first brew...

Personally I do recommend going extract with steeping grains for the first couple batches just to get comfortable with the boiling and fermentation procedures. With good sanitation and temp control, it's pretty hard to really mess up an extract brew. With all-grain, there are that many more things to worry about and could possibly go wrong. There are those who will say to jump right into the deep end, of course. There really is not right or wrong answer; it's just beer.

 

I started all grain straight out of the gate and had decent extraction and conversion right away so it can be done. If you do, keep in mind that batch sparging is much easier than fly sparging for a beginner IMHO FWIW.

 

I think as long as you have read up enough on the process of all-grain brewing, and have an understanding of what it'll entail (hitting the correct mash/spage temps) then I say go for it! It also helps if you know of anyone else who brews, and they can show you a thing or two. I am a visual learner, myself, so I watched a lot of videos. John Palmer has some good ones on all-grain brewing on the Northern Brewer TV channel on youtube.

 

If I were you, I'd just do it. My first few were extract, and it was a great way to learn. You have the equipment, so go for it. Like others said, just make sure to try and hit your mash and sparge temps. I assume you've watched tons of videos, and done a fair share of reading. If so, you'll be just fine. Personally I like fly sparging, cause you don't disturb the grain bed. If done right, you spend the same amount of time, as you would a batch sparge, and I've noticed better efficiency. To each their own though. Six of that, half a dozen of the other.

 

I recommend the idea of doing extract first, but the recommendations posted above to go directly into all grain are proof positive that starting out that way can be done. But beware, for your first brew you need to be very well organized for all of the detailed steps once brew day starts, and think about how you'll do the procedural steps. It's very easy to forget to do something before or during the process, and then you'll really face frustration if something gets overlooked. Extract brewing causes you to go thru only half of the steps to brew a successful beer, so less opportunities to make a mistake.

And there unwritten procedural items that can be overlooked. For example, you need to know ahead of time how you'll transfer your cooled wort to your fermenter. If you're brewing a 5-gallon batch, that's a step that you have to be prepared to do, and with that kind of weight in your boil pot, it's an awkward thing to do. If you've spent a long day that was started with all of the steps for mashing your grain, you're tired by when you need to transfer that wort, and frustration can set in easily.

So just be forewarned that it's a long and tedious process, and you need to have all of your ducks in a row to have success. Good luck whichever way you choose, and welcome to this crazy hobby.

 

I agree with MG03. Easier to start with extract. My first was the Brewers best DIPA with a few modifications based on Palmer's book. Turned out great. Second was an all-extract SMaSH that turned out great. I made less mistakes with the second one. The third brew was my first all-grain. I made new mistakes and did not repeat the old ones (except 1 boil-over--I really need to watch the pot after adding hops). I read Palmer and Daniels books before my first batch. I believe I could have done just fine with all-grain from the start, but I am glad I did extract to get my feet wet. From this point I will be doing all grain. My next step is kegging. Step-wise has worked for me, but if you can jump into the deep end on your first batch, go for it!

 

For every home brewer who claims success goin'AG from the get-go ... there are at least the same number who experienced some regret.

As they say: crawl ... walk ... run.

 

smart move starting with temp control. dont forget about whirlfloc or Irish moss at the end of the boil. I have used WF and cold crashed my last 2 brews. They were both very clear. your friends will be really impressed when your first beer is really clear.

 

It wouldn't be a bad ideat to check your thermometers. The one that you use for mash, water temps, wort temps can be calibrated by checking a glass of ice water and boiling water (32 and 212+/- a degree or two for altitude.)

Test your external thermostat with your thermometer and a few gallons of water as a test subject.

 

I just started brewing this past October and I went AG from the start. Don't let people turn you away from it, it's fun. Yes it's harder to nail your OG than using an extract but that's half the fun trying to learn the processes and get better. If you have the equipment then I say go for AG

 

Definitely have a few beers while brewing, but don't get drunk! I have done this before, and some important steps were overlooked.. mainly mash temperature, which was a big fault of mine this past weekend on a RIS. Was under my mash temp by about 7-8 degrees.. which can make all the difference in how the beer will turn out.

Also, friends are nice to have over for brew day and all, but I realized that whenever I brew by myself I can really concentrate on the process and usually end up hitting all the marks and have a great brew day. I get distracted easily when I'm trying to brew and be a good host at the same time. Just my few cents