Converting AG recipes to Extract

[Ingieuk]

Hi,
I'm contemplating going for an extract brew for my next. I've done a small amount of research into various recipes. I've found various extract recipes and a couple of all grain ones.

My question is, the all grain ones ask for 3-4kg of standard grain and some smaller quantity of specialist grain, how do I (or can I) replace the grain with either spraymalt of LME? Would the quantities be the same? (I'm hoping not or AG seems a lot cheaper!)
Am I okay to just steep the specialist grain in a muslin bag for 30 minutes, prior to the rest of the brew?

Cheers,

Rich

[WishboneBrewery]

It depends what the grain is...
If you download BeerEngine and use its 'Grain Editor' http://www.practicalbrewing.co.uk/calcu ... eerengine/ you can look through the grain list and it will tell you whether its a 'Steepable' grain, all the Steepable grains can be used in Extract Brewing.
You can steep from 40c upwards then fish out your grain bag/s before coming to the boil, add your malt Extracts then boil (I used to just throw all my steepable grains in the pan and boil 'em, no problems with off flavours.

The Quantity of Pale malt is greater in weight to the Quantity of Malt Extract - I'm sure someone will be along to tell you exactly how much for how much!

If your recipe has non steepable grains like 'Wheat malt' or 'Torrefied Wheat' etc you can still use Wheat Spray Malt Extract or in some cases I've used 'Crystal Wheat malt' which is a steepable grain.

Juts don't put any adjuncts in like Flaked barley etc as they really do need mashing.

[Ingieuk]

That looks like some good software, I shall get that downloaded and have a play around.

If your recipe has non steepable grains like 'Wheat malt' or 'Torrefied Wheat' etc you can still use Wheat Spray Malt Extract or in some cases I've used 'Crystal Wheat malt' which is a steepable grain.

Juts don't put any adjuncts in like Flaked barley etc as they really do need mashing.

Aha! That was my next question Thats good as I can discount any recipes till later that have flaked barley in them.

Also I found a clone of Bitter & Twisted which is a great ale but the hops and some of the other ingredients seem a bit complicated, another I will leave till later.

I think I should go for a simple recipe, 2 types of hops, a spraymalt (or LME) and one steepable grain. Any ideas for a tasty pint?

I think I'll call in at the library and see if I can find any books.

Thanks,
Rich

[Swiller]

Sorry miss-read posts please ignore this one.

[WishboneBrewery]

I'd stick to DSM Dry Spray malt if I were doing it, for the sakes of Freshness.

a good one would be... from: http://www.hopandgrain.com

Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild

Brewlength: 23L

5kg MO (75%) (About 3.3kg of DSM)
1.650kg Crystal malt

90 min boil

41g Fuggles
35g Goldings
Late hop of 20g Goldings (15 min)

Colour 37.8,
OG 1.062,
IBUs 42.4

[Ingieuk]

I'd stick to DSM Dry Spray malt if I were doing it, for the sakes of Freshness.

I was wondering what the general opinion was, LME or DME, the vast majority of extract recipes I've found up to now have stated LME. Is it just a case of personal preference?

Thanks for that website, it has a lot of ales even I recognise the names of!

I guess the ruby mild asks for dark spray malt? (Didn't know if DSM was dry spray malt or dark spray malt, sorry!) And I would need to steep the 1.65kg of crystal malt for about 30 minutes before adding the DSM? Whats the brew taste like?

Can't say I've ever really had a ruby beer before, think I'll go get one from Morrissons later and have a taste, all in the name of a greater knowlege you understand

Sorry for the newb questions, just want to get it right!

Thanks!
Rich

[OldSpeckledBadger]

I guess the ruby mild asks for dark spray malt?

Completely wrong. Any extract recipe modified from an AG one should use pale or extra-pale spraymalt. The end colour will mostly be derived from the speciality grains.

[Ingieuk]

I guess the ruby mild asks for dark spray malt?

Completely wrong. Any extract recipe modified from an AG one should use pale or extra-pale spraymalt. The end colour will mostly be derived from the speciality grains.

Okay fair enough, thats why I asked in case I get it wrong

The Quantity of Pale malt is greater in weight to the Quantity of Malt Extract - I'm sure someone will be along to tell you exactly how much for how much!

Does anyone have an approximate ratio I could work to or is it entirely dependent on each individual recipe?

Thanks for the help guys, really do appreciate it!
Rich

[OldSpeckledBadger]

Does anyone have an approximate ratio I could work to or is it entirely dependent on each individual recipe?

63% should be close enough.