razyrsharpe

Recipes 

i am brewing a Canadian Ale today. I am shooting for a light, golden color for this brew and would like to hear about any tips/tricks you guys use for getting the lighter colors.
(the only real reason i am trying to do this is because it seems to be more difficult to get friends to try the beer when it is a darker color. i constantly get the "i don't drink dark beer" comment) i personally love dark beer, but want to try the lighter colors also, to round out my experiences.

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I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotamy!

malkore

Recipes 

do a search for Late Extract Addition

it helps keep the extract from darkening up so much. assuming you're also doing partial boils (like 2 gallons) it'll also increase your hop utilization, so you need to re-calculate your bittering hop addition so you don't over do the IBU's for the style.

other ways include doing partial mashes and only using Extra light DME. or going all grain.

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Malkore
Primary: English Mild
On tap: Pale Ale, Lancelot's Wheat, English Brown Ale, Steam Beer, HoovNuts IPA
Bottled: MOAM, Braggot, Raspberry Melomel, Merlot, Apfelwein, Pyment, Sweet mead, Cabernet
Gal in 2009: 27, Gal in 2010: 34, Gal in 2011: 13, Gal in 2012: 10

razyrsharpe

Recipes 

another question...does adding fruit or spice in the boil affect color?

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I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotamy!

oguss0311

Recipes 

To add to what Malkore said- I'd also boil as much water as possible. when you boil like two gal- its hard to get anything lighter than amber colored beer.(in my own experiences)
can't give your an educated answer on the fruits and spices.

malkore

Recipes 

fruit and spice change the color unless its a clear fruit.

however you don't boil fruit.

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Malkore
Primary: English Mild
On tap: Pale Ale, Lancelot's Wheat, English Brown Ale, Steam Beer, HoovNuts IPA
Bottled: MOAM, Braggot, Raspberry Melomel, Merlot, Apfelwein, Pyment, Sweet mead, Cabernet
Gal in 2009: 27, Gal in 2010: 34, Gal in 2011: 13, Gal in 2012: 10

5 Is Not Enough

Recipes 

Serve in a narrow, taller glass like a pilsner glass

gp125racer

Recipes 

Fruit additions can/will cause changes to color and clarity.

gp125racer

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2Dogs HomeBrew List:
Bottled: B3 American Lite
Primary #1: Empty
Primary #2: Jim Rossi Honey Pale Ale
Next Up: Researching....

TexLaw

Recipes 

Next time you get that comment, ask your friend if that's because he's afraid it will stain his panties. You probably won't have the same problem for long.


TL

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Beer is good for anything from hot dogs to heartache.

Drinking Frog Brewery, est. 1993

razyrsharpe

Recipes 

LOL! that is one i will definately use in the future! thanks. i have always been a fan of the "shame them into action" philosophy!

__________________
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotamy!