Why is the LME addition so late?

[kevinb]

Usually when I brew a kit, the LME goes in at the start of the boil. I did a kit today and the instructions called for the LME is the last 5 min of the boil. Why is that?

 

[Hammy71]

Your really only boiling it to kill any "baddies" in the extract. By adding the LME at the end of the boil, you can help stop the beer from being to dark. Often extract brewing produces darker beers than desired. So, adding late keeps the brew lighter, while still providing the sugars you need to make the alcohol.

 

[kevinb]

thanks, I usually brew dark beers and this one is a blonde. That makes sense.

 

[rodwha]

I don't add my LME until flameout so as not to concern myself with scorching it.