dontman

Recipes 

I switched to AG a while ago but tonight I was in the mood to do a quick brew. I used a 4 lb container of Wheat LME in a partial mash.

This is my gripe. I was doing a Belgian Wit and I used only grains until flameout. I had a beautiful very light, very fragrant, wort going and then I add the LME and bam, suddenly I am working with an Amber Wit.

This drives me crazy and was one of my primary motivations for moving to AG.

This weekend I served a Blue Moon clone (my last Extract plus Steep) that tasted delicious but was darker than Killians.

I understand the causes behind extracts being so dark but I can not understand why a better wheel has not been invented. It seems as though freeze drying methods used in coffee to remove liquid could be utilized here. If not, there should be other ways to accomplish the task. Am I wrong?

Rant over.

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On Tap: 1. Kelly R. IPA, 2. Roter Hund Hefeweizen, 3. Bud Killer Blonde, 4. Red Dog Pale, 5. Roter Hund Oktoberfest, 6. Pumpkin Ale, 7. McRed's Stout (with new nitro system and stout tap,) Cream Soda, 8. ESB # 3, & 9. Ordinary Bitter.

WBC

Recipes 

I agree but you and I can not change nature or much else for that matter. Just be glad that you finally found out how to brew lighter and better brews by changing to all grain. Your best brews are yet to come.

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WBC

Fermentor 1: Bill's House Ale II, Fermentor 2: German Helles, Fermentor 3: Bill's Schworzbier (Black Bier)
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Pivzavod

Recipes 

My 2nd batch which I have only 3 bottles left was a Blue Moon clone that was extract. It came out orangey. I'll try to remember to take a picture of it and let you compare to your color.

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blue800

Recipes 

"no your not wrong your just an A-hole" -Jeffery Lebowski

I just brewed my first partial mash last night that called for DME, but my LHBS guy said he doesn't carry it because of how messy it is... So I used LME. If I want to do a lighter style in the future can I use DME or is the only option all grain?

Nurmey

Recipes 

Yes, light or extra light DME will give you a lighter colored beer. I think your LHBS is full of crap about the messy part too. Order some online and give it a try.

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BrewTaster

Recipes 

+1. I think LME is WAY messier then DME.

uncleozzy

Recipes 

I dunno, I've got an extract hefeweizen in the fermenter right now, and the hydro samples are all yellow-gold, at the darkest. 1# of Breiss wheat LME added at 60 minutes, 6# at 15 minutes. It could be lighter, but no way, no how could you describe it as "amber."

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On Deck: Amarillo Blonde, Calico Tail Pale #2
In Bottles: AHS Long Trail Ale Clone; AHS Karankawa Pale Ale; Toasty Amber

Bobby_M

Recipes 

It all depends on how thick of a column of wort you're looking through. Sure, in a pot or carboy, it's going to look dark. In a thin hydrometer test tube, it will look light. The real judge is when you pour the beer into a pint (or other style appropriate) glass.

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uncleozzy

Recipes 

Oh, yeah, I should note that I pour my hydro samples into my Sam Adams sample glass and stick them in the fridge for a few minutes before tasting. So I'm pretty sure the color on this brew will be plenty light.

It does look amber in the fermenter, of course.

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Primary: Empty
On Deck: Amarillo Blonde, Calico Tail Pale #2
In Bottles: AHS Long Trail Ale Clone; AHS Karankawa Pale Ale; Toasty Amber

dontman

Recipes 

Are we actually splitting hairs on "exactly" how much darker LME makes beers. My point is that it adds a point or two of SRM for every pound of LME I use.

On Browns and Porters and Stouts and a lot of beers frankly it does not really matter but on the area where I make most of my beers, Pales, Creams, Blondes, and Pilsners it does make a difference. It offends my sensibility.

I know I am not alone here. Chill haze does not affect flavor but a lot of people go to a lot of trouble to eliminate it.

So to answer your question. For my style, (Belgian Wit) I would hope for maybe 4 SRM and instead I have a beer that is probably an 8 or 9. Is this really a problem, no, but I am doing AG to make it go away and won't have it again.

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On Tap: 1. Kelly R. IPA, 2. Roter Hund Hefeweizen, 3. Bud Killer Blonde, 4. Red Dog Pale, 5. Roter Hund Oktoberfest, 6. Pumpkin Ale, 7. McRed's Stout (with new nitro system and stout tap,) Cream Soda, 8. ESB # 3, & 9. Ordinary Bitter.