Less Caramel 60L or more of a lower L?

**rocketman768** · 02-26-2008, 02:46 AM

Assume I am steeping a certain amount of 60L to provide most of the color and caramel flavor in a beer, and I want to make a lighter color beer.

What are the differences if I simply use less of the 60L vs. more of, say, 40L? What would they each taste like compared to the original darker beer? What would you consider the better option?

**the_bird** · 02-26-2008, 02:49 AM

Well, they're a different flavor. The difference bewteen a 40L and a 60L isn't all that extreme, but it's more than just color. Lighter crystal malts tend to impart a "cleaner" sweetness, medium-dark ones a bit more caramel, darker ones a bit more "dark fruit" (raison, plum).

So, it really depends on what you're trying to do... it's not a straight, linear equation. Same amount of each means a lighter color, a "lighter" flavor, but really probably about the same amount of sweetness and mouthfeel.