Best way to add Red

[snwmnhntr]

Looking to make an Oktoberfest recipe have more of a red tint. Would you use Melanoidin or Cara-red? I've never used either one so just looking for opinions.

 

[thunder]

Looking to make an Oktoberfest recipe have more of a red tint. Would you use Melanoidin or Cara-red? I've never used either one so just looking for opinions.

maybe some caramel or Crystal 20 to 120 l

 

[Berock]

what about a small about of roasted barley?

 

[thunder]

what about a small about of roasted barley?

Sure it has a 300L rating I make some irish reds and use dark crystals and
chocolates

 

[phasedweasel]

I would second the roasted barley, but a small amount of black malt might be even better. In very small quantities black malt will add even less flavor than the roast probably, it's more subtle than you might think. It should also come very dark (500 L) allowing you to use less.

 

[BigEd]

Looking to make an Oktoberfest recipe have more of a red tint. Would you use Melanoidin or Cara-red? I've never used either one so just looking for opinions.

If you want to add red to a beer the best way is a small amount of black malt. Carafa II works well, try about 1.5 oz for five gallons. That said, IMO an Oktoberfest shouldn't be red, orange/amber is more like it and that color should come from Munich and Vienna malts.

 

[LexusChris]

If you want to add red to a beer the best way is a small amount of black malt. Carafa II works well, try about 1.5 oz for five gallons. That said, IMO an Oktoberfest shouldn't be red, orange/amber is more like it and that color should come from Munich and Vienna malts.

+1 ... for Octoberfest beers, I would lean on Munich/Vienna malts. For red ales, the small amounts of black patent malt or Carafa II would give you a nice red hue (provided you are not using other dark malts)

I tried the roasted barley once, and it will give you the color AND a roasted aroma/taste...

Good luck!
--LexusChris

 

[snwmnhntr]

Yea my recipe has lots of Pils, Munich and Vienna with a touch of CaraMunich. I was thinking a maybe 3-4oz of cara-red or melanoidin might give it a slightly more red/amber hue.

 

[Malticulous]

Mine was amber-almost red. 52% pills, 21% dark munich (16L,) 21% vienna, 2% crystal 60-L, 2% caramunich 120L, 2% melanoidin malt. It is one of my best ever brews.

 

[BierMuncher]

Melanoidin