewing more frequently. Now I'm making 10 gallon batches, and I just don't feel like bottling ALL of that.

So - DO BOTH!


*Note: I still do this and its nice bottling right from the keg!

 

[funkswing]

I'd say that you will eventually end up doing both. So, whatever is easier for you first. Kegging (the setup) basically just takes money. All-grain takes more time and dedication to the craft (more to screw up/worry about/be paranoid about).

Switching to a kegging setup is a simple, but requires more money. All-grain setups can be cheap (and the ingredients are def. cheaper), but requires significantly more time and dedication to the brew day and prep.

But, like I said you will prolly end up doing both. So go with what comes up first.

 

[jerryalan]

I went to kegging first for no other reason except that I found a great deal on some used kegs and I already had the tap and CO2 tank from my old keggerator. If it wasn't for that I probably would have gone to AG first.

 

[Lechien]

I went to kegging first, started with PM's and bottling but wanted to carbonate without sediment. Bought a 4 keg setup and used an old fridge I had that could hold 2 kegs. I hated washing bottles.

Not too much later (weeks) I found myself with an AG setup. Still waiting for my first two AG batches to finish.

Now I've added a 14 cu ft keezer for my kegs and room to lager.

I'd take the same approach again, I figured I needed the storage of the kegs first to get my pipeline going so I had a place to put more beer.

 

[camus]

AG first.


With the savings you start setting up your kegging system.

 

[MBasile]

AG first.


With the savings you start setting up your kegging system.

Or start kegging, then justify the later AG setup by saying it'll cancel out the money spent on the previous keg setup.

Sorry, I had to

 

[camus]

Or start kegging, then justify the later AG setup by saying it'll cancel out the money spent on the previous keg setup.

Sorry, I had to

To each his own, I would like to have brew on tap but I also like the fact I have a wall of bottled beer of 9 varieties beer I can stick in the fridge at anytime.

 

[lumpher]

To each his own, I would like to have brew on tap but I also like the fact I have a wall of bottled beer of 9 varieties beer I can stick in the fridge at anytime.

nothing says you can't have 9 kegs, and a wall of 9 varieties of bottles

 

[mmonacel]

I kegged first, followed not too many months after by AG. I have a little one so my free time is short. I don't get to brew often, but I drink a beer or two a night. Washing / rinsing / storing / sanitizing bottles, not to mention the major added step of filling them and capping them was time I was happy to get rid of. If you're already committed to brewing, 're already pretty happy with the beer you're putting out, and money isn't a huge concern, then I'd go with the convenience of kegging first as I feel it provides the most "return" on a day to day basis.

 

[CPORT546]

Are you doing your current brewing on a stove top range (gas or electric?). Moving into all grain will require boilng 5-7 gallons of water which some electric stove tops cannot do..Thus I bought a used turkey fryer to go all grain.

Currently brewing on a gas stove. It gets about 3.5 gallons going pretty good in maybe 30 min? I've never timed it to be sure. I'm not that anal yet about anything other than sanitation...yet. I have no garage but plenty of back yard to brew in.

 

[camus]

nothing says you can't have 9 kegs, and a wall of 9 varieties of bottles

Nope, but I would rather those 18 varieties of the AG variety, or at least some of them.



I am not about to build a 9 keg keezer. <- Says Camus as he opens ACad to draw up plans.

 

[kpr121]

I kegged first, followed not too many months after by AG. I have a little one so my free time is short. I don't get to brew often, but I drink a beer or two a night. Washing / rinsing / storing / sanitizing bottles, not to mention the major added step of filling them and capping them was time I was happy to get rid of. If you're already committed to brewing, 're already pretty happy with the beer you're putting out, and money isn't a huge concern, then I'd go with the convenience of kegging first as I feel it provides the most "return" on a day to day basis.

Alot of people are able to do all of their bottling tasks during the brew session (during mash, boil, chill, etc). For me, if I were only bottling I don't think I would be able to get cleaning, rinsing, and sanitizing all of that in an hour or two - especially since I have recently started doing two batches at once (one 10g AG and one 5G extract). So I supplement with kegs.

All beer that is ready for package goes in the keg, then if I want a particular beer in bottles (say I want to give a 12 pack or case to one of my brew buddies) I pull the keg out of the kegerator, and counterfill with bottles that have already been cleaned. That doesnt take nearly as long and I can usually get it all done before my mash is completed (that's when all the craziness happens on brewday).

 

[ThePearsonFam]

I went with kegging first for convenience but rolled into AG shortly thereafter. One of the driving factors for me was that I got a terrific deal on a trade that included 4 Cornies and a CO2 tank. It just made sense. I followed that trade up with buying a garage fridge and some Perlicks. The rest is history.

 

[dfc]

Well.... I went to kegging first myself. I've been brewing for about 6 years now and started kegging this past year and the convenience of it is amazing. I just converted my kegerator to be able to serve up to 3 beers at once as well... cant wait.

I love the idea of going all grain and having more control over my beer. However, I just haven't really had the itch yet. I think my extract brews (with steeped grains on most occasions) are very good and I have really worked at producing the best possible extract homebrew that I can and I have been happy with my results.

I also do not look forward to longer brew days for going AG... but I do think designing and building an AG setup will be fun. I just have not gotten the AH itch yet.... so my vote is for kegging!

I kind of feel this way myself. I'd "love" to start kegging since bottling is somewhat of a pain, but as of now I'd only "like" to go AG.

 

[brewit2it]

I have done a half dozen extract batches and I'm all in and addicted. I've already built my own wort chiller that works damn well. Now i'm ready to keep going. I would like to both move to all grain and keg.

All grain affords total control over what goes into the beer so that is a wonderful thought. Kegging is a lot more convience. I currently dont lager but am planing on a keezer that will also allow for lagering.

The only other thread on this I found the poster was much more concerned on overall costs. While I'm not rich by any means or I'm not near as concerned with the cost, there is no wife to get permission from. All that considered the people who have done both what would you do first?

They're not really related. If it isn't a cost issue then why think about "one or the other". Persoanlly I do partial mash and Keg but if you want to do both do both since there really isn't any overlap between the 2 projects.

 

[Hokie_Brewer]

I just did both, roughly at the same time. I spent $40 on a 40qt aluminum pot, used the previous pot for a HLT and dropped probably $50 or so on a cooler MLT and another $40 on a wort chiller.

Kegging was a lot more expensive, but I was able to go all grain for under $150 I'd say.

 

[Homercidal]

Go AG if you want to have more control over the wort and enjoy the hands-on aspect of brewing. Kegging if you despise bottling.

Personally, I would choose AG over kegging. It's cheaper to start out with. Cheap cooler on sale, a few pieces of hardware and a turkey fryer from Craigslist or on sale. Buy crushed grains or buy a crusher and really save money buying grain in bulk. AG is really not harder than extract, at least extract done right.

With kegging, you have to have tank, regulator, fridge or freezer and kegs. You can find a fridge or freezer on sale for less than $100 usually on CL, but the regulator and tank might be hard to find in good shape used.

 

[JohnTheBrewist]

I would just jump right in and do both. AG is really much simpler than people make it out to be, and it doesn't have to be expensive. If you already have a decent pot, just add a cooler mash tun or go BIAB and you're set.

My suggestion is to just start collecting equipment for both whenever you find good deals.