Anyone ever use carapils as 10% of a recipe?

hobomoto · Jan 23, 2016

If so, how did it turn out?

I went straight from lunch with friends and a couple beers to my LHBS to get my grains for an upcoming brew and made a mistake when I glanced at the 5gal version of my recipe instead of the 3 gal version. My grains are all ground and mixed unfortunately since I realized my mistake too late.

I read about about carapils not really altering flavor at all in the 5% range, only body, then somehow lending a "cloying sweetness" at the 10% range. I can't really find any info from anyone who has actually used 10% carapils though so maybe it won't actually be that bad?

My beer I'm brewing is a Nelson Rye IPA clone. What should I expect?

Jonkl · Jan 23, 2016

I've used that much CaraPils in an amber, back before I knew much of anything. It turned out okay. I think, for some reason, that it gave me heartburn. That's about all I noticed, though. Well, that, and a big mouthfeel.

In a Rye IPA, I don't think flavor or sweetness will be the problem; it should be more than balanced by the hops. But you might want to make sure you mash lower to make up for the extra body that all of that CaraPils will probably give you.

Steady-Hopper · Jan 23, 2016

Carapils doesn't really contribute to sweetness; it enhances the body and head retention of the beer. Likely you'll have a higher f.g than normal, because carapils contributes non-fermentable dextrins. That being said, you should be totally fine. 10% doesn't seem too excessive to me.