Crystal Malt Question

[Brinck17]

I have seen some recipes that have .5 lbs crystal 40 and .5 lbs crystal 120. why would you not just use 1 lbs crystal 80 or would it even make a difference?
As I understand the crystal malt is mainly used for coloring wouldn't both beers be equivalent. Thanks in advance for the education.

 

[Yooper]

The beers would be the same color, but not taste the same. Crystal 120L is burnt/raisiny/toffee flavored, while crystal 40L is caramel tasting.

The flavors are very very different. Crystal malt is not used primarily for color; it is used primarily for flavor.

 

[didinho]

maybe the one that wrote the recipe just had thore ingredients and not crystal 80...

 

[madk]

Yooper is spot on. The flavors of crystal malts change a ton from caramely -> raisiny -> roasty.

 

[Staylow]

Yes, Yooper is spot on, as always. Though crystal malt is also used for body and head retention, beyond flavor and color.