Extract Brews - when to add the extract

[maevans]

Hi all,

I've just done this recipe: http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/summer-ale which added all the DME at the start (i.e. - get water boiling, then add Extract and first hops and carry on from there).

Is that a general rule? I ask as I fancy doing one of the recipe's in the recipe thread (the one below) and just wanted to get my method right. I've read a couple of things lately where people seem to adding the extract towards the end of the boil.

Code: Select all

Cascade APA

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 11976.00 ml
Batch Size (fermenter): 8300.00 ml   
Estimated OG: 1.045 SG
Estimated Color: 12.0 EBC
Estimated IBU: 38.5 IBUs
Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt                   Name                                     Type          #        %/IBU         
950.00 g              Light Dry Extract (15.8 EBC)             Dry Extract   1        93.1 %        
70.00 g               Wheat Dry Extract (15.8 EBC)             Dry Extract   2        6.9 %         
11.30 g               Cascade [7.90 %] - Boil 90.0 min         Hop           3        30.3 IBUs     
7.01 g                Cascade [7.90 %] - Boil 15.0 min         Hop           4        5.0 IBUs      
7.10 g                Cascade [7.90 %] - Boil 5.0 min          Hop           5        3.2 IBUs      
6.75 g                Cascade [7.90 %] - Dry Hop 7 days    Dry Hop           6        0.0 IBUs      
0.5 pkg               Safale American  (DCL/Fermentis #US-05)  Yeast         7        -        

[/quote]

[jimp2003]

When I do an extract brew I add half the extract at the beginning of the boil having first steeped the speciality grains if there are any and then the rest of the extract five minutes or so from the end of he boil.

[phatboytall]

When I do an extract brew I add half the extract at the beginning of the boil having first steeped the speciality grains if there are any and then the rest of the extract five minutes or so from the end of he boil.

Out of interest, why do you do that?

(Not setting you up for abuse here! just intreaged to understand why not put it all in at the start and be done with it?)

[stitch]

When I do an extract brew I add half the extract at the beginning of the boil having first steeped the speciality grains if there are any and then the rest of the extract five minutes or so from the end of he boil.

Out of interest, why do you do that?

(Not setting you up for abuse here! just intreaged to understand why not put it all in at the start and be done with it?)

The sweeter the wort the less bitterness is drawn out of the hops. Brewing with malt extract gives you the opportunity to boil the hops without the full sweetness of the wort, and therefore you can get away with using less hops for the same bitterness.

At least that's the reason I do that when I do an extract brew, maybe jimp2003 has other reasons.