Doesn't Crystal increase Final Gravity?

[cmoewes]

I was working on a recipe and wanted to bump up the (estimated) FG so I decided to replace some of the Pale Malt with Crystal Malt. But to my surprise and confusion BeerSmith didn't change the final gravity. I thought that the point of Crystal malt (in addition to color) was to increase residual sweetness which I assumed meant final gravity.

Am I making an assumption on the function of Crystal malt or the way BeerSmith should calculate? I tried a quick similar test on brewersfriend and saw the same result (no change in FG with the addition of Crystal malt).

What am I missing here?

I know I can bump up the FG by mashing higher but I thought that adding some Crystal would so it as well.

 

[bobbrews]

I wouldn't say it "increases" it per se, but depending on the amount used, cara- malts can get in the way of attaining the lowest possible final gravity.

Brewing software offers a basic estimation. Often, it is quite accurate if your times & temperatures are also accurate, but try not to think of that estimation as a definite.

 

[RmikeVT]

It will increase your FG to some extent given no other variables change.

You might have to do that calculation on your own and come up with some estimates. I don't think BeerSmith does this calculation for you. Here is a good article:

http://www.themadfermentationist.com/2013/03/technical-notes-on-fermentability.html

 

[cmoewes]

It will increase your FG to some extent given no other variables change.

You might have to do that calculation on your own and come up with some estimates. I don't think BeerSmith does this calculation for you. Here is a good article:

http://www.themadfermentationist.com/2013/03/technical-notes-on-fermentability.html

Cool, thanks. That is what I thought. I could see my estimated FG go up and I raised my mash temperature. But as I substituted crystal malt for base malt I didn't see anything happen to the estimated FG so I knew something wasn't following my expectations. I guess it is BeerSmith.