extract brewing.

[sam51]

is it worth doing extract brewing, as the cost is near as the same as brewing a kit.
looked at graham wheelers book.
the malt involved usually, is around 3k, this is liquid malt, 2 x 1.5k,
is there a cheaper option. add to this the extra hops. gas usage and everything else, im not so sure.
thanks sam.

 

[supersteve]

I'm in the same frame of mind at the minute. But I think there's a line you need to consider whether you're after the cheapest option of beer or the best taste for the right price.

 

[jonnymorris]

It's worth it as a step up to AG but you're right, it's not cheap.

 

[Oakers73]

I haven't got the room for all grain so took the plunge with extract brewing. .have really enjoyed the experience. There are online retailers that sell tins of liquid malt extract as cheaply as £5.60....The sponsors of this forum are a good place to start.....as are numerous beer recipe calculator websites....you need relatively small investments in kit as well. If you are doing partial boil you can get away with a 15 litre stock pot.....would recommend it!

 

[sam51]

I have just done my first malt extract. 3k of liquid malt, 500 grams of dried crystal malt.
various hops gas 1 hr. I think it worked out dearer than a woodfords nelsons revenge kit.
which is excellent. so why do people do an extract brew.
just asking.

 

[Paddye]

extract is a good step between kits and AG or BIAB, let someone else take care of the mashing step while you concentrate on the other new techniques you need to learn.

It is expensive though, for the money I was spending on extract alone i can now brew a whole AG batch and if you spill that powder it makes a right mess, I only did a couple extract brews.

 

[Paddye]

I have just done my first malt extract. 3k of liquid malt, 500 grams of dried crystal malt.
various hops gas 1 hr. I think it worked out dearer than a woodfords nelsons revenge kit.
which is excellent. so why do people do an extract brew.
just asking.

seemed like a logical step between kits and AG. It lets you play with different yeasts and hops while someone else does the mashing but I agree its too expensive to do long term, I went to BIAB pretty quickly.

 

[sam51]

can you give me a guideline for biab or an ag.
my brew pot is only 15ltr.

 

[Midlife]

I was advised to do extract before all grain, and learn n try a few more things before mashing... Worked a treat and is good advice. Also the beer quality is a step up from kits (in my view)

D

 

[Sandimas]

I think it worked out dearer than a woodfords nelsons revenge kit.
which is excellent. so why do people do an extract brew.
just asking.

Because it's better...to my taste buds anyway.

Don't get me wrong, some of the kits are nice, but not in the same league as extract in my opinion e.g. I've yet to taste what I would call a decent hoppy kit. And as for expensive, what's a decent 2-can kit these days, £24? I can get a BrewUK Extract kit for that or a little more, and get a beer better than my local serves for 70p a pint.

Extract all the way for me :thumb: Yes I'd like to do AG, but the time it takes and all the extra kit puts me off.

 

[jonnymorris]

Yes I'd like to do AG, but the time it takes and all the extra kit puts me off.

A mush tun or as little as a big bag (BIAB) is all the extra kit you'll need. As for as time... an extra hour or two mashing (which is basically waiting) isn't a lot of you're already doing extract.

 

[Rivvo]

I looked at a lot of extract recipes and concluded that I'd go straight to biab, I only have a 30 litre pot, but if should be able to brew 20 litre batches reasonably easily.

 

[clibit]

Extract also enables you to start experimenting - with different hops, yeast and steeping grains.

Partial mash is a good option too. Use a 15 litre stock pot or similar and a simple muslin or voile bag and mash(soak) some grains in water at 63-70C, then lift the bag out, sparge (rinse) through a colander, top up the water, boil, add hops, and add extract at the end. Then add to some cold water in the FV and top up with more cold water. You can use any grains with this method, and adapt any recipe. It is easy and makes fabulous beer, and you don't need anything except a bag, a stockpot and a thermometer.

 

[Pjam]

Extract also enables you to start experimenting - with different hops, yeast and steeping grains.

totally right. And you can get LME cheapish.

 

[clibit]

Thehomebrewcompany (above) has DME at £5 for 1kg. 3kg is £14. And LME £5.95 for 1.5kg.

Maltmiller is £5.60/kg for DME, £15 for 3kg, and £6.60/1.5kg LME.

I recommend doing a mini mash - mash 500g to 2kg pale malt in a big pan, with any other grains you want to use, and this added to the extract will create a very fresh tasty malt base, into which you can boil the hops of your choice. It's close to AG quality, and you can use any ingredients that AG uses.

 

[Bubblehead08]

The BrewUK extract kits start off at about £18 so are cheaper than a premium 2 can kit. Just the extra gas usage to factor in but that'll be buttons.

 

[clibit]

Yes and HBC extract kits are all £17.10 and make 23 litres.

 

[Strongarm]

I knew that one of the main bits I'd enjoy about brewing would be making recipes up and seeing how they turned out (the drinking has not been bad either) so I was less likely to do a kit.

With baby commitments though I've no chance of AG for a while so extract allows me the freedom to invent things whilst having reasonably short brew times (I can squeeze one in starting at 9pm on a work night once everyone in bed).

It's definitely not the cheapest, especially with the amount of hops I've been using, but the beer is still only 75p-£1 a 500ml bottle, so a lot cheaper than any hoppy craft beers I like, with the fun of inventing and brewing.

Once the kids get older I'm sure my future has AG in store but at the minute extract provides a welcome alternative.

 

[clibit]

You will get 40+ bottles for £17.10, probably 42ish, so that's 40p a bottle.

I do AG for about half that, 20-25p. Both great value, and the extract process is much quicker and easier. I have decided to do an occasional extract brew with grains, cos of the time issue.