Help on Extract Brewing Please

[monkeymullins]

Right guys I'm thinking of doing an extract brew instead of kit brewing however...

1) What extra equipment would I need?

2) How different is this from Kit brewing and what's the average costs for 20-23 litres.

3) Any good sites/Advice & or videos to help?!?

Thanks

[Dads_Ale]

I won a HBC extract kit on another forum an it was really good (American Brown Ale). I used my AG kit but am sure you could do this with kit brew stuff (25ltre boiler is an advantage).
I have not tried kit beers since 1990 but this extract kit hit the spot.

[Clibit]

You just need a pot to boil some water with hops and some malt extract. Brewuk sell extract kits that instruct you to boil 6 litres. That's about as low as you can go. Boiling more is better for hop extraction.

It makes better beer than kits. It costs similar. You are using hops so you get a better hop flavour. If you steep some grains before the boil you can chuck the hops in the boil after the steep and you get a better malt flavour and aroma, and a better head. In my experience dry malt is better than tins.

[Rookie]

Right guys I'm thinking of doing an extract brew instead of kit brewing however...

1) What extra equipment would I need?

2) How different is this from Kit brewing and what's the average costs for 20-23 litres.

3) Any good sites/Advice & or videos to help?!?

Thanks

1) none

2) The only difference is that you are making your own kit.

3) Jim's Beer Kit. Brew on.

[monkeymullins]

What size pot is advisable and any ideas where to buy from at a reasonable price

[Nosferatu]

Agree with everything Clibit and Rookie said . As big a pot as you can get/afford seems to be the general consensus but I've got by fine with a fairly cheap 10l stock pot . Wilkinsons generally have stuff around that size in and are reasonably priced .

[Clibit]

Wilko does a 12 litreading t for £17.

1. If using specialty grains to add flavour, for example crystal, chocolate malt or roast barley, put them in a muslin bag (cost very little from home brew shops) and put in the pot. Fill pot with water and beat to about 65 degrees. Allow the grains to steep for 30 mins then take them out and allow to drain into the pot. If not using grains add some of your extract to the water with the heat off, about half of it. For dried extract a whisk is good. Mix it in thoroughly.

2. Bring to the boil then add hops at times specified in your recipe.

3. Cool in a sink of cold water

4. Pour into sterilised FV via a sterilised sieve to catch the hops.

5. Mix in your malt extract.

6. Top up to required level with cold water.

7. Take hydrometer reading and pitch yeast when temperature is down to 20C.