Grain to Extract Conversion

Convert an all-grain recipe to dry or liquid malt extract, an extract recipe to grain, or liquid extract to dry, at your brewhouse efficiency.

Malt extract replaces grain in proportion to the grain's potential times your brewhouse efficiency, divided by the extract's potential. At 75% efficiency, 5 kg of base malt gives the same gravity as about 3.2 kg of dry malt extract or 3.75 kg of liquid malt extract. Keep specialty malts and steep them.

Reviewed by Diego Santiago, Professional Brewer

MetricUSImperial (UK)

GrainDry malt extractLiquid malt extract

Amount of grain (kg)

Weight in the recipe you are converting

Brewhouse efficiency (%)

Share of the grain's extract that reaches the fermenter

Grain potential (L°/kg)

About 300 L°/kg for base malt

Equivalent dry malt extract3.214kg

Results are estimates provided "as is," for informational and planning purposes only, without warranties of any kind. Check them before you rely on them: you are responsible for decisions about your beer and equipment, including pressure and carbonation levels, the pressure ratings of your kegs and fittings, and any alcohol content you declare. Use of this calculator is subject to our Terms and Conditions.

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How the conversion works

Two fermentables give the same gravity when they contribute the same gravity points. Extract is already extracted, so all of its potential reaches the wort; grain only gives its potential times your brewhouse efficiency:

m_2 = m_1 \times \frac{P_1 \times E_1}{P_2 \times E_2}

where $m$ is the weight, $P$ the extract potential and $E$ the efficiency of each fermentable (100% for extracts).

For example, 5 kg of base malt (36 PPG) at 75% efficiency gives the same gravity as 3.21 kg of dry malt extract (42 PPG) or 3.75 kg of liquid malt extract (36 PPG). Going from liquid to dry, 3 kg of liquid extract equals about 2.57 kg of dry extract.

Inside Foambyte, recipes can mix grain, extract and sugar, and the recipe studio estimates the original gravity from all of them.

Reference table

Malt extract that replaces 1 kg (or 1 lb) of base malt at 36 PPG, by brewhouse efficiency (rows)
Efficiency	Dry malt extract	Liquid malt extract
60%	0.51	0.60
65%	0.56	0.65
70%	0.60	0.70
75%	0.64	0.75
80%	0.69	0.80
85%	0.73	0.85

Sources

John J. Palmer. How to Brew, Brewers Publications, 2006. Typical extract potentials of liquid and dry malt extract and base malt, and the PPG to L°/kg conversion (chapter 18); 3rd edition, online version with the author's updates.

Frequently asked questions

Can any all-grain recipe be converted to extract?

The base malt can be replaced with extract. Specialty malts such as crystal and roasted malts add color and flavor that pale extract does not have, so keep them and steep them in hot water, or use them in a small partial mash.

Which efficiency should I enter?

Your brewhouse efficiency for grain: how much of the grain's extract reaches the fermenter. If the recipe states the efficiency it was designed for, use that number when converting from grain.

Why does liquid extract weigh more than dry?

Liquid malt extract still contains water, about a fifth of its weight. One kilogram of dry extract gives about as much gravity as 1.17 kg of liquid extract.

Will the beer taste the same?

Close, but not identical. Extract beers can come out a little darker and less fermentable, depending on the extract. Adding the extract late in the boil helps keep the color light.

What potentials does the calculator use?

About 42 PPG for dry malt extract and 36 PPG for liquid malt extract, and 36 PPG for base malt unless you enter another value. Check your supplier's figures if they differ.