I've had one try at extract brewing, it was only for 1 gal and I was quite pleased with the results. However, I would like to have another go and I'm after some thoughts.
What is the feeling about malt? am I better to go for LME or would I be better off with DME?
secondly, is there any way of getting around the issue of only having a relatively small boiling pan? (approx 7l) I would like to do a 20l batch but I don't really want to be boiling up 1 or 2 gallon batches 2 or 3 times. (time can be tight etc)
Also, I've got both fuggles and cascade hops, would these be ok together or would i be best to stick to a single variety?
finally, for now. Does LME or DME need to be boiled?
much thanks, Dave
After some tips
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Fuggled Mind
- Hollow Legs
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Re: After some tips
Welcome to the wonderful world of extract brewing 
I wouldn't worry too much about the size of your brew pot. I started off using a pasta pan (roughly 6 litres) before moving onto something larger. I now have a 15 litre brew pan which I use for 19 litre brews. I have used it twice to experiment with complete boils - once a 13 litre brew and before that, a 10 litre brew. Perfectly acceptable beers in my opinion. Saying that, I'm more than happy with using a smaller pan for boiling and the results they give. I've not yet compared the same recipe done as a full boil and as that done in a smaller pan topped up with water in the FV.
The only real problem (as discussed elsewhere on this forum) with using smaller pans is that it effects hop modulation. With smaller pans you won't be able to extract the full bitterness potential of the hops and will thus require more. How much more can be calculated using programs like www.beersmith.com or www.beertools.com. You can trial their software by registering.
As for hops, either follow a recipe or do as I do from time to time and experiment (often varying a tried and tested recipe). Try combinations or just keep to one type. It all adds to the fun in my opinion. I've never mixed fuggles and cascade but I'm sure they would go well together in an American style pale ale or summer ale.
I hope that helps a bit. I'm sure someone else can give you more detailed information.
Happy brewing
Jason
I wouldn't worry too much about the size of your brew pot. I started off using a pasta pan (roughly 6 litres) before moving onto something larger. I now have a 15 litre brew pan which I use for 19 litre brews. I have used it twice to experiment with complete boils - once a 13 litre brew and before that, a 10 litre brew. Perfectly acceptable beers in my opinion. Saying that, I'm more than happy with using a smaller pan for boiling and the results they give. I've not yet compared the same recipe done as a full boil and as that done in a smaller pan topped up with water in the FV.
The only real problem (as discussed elsewhere on this forum) with using smaller pans is that it effects hop modulation. With smaller pans you won't be able to extract the full bitterness potential of the hops and will thus require more. How much more can be calculated using programs like www.beersmith.com or www.beertools.com. You can trial their software by registering.
As for hops, either follow a recipe or do as I do from time to time and experiment (often varying a tried and tested recipe). Try combinations or just keep to one type. It all adds to the fun in my opinion. I've never mixed fuggles and cascade but I'm sure they would go well together in an American style pale ale or summer ale.
I hope that helps a bit. I'm sure someone else can give you more detailed information.
Happy brewing
Jason
Once, during Prohibition, I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water.
W. C. Fields
W. C. Fields
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HighHops
Re: After some tips
Hi Redimpz!
You can use LME or DME or a mix of both. You don't need to do a full boil on extract brewing. I started making 5 gallon brews with a 7L pan. It's enough to steep grains in and as fuggled mind says you just need to add more hops.
A book I quite like that is more geared to extract brews with a partial boil is 'Clone brews' . The recipes (200 of them) tell you the amount of hops to use for a 9.5L extract boil and how much to reduce by for all grain full boils. On average they add about a third more hops for a 9.5L boil. This won't be far off the amount of hops you'll need to use, or you could buy an 11L pan (try ebay). You'll make the money back on hops eventually.
Never tried fuggles and cascade together, but don't see why it wouldn't work. Wychwood do a strong dark beer (6.6%) called King Goblin (morrisons) which uses these two hops amongst others. I'd use fuggles for bittering and cascade for the late additions. The King Goblin uses crystal & chocolate malt which you could steep for 1/2 hour @ 60C before the boil.
You can use LME or DME or a mix of both. You don't need to do a full boil on extract brewing. I started making 5 gallon brews with a 7L pan. It's enough to steep grains in and as fuggled mind says you just need to add more hops.
A book I quite like that is more geared to extract brews with a partial boil is 'Clone brews' . The recipes (200 of them) tell you the amount of hops to use for a 9.5L extract boil and how much to reduce by for all grain full boils. On average they add about a third more hops for a 9.5L boil. This won't be far off the amount of hops you'll need to use, or you could buy an 11L pan (try ebay). You'll make the money back on hops eventually.
Never tried fuggles and cascade together, but don't see why it wouldn't work. Wychwood do a strong dark beer (6.6%) called King Goblin (morrisons) which uses these two hops amongst others. I'd use fuggles for bittering and cascade for the late additions. The King Goblin uses crystal & chocolate malt which you could steep for 1/2 hour @ 60C before the boil.
Re: After some tips
Thanks for the feedback, it is all certainly food for thought.