In our attempt to brew the best beer possible the Brewbarons are getting ready to progress to the all grain method. This is what the brewers of the micro-brewery and the big breweries do. It is cost prohibitive to continue to use extract when for a bit more time and energy the all grain process is available.
For people not sure what the difference is, the extract method is the manufacturer of the extract makes wort then basically cooks it down till it is a syrup. The homebrewer takes the wort and then boils water and adds the extract to the water to make his wort. After the boils the brewer will add more water till he gets to his 5 gallon mark.
In all grain method the home brewer gets the grains, splits them and then gets the grains to start to germinate. This allows the part of the grain that has the starch and carbohydrates to be broken down into the sugars the yeast need. The homebrewer then after a prescribed time rinses the grains and takes the liquid and transfers it to the brew pot were he or she boils the liquid, now called wort, and add any hops or sugar to the boil.
Some would say why not stay with extract because it is easier. An important reason is that you have control over a few more of the variables in making beer. When making the mash you have to calculate the time the mash sits and at what temperature. You control the amount of sugar that will be used by the east. Various mash temperatures, rest times, target specific types of carbohydrates and starches into breaking down into simple sugars that yeast can use.
The biggest reason is taste. Obviously if we wanted a good beer it can be bought and drank. Sometimes the journey is almost as fun as the vacation. I said almost, sharing a good beer is still one of simple pleasures and if you make the beer it does not get much better than that.

The all grain process will be time intensive with rest times and the boiling of the sparge water, water to rinse the mash, along with the cooking of the wort but we hope to be rewarded with a smooth and more intensely flavored beer. We have seen a steady progression of better beer as we have progressed. Can we continue to get better with the extract brewing. Yes we can but only if we were going to continue to extract brew because of time or other constraints. Their is nothing wrong with extract brewing as some of the best beers I have had were from extract kits. It is time to make the move.
The first couple of all grain sessions will most likely take longer than expected. This will be due to using new equipment, a complete different process and just not having all the steps worked out. The brew schedule for the all grain process is being worked on and discussed. At this time we are in the learning phase so we will not experiment with the recipes but once we get the process down we will begin the process. If you have suggestions for possible beers you would like us to brew leave your input in the comment box.
Time to sit back and enjoy a Home brew!!