Hobbyists thrive on rapport, with like minds sharing knowledge, triumph and struggle, reminiscing about wide-eyed beginnings and visions of the great frontier ahead. Homebrewing engenders much camaraderie, but inevitably it can also uncover some philosophical divides.
I have found that two subjects generate the most debate: style vs. nonstyle, and extract vs. all-grain. This is always a bit perplexing, since if any hobby should bring satisfaction at any level of competence or philosophy, it is homebrewing. There is plenty of room for all, without compromise. Nearly all of us started out with extract in one form or another, and many never “advance” beyond that format. Frankly, if that is your preference, there really is no reason to, especially with the knowledge and ingredients now available. Whether you are just learning the hobby, are under some equipment or cost restraints, or simply yearn to make the best beer with the least possible effort and potential pitfall, then savvy extract brewing is both practical and rewarding.
Why Extract?
This column should give beginners a leg up on their first few brews, ensuring something well beyond mere drinkability, while also offering simple design for basic brewing. Also, for those who choose to stick with extract-based brewing, or keep an ace in the hole when time or resources are precious, it should serve to optimize your avenues and strategies. We’ll explore base extracts and optional specialty grains, followed by the usual hop schedules and yeast choices for recipe formulation to tailor beers that will rival any all-grain brews.
There are dozens of extracts to choose from, but basically two categories, hopped and unhopped. Hopped extract is fine for very basic brewing, requiring nothing more than the contents of the can or pouch. If you simply want to learn how to boil wort, chill, ferment and bottle or keg, then you can take this route. Fermentation and sanitizing are a bit intimidating to some, so if you are uncomfortable with or unsure of the process, start there. Your “style” will be at the behest of the manufacturer, but the overall quality of the finished beer will rest in your technique.
Unhopped wort, on the other hand, can provide what is essentially a blank palette for creating a beer of particular style or personal preference. Unhopped extracts can be infinitely malleable and easily personalized. They are the overwhelming choice of extract brewers. You will also see that familiarity with the products can effectively eliminate any need for specialty malts. Extract with or without specialty grains, well-planned hop scheduling and a favorite yeast pave the road to simple, efficient and extraordinary homebrew. Malt extracts are a better bargain than they were many years ago, and, without the need for anything more than basic equipment, not at all cost-prohibitive.
