What homebrewing method do you follow?

[bluedragoon85]

Hi, I was just wondering which brewing method you all use and which are more commonly used as far as the people who brew on this forum goes. I myself am a newb and only have one brewing batch under my belt (2 more pretty soon). I used the extract brewing method to make a Hefeweizen which came out very good (imho). It has just been one brew but I'm hooked. As of now I will continue extract brewing and later on I plan on trying all grain when I feel ready; since the extract brewing gave me good results I'm in no hurry yet. Thanks.

 

[talleymonster]

I voted "extract brewing" as that is all I have done so far. I'm getting ready to make the jump to AG, though.

 

[bluedragoon85]

Sounds good. I will give extract brewing a try for a while and then I will also jump to AG when the time arises

 

[bradsul]

AG brewer here. When I started I progressed from no-boil kits to extract to partial mash to all-grain. I think in total it took 3 months to go from no-boil to AG brewing and I haven't looked back since.

 

[bluedragoon85]

I haven't heard much about no-boil kits. Can they produce really good beer in comparison to the other methods? or are they pretty mediocre as far as using no-boil kits goes?

 

[bradsul]

I haven't heard much about no-boil kits. Can they produce really good beer in comparison to the other methods? or are they pretty mediocre as far as using no-boil kits goes?

They can be good if you skip the suggested 1KG of dextrose and use 1.2KG of DME instead. But they'll never be as good as a full extract batch (which you will hop yourself). The no-boil kits use hop extract instead of actual hops.

When asked I always suggest skipping the no-boil stuff though, aside from getting some experience with sanitizing and the actual fermentation process, you get better beer results with a full extract batch.

 

[bluedragoon85]

Ok, i see. I started off with the extract brewing but I was just curious to know about the no-boil kits, but from the little I know it doesn't seem like you do much brewing with the no-boil kits (hence the name).

 

[Kevin Dean]

I think there's a slight sub-category there. There's a world of difference between an extract kit and and extract with steeping grains - and it's not partial mash either.

All-grain brewer here.

 

[bigjohnmilford]

extract here. maybe ag someday.

 

[Yooper]

I started with Brewer's Best kits, after getting a Beer Machine for Christmas one year. From the time I bought the first BB kit to my first AG batch was about 7 or 8 months, I think.

 

[Bulls Beers]

I do extract and partial mash brewing..It's only been since September.I think i'm going to try all-grain this year.

 

[JimC]

I think the first category is messed up too. There are two types of "no-boil"kits.. The pre-hopped malt extract that you need to boil a bit which universaly suck and the Brew House and Festa brew kits which provide you with a 5 gallon bag/bucket of all-grain wort which can easily produce excellent beer. Better in my opinion than most partial-boil extract batches I have tried.

 

[Soulive]

AG and loving it

 

[homebrewer_99]

Extract w/grains 14+ years...

 

[rdwj]

AG for close to a year now

 

[ShortSnoutBrewing]

I'm in a transition period right now. Been extract for 6 years. I've done two partial mashes, and 1 AG. Not sure I'm totally ready to make the jump to AG, so there may be some extract or PM batches in there till I make a big plunge.

 

[98EXL]

started with a no boil kit.....7 months later, I made my first AG, haven't looked back. The same beers I've made in AG are way better, no extract twang...I got sick of it real quick

 

[EdWort]

AG brewer here. It changed my life.

Then again, I brewed an extract version of Anchor Porter (with steeping grains) recently and when I kegged it, it was mighty tasty and lacking in the "Twang" for which extract brews are famous. I did a full boil for 90 minutes and I used RO water for the extract part.

 

[TheJadedDog]

I'm a PM brewer wishing I could brew AG. Unfortunately I am trapped in an apartment and my stove can only boil 3 gallons (I am not as lucky as Brewtopia). I thought about doing split batches but I don't really want to bring in all those unnecessary variables. Instead I mash 5lbs of grain which is the most I can mash with a 3 gallon boil.

 

[Beerthoven]

I do AG about 60% of the time and Extract about 40%.

They both have their merits.

I think of my PM batches as Extract because I do them on the stove top and do a partial boil. Just like Extract but with more grains, basically.

 

[TexLaw]

I mostly brew AG, but I also still do full wort extract batches.


TL

 

[blacklab]

I made 7 extract batches in three months - and have had enough of the extract twang. I have noticed that it diminishes with the use of DME(dried malt extract) and a full volume boil.

I'm on extract for about two more weeks. I would start with extract kits in the kitchen and move on to AG after you get comfortable - and you can also discover if you really like brewing. The AG gear is somewhat of an investment, so you'll want to make sure you like the hobby first. You'll need all the starter kit stuff for AG anyway(Ale pail, carboy, hoses, canes, siphons, etc.)

One interesting note is that my LHBS guy REALLY wants to sell that extract instead of grains. He is somewhat unsupportive of going AG. He refuses to acknowledge the existence of any twang or off flavor in extract brews-claims his extract is 'too fresh' for that. I brought him in his Pale Ale clone(which I had brewed up) and the commercial variety, and had him taste test them. There was a very significant twang flavor to the homebrew kit, which used LME - and he claimed he could not taste it. Just a side note.

 

[chase]

I've been brewing since August - all extract + 1PM. I enjoy the simplicity of extract kits.
I'm a student and can't really afford AG equipment. Plus I don't have anywhere to set up/store a propane burner, MT, etc.

I'm trying to figure out how to make even a decent homebrew before I move to AG. I don't know if it is the LME "twang" that I am tasting, but I am going to work out any other bugs that may be causing the off-flavor first.

If it isn't underpitching, underoxygenation, or my sanitizer, I'm going to have to call in a professional brewer to tell me what I'm doing wrong b/c I'm out of ideas.

 

[DeathBrewer]

i voted PM and AG...i've pretty much gotten completely away from extract + steeping...no sense when i can just get some 2-row and do a PM at my house. i've been doing a lot of AG brewing at my friend's pad with my new mash tun

 

[bluedragoon85]

I think there's a slight sub-category there. There's a world of difference between an extract kit and and extract with steeping grains - and it's not partial mash either.

Yes, you are completely right. I should have taken that into consideration since not everyone who does extract uses steeping grains. However, I believe I got the major categories, but I should have added that as well. And for the record, I use steeping grains with my extract brewing.

 

[DeathBrewer]

I've been brewing since August - all extract + 1PM. I enjoy the simplicity of extract kits.
I'm a student and can't really afford AG equipment. Plus I don't have anywhere to set up/store a propane burner, MT, etc.

I'm trying to figure out how to make even a decent homebrew before I move to AG. I don't know if it is the LME "twang" that I am tasting, but I am going to work out any other bugs that may be causing the off-flavor first.

If it isn't underpitching, underoxygenation, or my sanitizer, I'm going to have to call in a professional brewer to tell me what I'm doing wrong b/c I'm out of ideas.

try "pseudo mashing" with about 4 lbs of grain:
1. Use 1.5 lbs of specialty grains and 2.5 lbs of 2-row.
2. Steep them in 1.5 gallons of water @ 155F for about 30 minutes (no bag)
3. Pour them into your boiling pot through a colander (to keep grains out of boil)
4. Add water to make 2.5 gallons
5. Start your boil with hops as usual.
6. Add your extract at the last 10 minutes and stir well. Light DME is best, don't use LME if you can help it.

i GUARANTEE you will see a noticeable improvement with this method over extract with steeping grains.

the only investment you might need to make is a big enough colander

 

[cclloyd]

I started with extract and then added steeping grains in the second batch and have used them since. I have done three PM sessions (brew numbers 14, 15 & 16)and am working towards AG. I have yet to experience the "twang" effect - either that or I will be floored by the difference when I gather all of the items to go AG.
I have acquired a 10GAL SS pot for full boils and am currently looking at buying / making a wort chiller. AG is on the horizon.

 

[david_42]

I've done one no-boil, but I routinely use all of the other methods.

 

[bluedragoon85]

Looks like going AG is very rewarding. I'm looking forward to going AG in the future as I gain more experience brewing and so on. Cheers

 

[Bigfoot]

I use the extract with steeping grains and am happy with the beer I turn out. I know you can't get the fine variations you can with AG but still can make a good beer. Lately I've been using the late extract addition and they have turned out great.