Grain V Extract - Honest opinions sought

[J_P]

Hi All

With the nights drawing in, time off work whilst it is still light is going to be at a premium shortly so spending all day Saturday or Sunday brewing is not going to be something I can afford to do. In a bid to speed up the brewday I was considering trying an extract brew when I'm pushed for time, the only thing is I don't want to go to the trouble of making up an extract brew only to find it has that "Homebrew Twang" due to the use of extract.

My question to the chaps who have brewed using both methods is, Is there a noticeable twang I need to be worried about or is it possible to produce similar (high) quality beer to that I've been producing over the summer with grain?

Cheers in advance

[Andy]

Or combine the two and knit some chutney, saves even more time

[Vossy1]

Never go backwards! Stop making excuses, reclaim your kitchen and keep all grain brewing

That's it DaaB...you tell him

[delboy]

Or combine the two and knit some chutney, saves even more time

[J_P]

Well that's me told I was just wondering if there was a way to speed up the brewing process. I suppose if it was possible to produce the same quality beer with extract then everyone would be brewing with extract instead of grain! I suppose I could get me a bigger lauter tun and double my brewlength so I can brew every other week. Actually scratch that Idea, I'll just end up drinking twice as much

BTW I'm brewing in the greenhouse these days, no one moans if I drop wort on the floor in there

[Dan]

I suppose I could get me a bigger lauter tun and double my brewlength so I can brew every other week.

It works i promise I found the only way beer ever reaches maturity is when i brew twice as much.

[subsub]

Never had a "twang" with any of my extract brews, but I wouldn't go back to them even if you paid me (well I might if you did ). There's absolutely no doubt that AG produces better results... don't do it J_P

[Seadart]

If your brewing in the greenhouse , why not rig up a light so you can still brew in the evening?

[Wez]

Why not rig up some mood lighting and some ambient music and invite some friends round could be quite a night, some nibbles, a little beer ... beautiful...beautiful

[Wez]

Why not rig up some mood lighting and some ambient music and invite some friends round could be quite a night, some nibbles, a little beer ... beautiful...beautiful

are you a woman?

LOL if I was i'd be Tessa Sanderson

[Dan]

Why not rig up some mood lighting and some ambient music and invite some friends round

I think you might have somthing there wez. a bit of late night brewing
get some friends round for a good drink and muck in from 7-late.
I quite fancy doing that myself

[Aleman]

Honest opinion - If I could be certain that I was getting the freshest possible extract, the I might be tempted back to extract brewing for my session beer. Its pretty much a no brainer though If you want total flexibility in what you want to brew then you have to go all grain. And If you don't get the opportunity to brew too often then upgrading to a bigger brew length is probably the right way to go. There is always the issue of having too much of a beer you don't like, but there is nothing to stop you doing a 5 gallon and 10 gallon batch at the same time (Well you're not going to get rid of the old 5 gallon kit are you )

[Orkney_Rob]

I was going to try extract, but judging from the results I am getting already I don't think I will bother! Why go backwards

[J_P]

Why not rig up some mood lighting and some ambient music and invite some friends round could be quite a night, some nibbles, a little beer ... beautiful...beautiful

Excellent should I break out my Jimmy Somerville records and fairy cakes too ?

Thanks for the input guys, I think I must've picked an off day to brew, I'll stick to the grain in future.

[steve_flack]

light is going to be at a premium shortly so spending all day Saturday or Sunday brewing is not going to be something I can afford to do.

Do what I've done for the last brews.

Night before brew weigh out grains and (in my case) crush. Put water in kettle/HLT ready for morning.

Our baby tends to wake around 5 for a feed so whilst I'm sorting that out I put the water on to heat. Go back to bed for an hour.

Water hot enough...mash in (around 6.30-7am..still dark). Have Coffee and brekkie and other early morning necessities

Boil on before 9am (now daylight). In fermenter well before 11. Clean up and put away by midday.

Admittedly it helps that all my kit has a dedicated space in the garage and I don't have to brew outside...and that I usually only do 1 hour mash and boils.

I also have the option of doing 20,30 or 40L brews.