Homebrewing can be done with different methods, and We’ll discuss the pros and cons of brewing with extract, all-grain, and partial mesh.
These methods greatly depend on skill, equipment, time, and even money, so it’s important to understand what each method brings to the table.
When I was beginning with homebrewing beer, I used extract kits only, but after my 3rd batch, I moved to the all-grain method.
Today, I still mostly brew beer all-grain with BIAB method, but from time to time I shuffle in an extract or partial mesh.
Moreover, I am of the opinion that beginners should start with extract kits and later try other methods.
You’ll see the exact reasons behind this, so let’s dig deeper into what each method brings.
What is brewing with extract?
Brewing with extract means using a pre-made dehydrated concentrated liquid that contains all sorts of grains and hops in the beer brewing process.
Manufacturers use real ingredients like grains and hops but mesh them together, dehydrate them, and create a brown extract that can easily be turned into beer wort once mixed with water. The only remaining stage is to pitch the yeast and let it ferment before bottling.
These extracts can stay on shelves for a long time just like conserved food, and they save storage space. It’s easy to put 11 pounds of grain, and 0.20 pounds of hops into a can and then store it at the right humidity, the right temperature, etc.
Pros of brewing with beer extract
Less room for mistakes (Ideal for beginners)
It’s hard to go wrong when you use extract kits because the steps required for brewing are absolutely minimal.
All you have to do is sanitize the equipment, pour hot water into a fermenter put the extract and sugar in, mix it with a spoon, and add more water to achieve the desired quantities.
After that, you let it cool and pitch yeast, that’s it.
Of course, you must take care of the fermentation temperature, a proper place for your fermenter, complete the fermentation successfully, add priming sugar when bottling, and condition it.
However, this is the bare minimum, and you don’t have to go through additional steps that come with the all-grain method.
It saves time
You won’t need more than an hour to make beer wort with an extract (but it can take longer for the first time). However, if you need to chill the fermenter to the right temperature before pitching yeast, it can take additional time depending on how hot it is and what cooling method you use.
In other words, you don’t have to dedicate a whole day like it’s the case with the all-grain method, but you can brew before or after work.
You only need basic equipment to brew
An initial investment of equipment is usually where many beginners find it difficult to join brewing, but when you brew with extract, you only need the basic equipment and that’s it.
If you have a fermenter set and a sanitizer you have all it needs. A thermometer for ambient temperature is optional because if you brew in stable conditions during stable weather you can rely on intuition.
However, you’ll also need some pipe and a spigot or a siphon to later transfer the beer into bottles and a capper machine.
Cons of brewing with beer extracts
Limited with manufacturing recipe
Beer extracts are pre-made for one recipe and there’s not much you can do about it.
You have to brew exactly what manufacturers want you to brew, so it’s difficult to create something new or replicate most recipes that require an all-grain method.
This is not bad if you want that one beer style it’s meant to be, and sometimes you can add more hops or malts with partial mesh to tweak the recipe.
In conclusion, you are going to end up with the beer that someone else will dictate the taste of, and although this is perfect for the beginning it’s not ideal once you get more advanced.
Extracts are expensive
Extract kits save time and make it harder to screw up, but at the cost.
When you compare extract kits you’ll notice that you could save almost half as much if you were to buy each ingredient separately.
You don’t become a better brewer
There’s no way to become a better brewer if you always brew with beer extracts. More room for error means more opportunities for a great beer and more knowledge with time.
Extracts are great for beginners because you can make a phenomenal beer from the first attempt, but in my opinion, they shouldn’t be something you will rely on forever.
What is the all-grain brewing?
The all-grain method means brewing beer with grains and hops in its unprocessed, natural form.
It’s the most professional way of brewing beer and the way most breweries brew their beers. This method is also the most demanding way of brewing beer at home but comes with advantages otherwise not found in brewing with extract kits.
Moreover, the all-grain method can be approached in different ways depending on the equipment, quantity, special recipes, and so on.
As homebrewers, brewing in a bag (BIAB) (let’s call it a submethod) is the easiest and most affordable approach to brewing beer, especially at the beginning.
BIAB is still the method I use to this day, but it’s not unusual to see homebrewers make brewing installations in their garage that follow the protocol. These installations hasten the process through automation.
Pros of brewing all-grain
Unlimited possibilities
Brewing all-grain removes the shackles of limitations and introduces you to the magical world of brewing with unlimited possibilities.
There are so many beer types that do not come in extract kits and you have the freedom to change ingredients to your preference.
This is how the first breweries made beer and it is the best way to brew the finest beers to this day.
You can choose different types of grains and malts, but also any special ingredient that will make the beer stand out.
There are thousands of beer recipes on the internet and for a majority of them, you’ll need to brew with the all-grain method.
Moreover, after some time you will develop a passion for making your own recipes and this is the only way you’ll be able to stand out.
Most affordable option
Although you may think that extracts are cheaper because you need a lot of raw malts and hops delivered to your address to make beer, the all-grain method is the most affordable option.
11 pounds of 5 malt types, 0.20 pounds of hops, and 0.025 pounds of yeast can end up being 50% cheaper than the same recipe in the extract kit.
When you homebrew often these costs will make sense, and in the long run, you may want to experiment with different beer types in large quantities.
Necessary for learning
Once you master the all-grain method, you can brew any beer in the world. Furthermore, you can find a job in a local brewery if you desire.
The stuff you are going to encounter with the all-grain method will be golden for boosting your brewing traits and skills.
Cons of all-grain method
Time-consuming and more hustle
It takes more concentration to brew all grains because it’s important to follow the instructions accurately. Moreover, it’s going to take a couple of hours more than brewing with extract.
You may encounter difficulties with heat, so water may hardly reach the boiling point, or you may encounter the issue with controlling temperature while meshing the malts.
You may need muscles to hang the muslin bag and squeeze the juice out of it or help with transferring a 5-gallon kettle with burning hot water.
Sometimes, you may forget to watch the time and realize the hops have been soaking way too long and such little things can affect the final product.
Needs more equipment
Although the all-grain method is the most affordable, it means it’s going to save you money in the long term or in other words after a 5th batch or so.
The initial cost of muslin bags, a thermometer, and a large enough kettle can result in a solid investment.
However, once you get the equipment you won’t have to think about it again and the cost of ingredients will become a minimal attack on your piggy bank.
Personally, this was the second reason why I didn’t want to start with the all-grain method.
When I was beginning, I already had the expense of fermenters, bottles, caps, and sanitizers, so didn’t want to overwhelm my budget with other stuff.
More room for mistakes
The all-grain method is ideal for learning from mistakes but mistakes are not something we aim for, especially not at the beginning.
Tiny mistakes are great because they teach you how to make better beer next time, but complete failure is too big of a mistake for any beginner.
However, if you are focused and follow the guidelines it’s hard to screw up to the point where the beer is going to result in chaos.
It’s more about being mentally prepared for all the stages that come with brewing. I am a believer that if you have done it once or twice with a simpler method like extracts, that’s going to be easier for you to handle the all-grain methods.
When I brewed all grain for the first time, I underestimated the time I would need to complete it, didn’t have a strategy on how to handle an 11-pound heavy malt bag and pour water through it, and completely annihilated the kitchen floor.
What is the partial mesh method?
Partial mesh is a method where brewers combine the fundamental extract method with the all-grain method to complement the recipe.
Partial mesh doesn’t need more explanation because it’s simply the mixture of previous brewing methods. It offers a great solution when you want to make a base recipe and change a few things from there to make something different.
For instance, you will mesh a single kind of malt and continue the process with an extract that will contain the rest of the malts and hops.
It still has limitations because you rely on extract, but it opens new doors to brewing possibilities where simple brewing with extracts couldn’t get you to.
I immediately went from brewing with extract to the all-grain method, but I can see how the partial mesh method can be a great way for beginners to advance.
Conclusion time
It’s time to summarize everything you read, so you know what’s your next step.
Is all grain better than extract brewing?
All-grain is better than extract brewing because it allows you to brew anything you can imagine, but the beer extract method is easier for beginners.
Can you make good beer with extract?
You can make a fantastic beer with beer extract kits because the outcome is predetermined at the manufacturing facility and if they made a quality extract, you’ll make a quality beer.
When should you switch from extract to all-grain brewing?
It’s up to you how you want to brew because after all, it’s a wonderful adventure you should enjoy and it’s not wrong to begin with all-grain from the start.
However, I recommend that you start with extract at least for your first beer, and then invest in more equipment and start all-grain brewing.
What is the cheaper, extract or all-grain method?
All-grain will always be cheaper than extracts, but if you count the energy and time that all-grain requires from you, buying an extract may end up being a better option.
How long does it take to brew beer with each method?
You can brew beer with extract within 2 hours, while all-grain brewing on average takes 5 hours.
The partial mesh will take 3.5 hours on average.
Eventually, how long it takes to brew beer with each method depends on the recipe and equipment as well, so it’s hard to give a definite answer. However, brewing with extract will always take less time than brewing with other methods.