chocolate coconut stout for 1st time all-grain?

[darrenbrews]

Hey all,

I'm sitting here watching MNF enjoying my very first pale ale I brewed from an extract kit, and I already have a winter ale brewing but it's an extract too. I believe I want to step things up to all-grain and I really like the idea of this chocolate coconut stout -> http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=10771

Has anyone tried it, how did it taste? And is it a complicated recipe for an all-grain 1st timer. If there are easier brews I should start with anyone have suggestions?

-DZ

[MNHazmat]

I might suggest something a little simpler for your first outing into all grain, just so you can catch the flavor differences, etc.. Maybe do an all grain version of the pale ale you just did?

[Ozwald]

Keep it simple. I would also advise to get a couple more extract brews under your belt before the switch. Not that you can't have good success making the switch after only 1 or 2 (some folks have just fine), but AG & extract brewing are exactly the same process except AG has a mash added in there. It's much easier to learn how to do the mash correctly & to deal with the problems that inevitably pop up if you've got the rest of the process on autopilot from doing the extract brews. When you do make the switch, start with something that has a simple grain bill & mash schedule. Pales are good to try, I would also suggest an American Amber or Brown Porter if you'd rather try something that's malty or roasty. Also good ways to really taste that AG difference. Whenever you end up making the switch, best of luck & happy brewing!

[ziggy]

I would definitely go with something simple like an American amber, brown, or pale ale. You don't want to be messing around with coconut and wierd stuff your first all grain.

[brewinhard]

I agree with above. And vote that you make a british style bitter. They are easy and fun to brew, with minimal ingredients and MOST OF ALL have a very quick turnaround time. You could be drinking your first beer within 3-4 wks at most.

[barleypopmaker]

+1 to the advice to keep it simple for your first all grain. Make sure you are making good "regular" beer before going exotic. If you are comfortable making the switch to all grain, go for it, but don't be fooled by some of the all-grain Nazis who will try to tell you are are not making beer, or good beer with extract. If that were true no extract beers would ever win awards. Make the jump when you are ready, be it now or 20 batches from now. Still, don't do something funky for your first AG beer, make sure you have the AG process down and then start playing around with ingredients. If something doesn't turn out right, you will not know if it was the funky ingredients or that you radically changed how you brew. But again, you can do as you wish, I would just advise against it.

[BDawg]

Everybody above has given you good advice.
Note that probably 95% of everybody's first AG batch sucks ass compared to the extract batch they did just before it, and that is considering that they DO have the process down like Ozwald suggested.
I'd also throw in German Weissbier, American Brown, and Northern English Brown as great 1st AG batches, too.
Hefe is as simple as it gets. - 5 lbs pils malt, 5 lbs wheat malt, 1/2 lb melanoidan malt, 1 oz hallerataur at 60. Wyeast 3068. (skip the step mash on the first batch -- single infusion will work great here). Ready to keg in 10 days and you can drink it a week later.

[Willys]

What does your fermentation look like? Do you have reliable temp control? Are you able to make a good yeast starter?

If you have not shelled out the cash for ag yet and don't have yeast health and fermentation dialed in I would suggest getting to that first.

I started with all grain right from the get go but only startes controlling my fermentarion temps after a dozen batches and only then did I start to love my beer.

Fridge small heat pad temp controller stir plate oxygen tank...o yeah that makes all the difference.

Low hopped pale ale will show a lot of flaws and help you figure out if you need to adjust something in the process. I brewed a lot of dark beers and had a slight off flavor I couldnt figure out. Brewed a blond and found out my water had a lot of iron in it and cleaned up the flaw.

Cheers.