How long or how many batches of extract did it take for you to go all grain? Does anyone stick w extract?
I switched after about 6 extract/steeping grain batches. Never did extract without grain. I did one partial mash batch and realized that it took as much time as AG would. I switched to AG after that.
A lot of people stick with extract and there are a lot of great extract beers out there. I switched after about a year back in the hobby after a hiatus. But there are a couple of extract beers I cannot duplicate with all-grain. I may have to go back and brew them again.
Dave
I’ve been homebrewing for close to 20 years. I still do partial mash brewing just because I don’t have all the equipment for all grain brewing. The time factor also plays into it a bit. I do want to move into all grain this year though.
I switch to partial mash after about 6 months, then all grain after another 6. Really I would have switched earlier but living in an apartment I debated for a while whether I had the space or not. Then I just said screw it and now I pretty much live on top of my brew gear. Still the best decision I have ever made. 
Honestly though it is a personal decision. If you haven’t already, I would say invest in temp control first. That will make the biggest impact on your beer. Nothing like spending 5-6 hours brewing only to have your beer develop off flavors do to bad fermentation. I still make a PM or extract batch now and again, I am always amazed how much better it turns out now that I can control temps.
Good luck!
4 extract w/grains batches and then all-grain.
AG two months after starting
I switched to all grain after my 3rd batch of extract. From all the great advice from the guys at my LHBS and the members of this board, I realized how easy it was to do brew all grain batches. Brewing all grain can be as simple or complicated as you want it to be. If brewing all grain meant you had to have a fully automated RIMS system to brew, then I’d still be doing extract brews.
Edit: Then again, maybe one day I’ll have a fully automated RIMS system ;D
I was also one of the quick-switchers. It took me about 3 months and 6 batches. I put a bazooka screen in an old cooler, and I was off and never looked back. I will still do extract batches on occasion, simply because they are easy. However, most of my session beers require a lower fermentability than I can get out of extract.
I started out with extract after my wife bought me a homebrew kit at a brewer’s festival. I think I did 3 or 4 batches, but then stopped brewing for a while ( :P). I took up the hobby again a couple years later, brewed maybe 3 extract recipes, then switched to all-grain, and have been doing them for about 6 years. I haven’t done an extract recipe since (unless you count starters ;D).
I have not yet after ~20 years of brewing.
However, the percentage/volume of grain in my partial mash has been increasing incrementally over the years.
I’ve thought about it and put together a mash tun, but I’m almost too comfortable with my current process to go through the effort of switching. Someday when I have more free time, perhaps.
Batch 7 was all grain, I knew after # 2 where it was headed and slowly began to purchase the equipment.
Started in 92, went all grain after about 30 batches, so 94. That was back when all grain was considered to require lots of skill and knowledge (pre-internet). After doing it the first time, I said “that is all there is to it?”.
I think I did 4 extract batches, then did a couple 3 gallon all grain batches, then did a couple 5 gallon partial mash (this was all stove top), then moved to 5 gallon all grain outside with a propane burner.
Now, 4 years after starting all grain, I’m doing 4 gallon all grain batches on the stove top. Got a nice stove that handles 5.5 gallon boils. It’s the right amount of beer for me.
I did one extract (w/steeping grains) batch with help from a friend who had done a few before. I fermented it myself and immediately wanted to start on my next batch. After reading How To Brew and everything Denny had posted on the NB forum (this was 7 or 8 years ago), I immediately bought a cooler and did an all grain batch next. And kegged it ;D
Of course, it took me a few more months to give up that stupid spinning Phil’s sparge arm. Why I didn’t listen to Denny about that I don’t know.
I started in 92 as well, did ~ 15 extract/steeping grain batches. My next plan was to try partial mashing, but realized that it would take the same amount of time as AG. So I dove in and ,like Jeff mentioned, wondered what all the fuss was about afterward.
Like just about everyone, I started with extracts for about four years and thought I was a really good homebrewer. Then I entered a competition and got my butt handed to me on a plate. I took some time off from brewing and re-tooled my entire operation. That’s when I switched to all-grain.
Started in '91 and was taught by one of my cousins, who had been brewing for a while, all grain. So I started with all grain. Speaking of pre-internet, who remembers “The Cat’s Meow”? I still have copy on one of my brew book shelves.
Wow, there’s a flashback!
after my 6 or 7 partial grain/steep extract kits, i made the move to all grain. for me, there wasn’t enough ability to control the finished product with the extract, and i wasn’t enjoying my beer all that much. watched some videos, asked a ton of questions on the forums, and dived in head first…best move i made in brewing 