Newbie and Full Mash

[towser]

Hi all,

Is it madness to start off brewing using the full mash rather than a kit or extract?

Also, how can you use a combined boiler mash-tun? That seems a bit odd to me unless you have a second boiler to be able to heat the water during the sparging process? i ask this because I see a Severin boiler mash-tun (it looks Brupaks rebadge this) for sale in an Austrian Lagerghaus. The alternative would be a separate mash-tun (ie converted cooler) and a dedicated boiler.

I hope both questions are not completely stupid :-S

Cheers

Towser

[EportJake]

Is it madness to start off brewing using the full mash rather than a kit or extract?

I started on all grain with no previous experience and I've had 15 great brews already. The information and input from members on this forum has been the main reason why I found it so easy. I wouldn't consider myself mad, but I do occasionally get the advice of Harry, the giant pink bunny rabbit who appears whenever people start shouting at me.

[clogwog]

It is possible to mash and boil all in the one vessel.

It is not uncommon in Australia, we call it BIAB (Brew in a Bag).

Here's a link to our premium HB forum, with a sticky on just that subject. Hope it helps. You might need to join to read it all, but hey, it's free!

http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/i ... opic=11694

[Earth Titan]

I went to AG after just one kit and I'll never do another tinned conconction again. You'll end up with loads of friends you had forgotten about as they just 'pop by' to say hello.... and stay all evening.

I've got one mate who travels 50 miles to come and drink the 'home brew', stays the night then goes home. The first time he visited he bought his own tins as he didn't fancy home brew and these are still in the cupboard undrunk. I'll palm them off to people I don't like or want to get rid of.

Make the leap....

[alefric]

I don't think you learn anything from kits that you won't learn from going directly to AG. If you're happy to make the higher initial outlay then go for it, i wish that i had done when i returned to brewing a couple of years ago and as already been said you can get all the help you need here. I could probably have paid for the equipment out of the cost of failed kit brews. On your other point, you can do it all in one but i suspect that eventually you will want a seperate boiler and mash tun, it just makes things easier and making a mash tun isn't difficult or expensive.

Andrew

[Scooby]

I started over 30yrs ago with kits and extract, info then was scarce and going from that to mashing grain was a slow process. With the resource available now, both here and elsewhere on the net I echo what has been posted and see no reason why you can successfully start with grain.

It is easy to make a tun and there are many flavours, coolbox, bucket in a bucket etc, The combined method you mention with a bag is also an option, see Jim's all grain instructions in 'Brewing Technique' > 'All Grain Brewing' for his method with a grain bag.

[towser]

Thanks everyone for the friendly advice. You've definitely helped me to make my mind up in giving AG a go straight-off. I think I'm going to use a separate mash-tun. The Brouwland website is also a great help. I just need to be patient now while I start collecting all the equipment. I'll let you know how I get on and i hope I don't stretch all of your patience asking for advice

[Philipek]

Hi all,

Is it madness to start off brewing using the full mash rather than a kit or extract?

Yes, it is. That's what I did.

I brewed my first batch on Wednesday and it was all grain. Actually, it wasn't that bad. In my opinion, by far the most difficult bit comes after the boil which you have to do with kits anyway.

Phil

[alefric]

Thanks everyone for the friendly advice. You've definitely helped me to make my mind up in giving AG a go straight-off. I think I'm going to use a separate mash-tun. The Brouwland website is also a great help. I just need to be patient now while I start collecting all the equipment. I'll let you know how I get on and i hope I don't stretch all of your patience asking for advice

You won't regret it and you won't look back......Good luck and all the best with your brew.

Andrew