Extract brewing without a boiler

[booktownman]

Is there any reason I can't make extract recipes boiling my extract with just a few litres of water and the hops etc in a stove-top pan, and then adding to the FV with cold water in the same way you would a kit?

Cheers,


Rob

[OldSpeckledBadger]

Yes. I've done it and turned out some very nice beer too. The trick is to only put part of the extract in the boil so that you get a reasonable hop utilisation. See viewtopic.php?f=3&t=23759 where I explain how I did it.

[Chase24]

Or you can make smaller brews. You may have to brew more often but it gives you the chance to try out different recipes or perfect your own. And when the brew doesn't quite work, you don't have to face the prospect of holding your nose for 40 pints...

[FiercelyFuzzy]

I recently got the book "How To Brew" by John F Palmer. All the recipes use a 13L stock pot for the boil which is topped up to 20L in the fermenter. They all use the same method stated by SpecKledBadger. ie you boil your hops with about half you LME & then add the rest before cooling your wort & adding the rest of the water in your fermenter;
A great book, though unfortunately biased to American hops & measurements so you have to do a bit of converting. The books available free online too.

[gratefuldave54]

Well I've been to the car boot sale this morning and got an 18 ltr stockpot for a tenner. I'm all ready now to progress to extract brewing. Does anyone have a nice simple recipe for a bitter or an IPA that I can use to break myself in gently. Step by step would be best as I have only done kits before with great results but everyone reckons extract is way ahead of kits. Is there really so much difference ? Cheers - Dave.

[gratefuldave54]

"The books available free online too". Does anyone know whereabouts ? Regards - Dave.

[edit1now]

My browser has something called Google...

http://www.howtobrew.com/