Malt Extract vs All-Grain Brewing

While there are dozens of different ways to brew beer, most focus on the use of either malt extract or pure grains. Granted, most homebrew kits come with malt extract, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to use it. Opting for an all-grain brew is equally if not more effective than a malt extract brew.

The truth is that there are both advantages and disadvantages associated with malt extract and all-grain brewing. If you’re struggling to determine which one is right for you, keep reading for a breakdown of each method.

All-Grain Brewing

Brewing beer using all grains and no malt extract is generally viewed as more time-consuming and costly due to the fact that you need a mash tub and a pot large enough to house a full-wort boil. These materials can be purchased for a couple hundred bucks a piece, which isn’t too terribly expensive if you’re serious about your homebrew beer.

The advantage in all-grain brewing, however, is the sheer flexibility and freedom it offers. By using all grains in your brew, you’ll have greater control over subtle elements that can greatly impact the overall flavor and characteristics of your beer. Is this increased freedom worth the time, money and energy it takes to brew all-grain beer? Some people will say yes, while others will say no. The only way you’ll be able to determine if it’s right for you is by brewing a test batch for yourself.

Malt Extract

Most beginners prefer to brew their own beer using malt extract. It’s faster, easier and cheaper, all of which are attractive qualities for first-time homebrewers. Most of the homebrew kits sold on the market today come with all of the necessary ingredients, and even some of the cooking utensils, necessary to brew beer. Just follow the included instructions and you’ll be on your way to creating a batch of homebrew beer using malt extract. There are a few select kits which use all-grain, but generally most of the kits use malt extract in place of all-grain.

Brewing beer with malt extract also tends to raise the gravity, which is yet another reason why some people prefer this method. Basically, gravity is the amount of sugar suspended in the beer. Beer with a high gravity tends to exhibit a stronger, sweeter flavor than beer with a low gravity. There are several different ways to increase the gravity of homebrew beer, but using malt extract is one of the easiest methods.