You could make up part of the gravity with extract but that would work out more expensive. Brewing with grain is the cheapest way to go, especially if you buy the 25kg bags of Pale. The issue you will have if you're brewing a full batch is whether your mash tun will be big enough - in that case you will need to use extract to bump up the gravity or brew a smaller batch size.
Around 3kg of extract with a partial mash of 2.2-2.5 kg of pale malt with 1kg of specialty malt (500g crystal and 500g chocolate/roast barley) for 20 liters
ive been buying the big bags alright so maybe ill just go for it...the last time i threw in loads of grains i got an infection so i guess thats whay im a little aprehensive of the whole thing...i read that imperial stouts take a good while to age ....how do ye feel on that?...i guess its the whole 9% thing again...
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