First Taste of All Grain

[jimjamjamie0]

Hi

I regually Brew from kits and had what i belive to be fairly good results (not poured away a single pint yet) but a few weeks ago i was invited to the home of an all grain brewer to see how a batch is done.

I must say this really did take away a few of the fears of all grain, reading up on it seems a very complex method of brewing but the gent explained the method very well and seeing it take place i feel is the best way to learn this craft.

During the waiting stages he was kind enough to open several bottles, a porter, brown ale and a dry stout. and i can tell you it is easily the best all i have every tasted comercial and homebrew, (although one of the brews had recently won the national championships!!!!!


so i plan now to do a couple of extract brews and then on to what used to seem a gigantic leap on to all grain.

jamie

[Billy Hunt]

It's not a gigantic leap, it's a natural progression.

[crookedeyeboy]

Jamie welcome to the dark side. Its lovely to see peoples eyes opened!
I only did one kit brew (Woodfordes Wherry) and then went straight in and did an AG.

Trust me just go for it. Build yourself or buy yourself the bits, picka recipe and dive in. The difference in taste is amazing.

Theres a great learning curve which never ends too! But basically you cant make an undrinkable ale....

[Kev75]

Go for it Jamie - I'm a recent convert to "the dark side" and wish I did it years ago. I went from kits to AG without the extract bit in between and made it through to the other side without any hic ups.
Its not as complicated as it may sound and there are very good suppliers of all the grains, hops and yeasts to be found online if you cannot source it locally. You can make it as "fun" or as "scientific" as you like. Its a great thing to learn about and you wont want to stop once you get started.
I can honestly say my first taste of AG beer was a revelation. And the second, and so on...
A bit like growing your own veg or home baked bread, or someone cooking you a bacon sandwhich and the smell hitting you on a cold, clear autumn morning...
Fill your life with quality.
Go All Grain!!!

[vacant]

Don't do it.

I used to be able to enjoy any old beer, so I did a few kits and got some great results, culminating in "Midas Touch". During my kit phase I tried a brief experiment to see how cheap I could go and get a drinkable result. Wilko's had geordie kits for £4.99. I soon abandoned that and stuck to premium kits like "Fixby Gold". Anyway, I skipped extract and went straight to AG. I tried a can of Boddington's last Christmas - so thin it was hardly worth drinking. A couple of nights ago a bottle of Tiger came free with a takeaway... I used to enjoy that, not any more though it's passable.

I don't reckon I have a very discerning sense of taste and never saw myself as a "camra-type", but when I go into a pub I'm pretty much limited to the more expensive stuff. If I'm offered a run-of-the-mill beer I have to remember to get control so I don't pull a face at the first sip. I thought I'd just be able to enjoy a wider range of beers - I was wrong.

Do you want to end up like that?

[trucker5774]

That's a fair point, Vacant! I do find myself being a little critical of some commercial stuff, but on the other hand I keep thinking...How can I clone that one?

[crookedeyeboy]

Theres absolutely nothing wrong with being critical of the commercial stuff. It will have been through that many processes and been passed through Polyclar and filtered again, pasteurised.... blah blah blah.
NO WONDER we have a more apparent palate. Home made is best made I say!

Havent bought a bottle of beer or been to the pub in weeks....tis all good

[Horden Hillbilly]

Go for it Jamie - I'm a recent convert to "the dark side" and wish I did it years ago. I went from kits to AG without the extract bit in between and made it through to the other side without any hic ups.

Seconded, when you have done a couple of ag brews you will soon realise that it isn't rocket science. If you fancy doing ag brewing, there is no need to do an extract brew. To view a simple, straightforword guide, click on the uk-homebrew link in my signature.

[WishboneBrewery]

Do it!!
Best way is to read up lots on here, loads of very helpful people ^as above and his excellent website^ then plan your first Brewday, take your time, there is no need to rush anything, prepare everything you are likely to need first... a bit of a check list is a good thing if you think you need it.

[crowds]

You know I rarely drink in pubs, but when I do I avoid the usual suspects. However one that I have had the misfortune of visiting twice in the past month (misfortune as it was a post funeral beer first time and post scattering of ashes the second) did a fantastic pint of TTL and clearly had a well kept cellar.
On my second visit none of the real ales where on so I had to opt for a pint of tetley's... It was a lovely pint. Quite an eye opener. Just goes to show that having a decent landlord/cellarman can make a huge difference.

[Philipek]

All-grain is not a great leap. My first brew was all-grain and that turned out fantastic (we'll not talk about subsequent brews). And you're in the UK where you can knock up a boiler for pounds rather than having to shell out 100s on propane, burners and great big aluminium pots.

On my second visit none of the real ales where on so I had to opt for a pint of tetley's... It was a lovely pint. Quite an eye opener. Just goes to show that having a decent landlord/cellarman can make a huge difference.

Tetley's good!? Isn't that a nitro-keg? That's cellarmanship if they can make Tetley's taste good. Most pints of that I've had in pubs taste of tin foil. There should be a list of pubs with good cellaring.

I once found myself in North London and had a pint of Guinness which was amazing. Tasted like a different drink. I was living in East London at the time and made the 80 min journey up to that pub a couple of times for their Guinness.

Phil

[jimjamjamie0]

Thanks to everyone for all the replies.

I have been given a 30ltr burco tea boiler, think it should be ok with just the tap changed, only equipment i can really see i need is a mash tun and as i have seen use a watering can rose for the sparging.

the homemade design of the equipment seems the route i am going to take, i know you can buy all the things but i think nothing beat making it yaself and then just keep improving the design to suit.

looks like it will be in the new year before i get chance to do my first batch as most of my equipment is tied up at the mo, but will keep you all posted.

again thanks

jamie

[crowds]

Tetley's good!? Isn't that a nitro-keg? That's cellarmanship if they can make Tetley's taste good.

That would be Tetley's Smoothflow
They actually do a cask version as well

[Philipek]

i know you can buy all the things but i think nothing beat making it yaself and then just keep improving the design to suit.

That's exactly it. Some people have said that they occasionally get more of a kick out of the DIY than the beer.

That would be Tetley's Smoothflow
They actually do a cask version as well

I'm aware of their cask ale. Don't think I've ever had it.
You said that they didn't have any real ales on, so I assumed that when you went for a tetley's it was the keg version.

[crowds]

your right, I did sorry there has been a lot of research past my lips tonight.