What does this mean in an ingredient

I was reading different recipes online and for a mild beer with one of the ingredients calling for 0.5 lb. crystal malt (55 *L) but replace the asteric with a small dregree type circle i couldn't find symbol on my keyboard what does the 55 mean?

Its the degree Lovibond. Color of the malt. The higher the number the darker the roast

My understanding is the opposite deg Linter is the Diastatic power of the malt, the darker the roast the lower the malts ability to convert itself to simpler sugar. 40 deg Linter is where you want your total grain bill to be in order to efficiently convert. Darker roasts have little and sometimes no deg L, where an American 2row pills has something like 100 -120 deg L.

also, I found this to help explain in slightly more detail : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/°Lintner

I think it's safe to say that if you're reading a recipe that calls for Crystal, the 55 is referring to which Lovibond and not it's ability to convert itself.

Edit: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Crystal_malt

carrotmalt said:

I think it's safe to say that if you're reading a recipe that calls for Crystal, the 55 is referring to which Lovibond and not it's ability to convert itself.

Edit: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Crystal_malt

Click to expand...

Agreed.

carrotmalt said:

I think it's safe to say that if you're reading a recipe that calls for Crystal, the 55 is referring to which Lovibond and not it's ability to convert itself.

Edit: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Crystal_malt

Click to expand...

+1 when you look at ingredients online they usually specify the *L after the grain name...Here is the page of crystal malt from midwest - for 55L you would just go with 50-60L

OK then, I stand corrected.

rave808 said:

but replace the asteric with a small dregree type circle i couldn't find symbol on my keyboard

Click to expand...

Use the character map, or ALT+248(hold alt, type the numbers, release ALT). I work with temp controls and use ° often.