starting extract

[johnnyh]

ok, so I am going to be starting an extract brew at the beginning of Feb, and this is a step to mini or maxi-biab.

I have a 19L stainless stock pot on route, and will be ordering a large mash and sparge bag, along with a few other bits (big metal spoon, 5ltr jug etc).

Now for this first go at extract, I had been wanting to make a 6x clone, and have found the one on brewuk, http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/beerkits/brewextract/wadworth6x.html.

Is this a good starter, or might I just as well buy the ingredients, do the sums and go straight for a mini-biab attempt?

I welcome your input on this, and look forward to reaching the dark side! :evil:

 

[graysalchemy]

Yes I went from doing two extracts to all grain, but I didn't brew kits, you have obviously been brewing kits so perhaps the step up to BIAB may not be that great.

 

[johnnyh]

that's what I am thinking, and I guess I can do a mini or maxi-biab with the 19L pot.

To be honest I dont mind making 10l brews, since it gives me the excuse to brew more often
(although I want to do a 40 pint brew of the 6x clone for sharing at my birthday).

Would it work out more economical to do a form of biab over the extract kit?

 

[LeedsBrewer]

I was going to do some extract batches but decided to just jump straight into biab.

Get yourself:
25Kg bag of Maris Otter
speciality malts
hops
yeast

It'll probably come to £40+ but you'll have all the ingredients to do your next several batches (especially if you're doing small batches)
It's much better value IMHO

 

[johnnyh]

I was going to do some extract batches but decided to just jump straight into biab.

Get yourself:
25Kg bag of Maris Otter
speciality malts
hops
yeast

It'll probably come to £40+ but you'll have all the ingredients to do your next several batches (especially if you're doing small batches)
It's much better value IMHO

That's my kind of thinking :)

Don't suppose you have a good BIAB 6X recipe :thumb:

 

[graysalchemy]

An all grain and extract version are to be found in Graham Wheelers book British Real Ale but unfortunately it is copywrited so we can not publish it. :thumb:

 

[johnnyh]

An all grain and extract version are to be found in Graham Wheelers book British Real Ale but unfortunately it is copywrited so we can not publish it. :thumb:

No worries, I will look to grab a copy - pretty certain that kind of literature will prove most useful :

 

[graysalchemy]

it is a very good book which most of us refer to at some point. :thumb:

 

[cwiseman77]

An all grain and extract version are to be found in Graham Wheelers book British Real Ale but unfortunately it is copywrited so we can not publish it. :thumb:

No worries, I will look to grab a copy - pretty certain that kind of literature will prove most useful :

Palmer's "How to Brew" is also very good, if a tad Americanised, but has great info from kits to extract to AG, as well as loads of recipes, FAQs etc... I have both books and they are and extraordinary help.

To answer your initial question, my first extract was a recipe kit from brew uk and I really liked it. Good clear instructions which eased my apprehension and produced a lovely beer. Kind of liked having my hand-held the first time and the success of the brew gave me the confidence to start formulating my own extract recipes. Still not made the jump to AG, live in a small 1 bedroom flat and simply don't have the space. (SWMBO is particularly happy with the 3 FVs or 200+ bottles I now have all over the flat :rofl:

 

[jonnymorris]

I was going to do some extract batches but decided to just jump straight into biab.

Get yourself:
25Kg bag of Maris Otter
speciality malts
hops
yeast

+1. I did a couple of extracts before AG but soon got bored. You may as well just go for it.

 

[rpt]

I'm planning to do one extract brew before doing BIAB. Although the kit I got from BrewUK is much more expensive than buying the grains, I feel it will be good practice for the boil e.g. seeing how likely it is to boil over and what happens when I add hops etc, plus how easy it is to cool. It's also quicker than having to mash so I might keep some extract in if I need to make beer but don't have time for a full brew day.

 

[pittsy]

I'm planning to do one extract brew before doing BIAB. Although the kit I got from BrewUK is much more expensive than buying the grains, I feel it will be good practice for the boil e.g. seeing how likely it is to boil over and what happens when I add hops etc, plus how easy it is to cool. It's also quicker than having to mash so I might keep some extract in if I need to make beer but don't have time for a full brew day.

I would recommend doing at least 1 extract before doing all grain , there is some good learning to be done as it can be a little hectic doing all grain first time .

 

[Sandimas]

I've not done the 6X, but I've made 5 other Extract clone brews using the BrewUK kits and they've all been very good, some outstanding. Agree with what others have said, in that Extract is a good step to get used to the techniques and busyness during the brew - if you're anything like me, it's nice to get your confidence up by getting some successful Extract brews under your belt.

Unfortunately (fortunately?) my Extract brews have been so good that I've never felt the need to go the extra step to AG, I guess I will do one day though.