So because of this thread, I tried roasting some grain and making some crystal last night. I mashed my crystal in 155F water for a few hours, just left it sit. By the time I took it out, it has saturated and I figured conversion was complete. Then, I put the 1 lb of converted grains in 2 sheet pans into my oven. Instructions said 250F for 2 hours until dry, so I set my automatic oven for 2.5 hours and went to bed.
This morning, the grains were all crunchy but not burned, and they are TASTY. Definitely very crunchy, they are like little candies which is, I assume, what we are looking for. The lovibond is darker than I expected. I bit one in half, and did the same with my store bought crystal 90L, and 40L. My home made is much darker than the 40L, but not nearly as dark as the 90L. Those differences in Lovibond must be large even though the number difference is small. I am definitely stoked to try this crystal out! Maybe in a nice ESB? Or perhaps a roasty IPA?