step by steptract

[bigdave]

As a modded kit brewer Im itching to become more involved in my brews! My biggest problem is that I simply dont know enough (well anything) about extract brewing, to take the next step?!? I wondered if anyone might fancy writing a beginners guide to extract brewing? Ive read the extract guide but its more a dictionary of extract ingredients than a how to... A documentation (with or without pics) would be really nice.

bigdave

[floydmeddler]

Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daCvVxvQzCM

[bigdave]

Thanks. That helped alot! Looking again at the extract page on this site, I didn't realise that there's more than one page within that section! The information is very helpful!

[Brotherton Lad]

Bigdave,
If you're already modifying kits, then you are an extract brewer. It's just adding your choice of grains, hops and yeast to extract. In no time at all, you'll be heading for a full mash and all grain.

[bigdave]

If I'm honest, Having read alot, I think the only thing stopping me now moving over from modded kit to proper extract, is the cost of a boiler and copper cooling coil. My next expense is the bits to build a temperature controlled fermenting box... so it may well be christmas before mrs bigdave will allow me to buy a boiler etc... Thanks for the links and advice and expect me to be floating around and asking questions very soon.

[Brotherton Lad]

A boiler and cooler make life easier and quicker, but you can extract brew on the hob with a couple of big pots. Make a hop tea in one, steep your grains in another, put the results in the FV. Then use the pots again to dissolve the malt extract as usual and boil it, if that's your usual drill. Add late hops if required. Add it to the FV, add water to get to your desired length, stir, let it cool and pitch yeast.

[minimilo]

Hi, Just use a large stockpot and get hold of a copy a Graham Wheelers book.

For cooling the wort how about a couple of frozen bottles of supermarket own brand still table water (13p for 2 litres). Cut the bottles open and drop the large ice cubes in. This is the method I use.

Cheers

[floydmeddler]

Building a boiler is extremely cheap if you can get your hands on a mango chutney drum.