Crystal 60 rather then 120

[Destovi]

So I ordered the ingredients to make Jamils Amber red ale. I must have missed the crystal 120. I can't get it locally in any quantity and am looking to brew this batch shortly. While I realize that ANY change to the recipe will not yield the intended results I do have crystal 60. The requirement for crystal 120 is 0.375lbs or 4% of the 9.5lb grain bill.

I don't fully understand the inner workings of all the grains yet so What I'm wondering is if I substitute this 60 for the 120 am I likely to lose more then just some colour and the slight change in taste or do I run the risk of the entire grainbill working against itself and making an undrinkable mess?

Thanks.

Recipe I'm working off of. (Adjusted for 4.5G post boil):

http://chris.norrick.com/norrickenbier/24.html

 

[wobdee]

It won't be an undrinkable mess just a little lighter in color and flavor.

 

[Hoppity]

The 120 provides color and flavor. 2x60 doesn't equal 120 in this case. It won't screw up the batch, but you should substitute your next closest dark grain to keep it close to your intended target flavor.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

"Just use twice the 60 to equal 120."

I was actually told this once by an LHBS.

Not convinced he wasn't being absolutely serious.

 

[dryboroughbrewing]

Whoops I misread Munich as Crystal 10 I'm blind

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

"Just use twice the 60 to equal 120."

I was actually told this once by an LHBS.

Not convinced he wasn't being absolutely serious.

Yep, 2x 60 doesn't equal 1x 120.

BUT, if the goal is an amber ale, bumping Crystal 60L from 4% up towards 10-12% might still create an amber ale.

It won't have the more definitive character you get from 120L, but it'll be a lot closer to "amber" than 4%.

 

[Destovi]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

 

[Qhrumphf]

They're pretty distinctly different malts. 60L is going to be more in the caramel-toffee sort of sweetness character, where 120L is more in the raisin-dark fruit-burnt sugar sort of sweetness. Either one would be appropriate, it'll just change the character and the color.

 

[agrazela]

Does your LHBS have any Briess Extra Special?

http://www.brewingwithbriess.com/Assets/PDFs/Briess_PISB_ExtraSpecialMalt.pdf

Used that at ~4% (along with ~4% C60L, ~8% Victory and 25% Light Munich) in an all-Centennial amber ale recently, and it turned out fantastic.

 

[thatfatbastard]

Does your LHBS have any Briess Extra Special?

http://www.brewingwithbriess.com/Assets/PDFs/Briess_PISB_ExtraSpecialMalt.pdf

Used that at ~4% (along with ~4% C60L, ~8% Victory and 25% Light Munich) in an all-Centennial amber ale recently, and it turned out fantastic.

That Extra Special smells sooo good.