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Dextrose in wort?

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BrewTaster

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Whats it do, why bother using it? What purpose does it accomplish?

I heard a guy talking about it at my LHBS last night, never used it or heard of anyone who has really outside of for carbing. Anyone?
 
it'll dry out the beer, the more you use, adding very little flavor. it's only appropriate with certain styles, such as belgian strong ales. i wouldn't add it to a normal beer.
 
it'll dry out the beer, the more you use, adding very little flavor. it's only appropriate with certain styles, such as belgian strong ales. i wouldn't add it to a normal beer.

Im making a friend a beer tonight, he wants a dry dark ale. I am going to use the Coopers kit (still not at AG yet, will be in the new year). I am thinking of using 2 lbs of light malt and maybe some dextrose with it? Opinions? Should I add some cane sugar to bring up OG? Hes not picky, he just wants a dry dark ale with a half decent ABV
 
Im making a friend a beer tonight, he wants a dry dark ale. I am going to use the Coopers kit (still not at AG yet, will be in the new year). I am thinking of using 2 lbs of light malt and maybe some dextrose with it? Opinions? Should I add some cane sugar to bring up OG? Hes not picky, he just wants a dry dark ale with a half decent ABV


I should also note that he has given me a 40 dollar budget, and my LHBS is a bit pricey, hence the reliance on some subpar ingredients. Not how I would normally do it, and part of why I cant wait for AG
 
A little corn sugar (dextrose) is an easy way to bump up the ABV. The BruVint ABV Boost AHS carries is about half dextrose, half maltose.

I have taken to making my own: 8oz corn sugar, 8oz extra light DME, 8oz rice syrup solids. It will add about 1% to your ABV and has very little effect on the taste.
 
If you're an extract brewer and having a hard time getting the attenuation you want you can sub out a small percentage of the extract, 5% or so, for dextrose (or just cane/table sugar) to help shave off those extra points at the end. But you have to remove some of the malt in order to dry the beer out. Just adding dextrose will up the OG, but have little or no affect on the FG.
 
My two cents on this is avoid using the sugar for a fermentable. The Cooper's cans suggest using sugar for half of your fermentables in a 5 gallon batch. If you want to use the prehopped Cooper's cans I'd suggest using 2 cans and no sugar for a 5 gallon batch, or making a 2.5 gallon batch with one can. You will be happier with the beer.
 
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