Is it frowned upon?

[KevP]

Hi all

Just wondering if brewing with extract is frowned upon? I work 7 days in a row and 12 hours per day, so 84 hours nefore I get any time off, so time is important to me, very important and I dont have the time to commit to many AG brews, I have done a couple but cant do it.

I am just wondering how much extract brewing is looked down on?

[Roger]

Better off using your own dog in the privacy of your own home.

Seriously, does it matter if someone frowns upon it? It's your hobby and your time do what suits you. Crack on and enjoy it.

Roger.

[boingy]

Seriously, does it matter if someone frowns upon it? It's your hobby and your time do what suits you. Crack on and enjoy it.

+1 to that. You can get great results out of extract and it's much quicker. Your hobby, your rules.

[shandypants5]

I am a lowly down trodden KIT brewer.

So I look up in awe at anyone who has even done one AG brew...

I would like to go AG but I really dont think I have the time to spare, I like the way my kits turn out at the moment, and I know if I tried just one AG beer then my kits just wouldnt be good enough any more.

a taste of honey and all that...

[Robdog]

Ive not done Extraxt myself mind but if thats what you have time and inclination to do then go for it, it doesnt matter what anyone else thinks as long as your happy with the result.

Obvioulsy if time is precious to you then this seems ideal.

[RichardG]

Amen to all of the above. I've been brewing for less than a year now. Started with kits and have just moved onto extract. Like you I have neither the space (small house), time (3 kids plus SWMBO), or the money (recently made redundant) to go AG. Besides which I feel that extract will give me the opportunity to experiment as well as producing great beers before I ultimately go AG. AG is the asperation for me, and frankly, anyone who can 'look down' on me or you deserves the middle finger. I happen to believe that you won't find anyone of this forum who feels that way. Everyone who as responded to my (pretty inane in some cases!) posts has been positive and helpful. So you go ahead and do what you do. Many, many others are doing exactly the same.

[WeegieBlue]

I only kit brew due to time constraints and know AG is probably an impossibility for me, so I aspire to brew extract at some point!

[Chiltern Brewer]

It's a personal choice and one that I certainly wouldn't criticize someone for making, especially if you are using good quality ingredients and good technique.

Myself, I find the time it takes to do an AG brew is an opportunity to unwind mentally. Also I can minimize the time involved by having an early start (the HLT goes on a timer and I can go back to bed while the mash is on) such that I can be finished by midday.

[Waffty]

Brewing beer at home is like every hobby, you can spend a fortune on kit, spend hours and hours practicing & still be medioca. Or you can have the cheapest equipment and give it the lowest possible time you have & still give the big boys a run for their money.

If kit brewing floats your boat & meets your expectations, why would you ever consider changing? Likewise, if none of the kits out there give you what you're looking for, why not brew to your own tastes (Extact/AG). Or if you're technically minded, why not get under the 'bonnet' of a kit & see how it works (Extract/AG)?

I've done around 10 kits & kicked off my first Extract brew on Sunday & for me, it was nice to be in control of my flavours, ABV strength & bitter colour. If I get on well with Extract brewing, I may well try and make my own extract by going AG but likewise, I may just stop with Extract brewing & you know what, if I see a kit I like i.e some of the Brewferm range (winter/summer ales etc), I may we go back to kits.

In short, enjoy your hobby & if you have to the time/money, take it, as far as you're comfortable BUT don't ever compromise on enjoying it

As for the people on this site, I'd have give up ages ago, if it was for the supportive nature of these good people.

Darren.

[KevP]

Wafty, thanks for the reply, if you read my original post you'll see I do AG already. You did read the post?

I have done several extract brews too, and my house bitter is my staple extract.

[Waffty]

Wafty, thanks for the reply, if you read my original post you'll see I do AG already. You did read the post?

I have done several extract brews too, and my house bitter is my staple extract.

Ahhhhhhh yes I kinda speed read it

If you're already 'seen the top of the mountain' by doing AG, then I guess you've earned the right, to brew in whatever style/manner that suits your time circumstances. So why not go Extract ?

[Fizz]

I agree with everything said above. However, I do not see brewing as a hierarchy,. Kits at the bottom, AG at the top and extract in the middle. I have in the past, and continue to use all three methods at various times. If I want a solid reliable brew I'll go for a kit. If I want to brew for a particular taste I'll adapt extract or AG recipe depending on the time I have available. Whatever method of home-brewing you choose is O.K. by me and I think we are all on the same team.

[boingy]

..... and I think we are all on the same team.

< GULP>

[KevP]

..... and I think we are all on the same team.

< GULP>

[PMH0810]

Due to the arguments it starts and the time it takes to AG in my house I've reverted to kits. Extract is happening in the near future after mutual agrement and the promise it'll be less intrusive than AG.

I don't care if some others think it's a poor cousing to AG; It's as much as I'll get away with and will allow for experimentation.

And we can still look down on those who buy canned beer from Tesco..