Adding color to an IPA

[seanppp]

I don't like to much crystal in my IPAs but I like a bit of color (maybe 5-7 SRM), and I'm wondering if adding a 1/2 oz of Carafa Special III to an 5-gal batch of IPA recipe would be perceivable at all? According to Beersmith it'd add somewhere around 1.5 SRM to the beer, but I don't any roast flavor. Do you think it'd be negligible with regard to flavor?

 

[kombat]

Such a small amount would likely not be noticeable, but I've never tried it. Personally, I like to add 2-4 oz of Crystal 120L or Caraaroma to my IPA's to give them that beautiful, copper hue. I'd do that first before adding anything roasted.

 

[BigMack]

I wouldn't risk adding any unwanted flavors for such a small change in color, but that is just my $0.02

 

[atom]

yes, a small amount of carafa III special would give you color without flavor.

 

[brandonnys]

I agree with atom that an amount that small likely won't introduce much as far as flavor goes, but will go a long way with the color.

I would agree more with kombat. 2 ounces of C120 is more than enough to give you a really nice copper color, with minimal maltiness.

 

[Redlantern]

Check out midnight wheat

 

[Gavin C]

I don't like to much crystal in my IPAs but I like a bit of color (maybe 5-7 SRM), and I'm wondering if adding a 1/2 oz of Carafa Special III to an 5-gal batch of IPA recipe would be perceivable at all? According to Beersmith it'd add somewhere around 1.5 SRM to the beer, but I don't any roast flavor. Do you think it'd be negligible with regard to flavor?

IPA w/ a little Carafe III special






Tastes good. No roastiness.

 

[Yesfan]

Just curious. If you wanted some roastiness, what would you add and how much to keep the SRM the same? I had a beer once that looked like Gavin's. The aromas screamed IPAs, then all of a sudden you're hit with a bit of smoky roasty flavors. I liked it.

 

[ajdelange]

As it turns out to an amazing degree of truth all beer colorants are the same by which I mean that they all have the same absorption spectra normalized to 430 nm, the wavelength at which SRM and EBC color are measured. Weyermann makes a product called Sinamar (which means, literally, in Latin "without bitterness") that adds that colorant without adding any detectable (to me, anyway) flavor. LHBS's carry it. If you want to add color without changing flavor this stuff will do it for you.

 

[soulsuit]

Sinamar is a good choice, but I personally like to cold steep small quantities of Midnight Wheat for minor color adjustments.