I typically brew 3 gallon partial-extract batches where I mash around 5lbs of malt and grain in my 3-gallon Igloo cooler and add extract from there. Part of the reason I started with that method is I couldn't find any Munich malt DME. Well I found some and figured I'd give it a try.
Last night I mixed up 3lbs of Munich DME in some hot water, added some homegrown hops at the beginning of the boil, and ended up with enough wort to generously fill 2 one-gallon carboys (they're all that fit into my lager fridge) without picking up much gunk or hop sludge. I actually chilled it down so well, and the ambient temperature in my garage is so low, that it hasn't warmed up enough for the yeast to wake back up.
I'm not planning to switch back to all-extract anytime soon, but I didn't have to worry about hitting certain temperatures for a mash rest, I didn't have to think about adding salts to the mash/sparge water, and no problems with stuck sparges. I wasn't completely exhausted by the time I put the carboys in the fridge. Usually I'm tired by the time I pitch yeast. It was a really smooth brew day.
Anyone other mashers switch to extract for the occasional batch or two and find it to be almost easy?
Last night I mixed up 3lbs of Munich DME in some hot water, added some homegrown hops at the beginning of the boil, and ended up with enough wort to generously fill 2 one-gallon carboys (they're all that fit into my lager fridge) without picking up much gunk or hop sludge. I actually chilled it down so well, and the ambient temperature in my garage is so low, that it hasn't warmed up enough for the yeast to wake back up.
I'm not planning to switch back to all-extract anytime soon, but I didn't have to worry about hitting certain temperatures for a mash rest, I didn't have to think about adding salts to the mash/sparge water, and no problems with stuck sparges. I wasn't completely exhausted by the time I put the carboys in the fridge. Usually I'm tired by the time I pitch yeast. It was a really smooth brew day.
Anyone other mashers switch to extract for the occasional batch or two and find it to be almost easy?
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