Eves

Recipes 

I haven't switched to all grain and due to a lack of equipment I probably wont be going all grain any time soon. Mini mashing is sort of out for the moment as well. So I will be sticking to extract. I've been looking at lots of different recipes and I see generally the majority of extract brews use LME, sometimes exclusively. I am not sure if I've seen a recipe where DME is used entirely without any LME.

Can DME be used for a full batch without the use of any LME? Is there a flavor difference that makes this not worthwhile?


I only ask because if I were to buy either in bulk for homebrewing I think DME would be easier to use since scooping out DME has to be easier than scooping out LME from bulk containers. Sure I understand clumping is an issue and if I'm not aggressively brewing often the DME might not be good before I finish it. But given the price I can get a 50lbs bag for it might be worthwhile to try.

doubleb

Recipes 

DME is the same as LME. DME has 2% water where as LME has 20%. DME actually has a better shelf life than LME.

The only reason I would use LME is if it were a special variety. I don't know why but there are many more varieties of LME than DME. I wish it were the other way around.

Remember though not all the Malt Extracts are created equal. Some have less fermentables than others for a better body. Some a lot of fermentables.

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Zymurgrafi

Recipes 

and because of that fact you will need to use more LME or less DME when swapping them in a given recipe. There is a rate somewhere for converting, unfortunately I cannot remember it right now.

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Eves

Recipes 

Yep, I was aware that swapping them would require different amounts due to water content. For example: 6.6lbs of light LME is about the same as 5.5.lbs of light DME.

Good to know that they can be used interchangably. Thanks

billtzk

Recipes 

DME is hygroscopic, so if you buy bulk quantities, you'll need to make sure you can seal it air and moisture tight. The very fine powder is sticky and gets on everything if you aren't careful.

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Yooper

Recipes 

I rarely used LME because I preferred DME, so almost all of my recipes used DME. It does store better. You can keep it a long time in a cool dry place. I still keep a big bag in my kitchen cupboard just for making yeast starters.

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madewithchicken

Recipes 

I have never tried a all DME. Actually I have never bought DME before. My LHBS has cheap bulk LME and is only 1/4 mile or so from my house.

I think i will do an all DME beer now.

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Eves

Recipes 

When you have bought LME in bulk how did you take out only what you needed? I mean with a bag of 50lbs of DME I don't really see a problem scooping out the powder. But with 50lbs of LME I just don't see how that would be an easy task.

Just curious

Yooper

Recipes 

The homebrew stores fill plastic "milk jugs" from big vats. They have a valve they open and give you only what you need.

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madewithchicken

Recipes 

My LHBS ( listermann.com ) has huge barrels of LME and buckets with lines on them. If you want 6 pounds of Canadian Light they fill to the 6 pound line. Most of their extract is currently $2.40 a pound.

Where do you buy 50 pound DME for cheap? I mean shipping on that must be a b!tch.

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Check out my videos on my profile or at:

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