Yes with AG you have more variables that can be purposefully adjusted.. but the demonstrable net effect of those adjustments have less impact on taste than good quality ingredients, preparation and fermentation.
We all love brewing, why do people have to perpetuate derogatory remarks against extract brewers? Especially since the evidence really doesn't support the extract haters.
The evidence in the real world does.
Name one Brewery that sells an extract beers successfully. Just one.
I can name one, but i can tell you, it's beers are shit, and it's fkn far from Successful.
It's the same as coffee. Would you go to a Cafe and expect a hot cup of moccona? No, because that's not how you make great coffee. Sure it's fine at home and at friends houses, but if you REALLY enjoy coffee and were serious about it, you wouldn't waste your time on instant.
All AG brewers know that you can make a decent Extract beer with a little TLC, honestly, that's no secret. But what all extract brewers don't know, is that with the same effort as you put into caressing that Extract beer to make it taste good, with the same effort into an AG beer (and i'm not just talking about sanitation and temperature control here) the AG beer will still be in front.
It's great that Extract beers do well in competitions, but what are the win\loss ratios?
How many Extracts get entered Vs All grain beers?
What's the average ratio of win\loss when comparing the 2?
Are these all extracts? K&K?, mini-mash?
Just saying Extract beers have won medals isn't enough, it's like saying there's a solid gold wedding ring in every sewer.
It's inevitable that sooner or later that a gold miner will find gold.
It's how much dirt he's had to sift through to find it that doesn't get taken into account.
I'm probably the most vocal and brutally honest on this front, and I still say I would have a SuperDry than an extract beer, purely because 9\10 goop brewers beers taste like rubber apples to me.
But the fact is...
Beer is made from grains, not from tins.
Cake is made from flour, eggs, milk and other ingredients, not from cake mix in a box.
Coffee is made from ground beans, not from freeze dried powder.
Anything else is just a substitute for time and effort.
Anyone who is serious about Beer, cake and coffee, won't cut corners trying to put lipstick and a dress on a pig.
What i'm trying to say is, anyone who is serious about wanting to make great beer, should make beer seriously and not fk around with the tins of pre-mix.
they shouldn't be scared of AG as it's not hard, it's just hot water and grains.
If you're happy making your goop brews, well done, and good luck to you.
But if you're serious about your hobby, then maybe it's time you threw away your can opener and got serious.
Cheers,
BF
