Cream Ale came out much darker than I expected

[Rich_S]

I brewed a Cream Ale yesterday with the following grain bill:

7 lbs Rahr 2-row
0.75 lbs Gambrinus Honey Malt
0.25 lbs Biscuit Malt
0.5 lbs Carapils

I was expecting this one to come out a medium golden color, but it's almost as dark as the American Amber Ale in the carboy next to it (which has 0.5 lbs Crystal 60 and 0.5 lbs Crystal 120) and going by memory it looks to be as dark as my usual English Pale Ale (which uses Maris Otter for the base plus a half pound of Crystal 60).

I figured with the Rahr 2-row and no Crystal it would be significantly lighter.

I've never used Honey or Biscuit malts before, do they add significant color?

Granted, it's still in the carboy and will look lighter in the glass, but I was still surprised by how dark it came out.

 

[waldoar15]

I think it's more of a visual trick on you eyes with light refraction and such. I've got a Pils lagering and it looks darker in bulk than I know it really is.

You could always swap out some base malt for corn. It's pretty much within style for cream ales anyway.

ETA, I've never used that much honey malt and don't know how much it will effect the color. I don't think I've ever used more than a 1/4 lb.

 

[Rich_S]

I think it's more of a visual trick on you eyes with light refraction and such. I've got a Pils lagering and it looks darker in bulk than I know it really is.

I'm sure it probably is mostly that. When I took a sample for the OG measurement, it looked a lot lighter in the sample tube, though still darker than I expected.

You could always swap out some base malt for corn. It's pretty much within style for cream ales anyway.

ETA, I've never used that much honey malt and don't know how much it will effect the color. I don't think I've ever used more than a 1/4 lb.

I basically followed the recipe I downloaded off of Northern Brewer, but added the carapils like I do with all my beers. I agree on the corn though, and using a Pilsner malt would have further lightened it.

 

[Rob_B]

It should lighten up when its done and in a glass but still should be about 6 SRM according to the iBremaster app which is a little darker than the style guidlines for a Cream Ale. But hey if it taste good than that's all that matters!