Caramel / Crystal Question

[Satokad]

Hey Folks,

I am a very new brewer (in the middle of my first batch). I was looking to make a small batch and found a recipe on Brewer's Friend. It calls for Caramel/Crystal 30L. I have a bag of 45L that I bought for a different recipe. What would the effect of using the Caramel/Crystal 45L in a recipe that calls for 30L?
Thanks.

 

[ESBrewer]

You can barely notice the difference between 30L and 45L. But you can diminish the amount of crystal slightly (30/45 * amount stated in the recipe) so even the color is going to be the same. Just replace it with base grain so that total weight of grain won't change.

 

[Satokad]

You can barely notice the difference between 30L and 45L. But you can diminish the amount of crystal slightly (30/45 * amount stated in the recipe) so even the color is going to be the same. Just replace it with base grain so that total weight of grain won't change.

Thanks. Is base grain something like that flaked oatmeal I saw in the store?

 

[ESBrewer]

Above, base malt/grain is the malt that constitutes most of the grain bill in the recipe (usually pale malt, pilsner malt, us 2-row, in some recipes vienna or light münich).

 

[Satokad]

Thanks. Is base grain something like that flaked oatmeal I saw in the store?

Got it. Thanks.

 

[deadwolfbones]

To add to that, flaked oatmeal (and other flaked grains like rye, wheat, and corn) are considered "adjuncts." However, there are rye and wheat malts that are considered base grains

 

[balrog]

And to add to that, "flaked" means not malted, so no enzymes to convert starches to sugar. This means you need some base grain (malted 2-row, malted wheat, pilsner, vienna, etc etc) to provide the "distatic power" to convert any adjunct starches to sugars in a mash. I would also note that the color differences imparted by the crystal/caramel malts are the most notable difference, there is also a flavor difference as you go darker crystal (like to currant/dark sugar) the higher C# that you go. You can taste that if you munch a little. I always wish they'd sell a small sample of like 20 grains to allow munching and tasting between various things as I have a really hard time telling my brain whether I'd like to add a grain to add more toast or biscuit or cracker or raisin or roast flavor (those aren't the same thing?).