Next Step

[Doug]

As your all aware I do a bit of brewing with kits such as woodfordes and John Bull etc

I have read and read about AG brewing and still don't have the time, however Is extract brewing the next stage from Kit and if so does anyone have a basic guide on how to start Extract Brewing and what kit on top of the kit I already have will I need.

I have the usual FV,Barrel,Hydrometer,air locks,Trail jar, etc etc etc.


Cheers

Doug

[andyp]

Most of the pros here will probably say don't bother go straight to full AG, but it seems to me that the only additional need is a boiler 5/6 galls. Then you've got that for when? you go full AG. Thinking about that myself.

[Doug]

Managed to track down the Daabs site, and read the extract brew thing. I get the jist however just worrying about the temprature and the rapid cooling bit. I understand why the water cooling is needed, however I am thinking the best way to cool it down like drilling a hole in a freezer and then using a long length of tubing through it to rapid cool rather than constantly pumping cold water through it it along with finding a boiler to boil the extracts in.

it's just a pipe dream atm but worth looking into at some point.

[oxford brewer]

You will need a boiler large enough to boil 25l of wort and some type of chiller.
I purchased 25l of John Bull light extract for my base malt and then steep speciality grains if required.
You will need to buy hops to use also.
A good recipe book is a must.
It works out a little more expensive than kits but gives you more freedom when choosing recipies.
AG is the logical step but it is one I am still to take(perhaps over christmas it will happen )

[andyp]

http://jimsbeerkit.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8174

Fantastic recipes on this thread and for a lot of them you can substitute LME and steeping grains and you're away.

[Russ]

Hi Doug

I'm just about a step infront of you as I've just completed my 1st extract (after much deliberation if I wanted to go down this route )

Only extra equipment I've bought was a boiler (lucky find -£10 in local paper, which I couldn't resist -it's shiney!) I ended up spending more than that on a new valve and fittings so to be honest if I was doing it again I'd buy a boiler from Leyland Home brew, these come highly reccomended and are a little larger then my secondhand one, so won't be as likley to boil over. (I think the addition of a second element is highly advisable, if you phone they can fit one for you)

I just copied DaaB and made this to break my duck.

viewtopic.php?t=5289

I think I'll be able to turn out extract brews far cheaper than kits, if I buy malt extract in bulk like this:

http://www.leylandhomebrew.com/item2116.htm

or you can get 25kg containers which work out even cheaper per Kg but I'd be worried about keeping the extract too long as I think fresher is better. Much cheaper buying this way than in individual tins which would be more expensive than kit brewing.

My first went very well indeed, I'll let you know what it tastes like when it's ready. For me I'm not convinced I have the time for AG but I may give it a go.

I havn't made a wort chiller yet, I cooled the first one in the fermentor in a sink full of cold water, took a while but worked OK.

The way I see it is I'll give this a go for a while, if I'm happy with the result I'll stick with it, if not or I want more of a challenge I'll go AG.

Get your Christmas list going and go for it !

[andyp]

Makes this tempting. The bulk LME works out about £7 for the malt for a 5 Gallon beer, so with the extras that'll be a barrel of quality brew for under a tenner. Hmmmmmmm

[Doug]

I think I just might Russ, I think I just might, it's like teetering on the brink of insanity. The water looks inviting but a little voice keeps telling me it will all end in tears.

SWMBO for one