When did you make the switch?

[ImperialStout]

I went from brewing with kits to developing a recipe, with help, picking out the extract and other ingredients and then went to AG, all in about 8 months. The most important thing is understanding your process. The guy who taught me how to brew has been brewing for 20 years, only uses extract and makes fantastic beer. What I like about AG is the control you have in tweaking your recipe to get the beer you want. I tend to make the same beer over and over until I get what I want. I don't think as fine control over the recipe is possible with extract.

The single most important item you can get for AG brewing is a grain mill. My mash efficiencies were all over the place, depending on where I bought the grain, even after I corrected some process issues. One LHBS let me mic the gap on his grain mill. It was set at .055, WAY TO WIDE. Got a grain mill, crushed at .039, great results. Then crushed at .035, super results.

The second most important thing is to fly sparge. I was batch sparging and was consistently in the low 70's on mash efficiencies, even after I got the grain mill. Just started fly sparging and am in the low 80's. Didn't think fly or continuous sparging would be worth the extra equipment but I was surprised it did.

 

[mgr_stl]

I say just buy a good thermometer.

Anyone recommend a particular thermometer?

 

[mysteryshrimp]

I was doing partial mashes on my second batch, went Brew in a Bag my fourth, and converted an Igloo cooler for my seventh. I do still use BIAB sometimes, especially for 3 gallon non-high-gravity batches.

 

[Yooper]

Anyone recommend a particular thermometer?

I have a Thermopen. It's probably overkill for many, but I've bought probably a dozen thermometers over the last 10 years or so. I would have saved money just buying the Thermopen in the beginning.

The only other thermometer I would recommend was one I got at Target. It was a Taylor, with a long cord and a decent temperature probe. It was actually accurate within 2 degrees, and worked great for over a year. It was about $20. For mashing, you really need something accurate. Even a 2 degree difference is a bit too much if you're not sure if it's low or high. If you want to mash at 150, for example, 148 might be too low for the results you want.

 

[Bazaar]

Anyone recommend a particular thermometer?

This is pretty close to a Thermapen, from what I've heard, and it's pretty cheap. I'm sure the Thermapen takes much faster readings, but the CDN is a good starting point.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0021AEAG2

 

[Erroneous]

Anyone recommend a particular thermometer?

I get this thermometer from work which gets them for under 20: DeltaTRAK.

 

[unionrdr]

I use my floating thermometer lashed to one kettle handle in my paint strainer bag during the mash. It allows the lid to go on all the way wraped up in my winter hunting coat to maintain temps. I got a dial thermometer for the sparge water kettle.

 

[jimmarshall]

I'm planning on doing half a dozen extract batches to get the "fundamentals" down pat.... Then make the jump.

 

[rayfound]

I switched to AG after one Extract Batch.

Time wise: I'd say Mashing/lautering/sparging adds about 1:45-2:00 to my brewday.

I'm on a pretty solid 5-6 hours from getting out my stuff to having yeast pitched and everything cleaned up. I think I can get a little quicker yet with better organization. Would definitely be faster if I wasn't boiling on my stove.

 

[Pelican521]

Just did my first partial mash with the BIAB method this weekend after 3 extract kits. It was an oatmeal stout and it only had 4lbs of grain so it was very manageable. Not sure when/if I'll go all grain but doing a PM a good experience and super easy. The only additional piece of equipment I needed was a $6 large mesh bag.

 

[Clonefan94]

I brewed about 10 batches before going to all grain. I started with Extract kits, then began brewing extract recipes. My first all-grain was the NB Chinook IPA kit. Since then, I've just been doing all-grain recipes, either found here, built myself or a combination of the two. After doing about 8 All-grain batches, I can say, it looks a lot more daunting than it really is. Once you get your system dialed in, I find it to be a lot more enjoyable process than extract was. I just feel like I have more control over the specifics of the beer.

 

[Echoloc8]

I brewed primarily extract + steeping grains for about 8 years, with a few partial-mash batches near the end.

I went all grain almost exclusively last year, and I wish I'd manned up and done it sooner. Your brew days do take (lots) longer, but for me there's no substitute for controlling the whole process from grain to glass.

Two batches ago I decided to try one of the many 15-minute all-extract, hopbursted pale ale recipes out there, and it was nice to have a three-hour-shorter brew day, but at the end I realized A) how unfulfilling it was to give up so much control, and B) how disconnected from that batch I feel. It may be a wonderful pale ale when all's said and done, but I almost don't care.

Brewed a batch of Bee Cave IPA the day before yesterday, and did it all-grain from front to back. Used my refractometer for all the gravity measurements, skimmed off all the hot break protein myself, adjusted the RO water to the exact profile *I* wanted. This will be *my* beer, prepared *my* way, done to the best of *my* ability, mistakes and all.

For me, there's no substitute: this is the point of the art and craft of home brewing. :rockin:

Now, if this little romantic rant sounds like the experience you want from your brewing, then my advice is to go all-grain as soon as you can spring for a big pot and either a BIAB grain bag or mash tun.

If not, and you think I'm nuts, then absolutely stay with extracts and steeping grains. The quality of your beer, given equal-quality ingredients, will be effectively the same. You'll save loads of time and brow-furrowing, too, and still have awesome beer.

-Rich

 

[pellis007]

I did 3 extract batches before switching to AG. I like the taste better of my all grain batches. Plus I like the process and the control I have to brew exactly the way I like. I just sampled my first "recipe from scratch that I designed", beer yesterday after 2 weeks bottle conditioning and I'm so psyched at how great it came out. I'm having so much fun doing all grain, I'm not sure I'd ever do extract again. I say go for it!

 

[lespaul23]

I did 6 batches of extract before I went all grain. About a month and a half. I know you can make good beer with extract but I will prob never brew one again. All I needed extra, was a mash tun that I built for $60.

Hey im right up the street from you in saugus, about 10min north of boston. Let me know if you need any pointers or want to have a brew day pm me.

 

[doornumber3]

I did 6 batches of extract before I went all grain. About a month and a half. I know you can make good beer with extract but I will prob never brew one again. All I needed extra, was a mash tun that I built for $60.

Hey im right up the street from you in saugus, about 10min north of boston. Let me know if you need any pointers or want to have a brew day pm me.

I'm on the South Shore in Quincy -- Your only like 20 minutes. Would love to meet up for a brew day.