How close do your ingredients need to be to the recipe

[mr_meeple]

I've been reading a lot of recipes here and I'm wondering just how exact the ingredients need to be to the listed recipe. I don't want to sound like one of these, it'll do, type guys but I'm struggling to find the exact of everything on an ingredients list.

For example I saw this recipe which shows a yeast of S-05, the closest one shop I looked at stock is S-04. Does that matter? I know it won't be an exact match to the beer in the recipe but will that be an issue? Or will it just turn out a complete mess?

Additionally, and I know this has probably been asked before, is this fine as the 2-row listed in this recipe? On this page there are a lot of pale malts listed, I know some are ales and some aren't, but what's the difference between them all? Why isn't it specified which to use on the recipe?

Final one. on this recipe again, it lists Caramel 20L. This is listed as 60 EBC which is think is ~30L and is the closest I can find to 20L is that the same, okay, or not okay? There are also a lot of other malts here too, some of which are also 60 EBC what's the difference?

Sorry for all the questions at once and all the links!

 

[BGBC]

Yes, all of these things will make a difference and impact your end product, some more than others.

S-04 vs S-05 will produce a different beer. WLP001 and WY1056 are equivalents for S-05. Any American Ale yeast would be more similar to S-05 than S-04.

Different maltsters offer different malts or call some similar malts by different names. A malt substitution chart might be helpful to refer to if you can't find certain specialty malts: http://www.brew.is/files/malt.html

Marris Otter specifically is not equivalent to 2-row pale malt. MO is traditionally used in British and has a maltier/breadier flavor than 2-row when used as the primary base malt.

 

[mr_meeple]

Thanks for your reply, that's a really useful table you've linked to by the looks of it.

From that table can I therefore then substitute the 2 row on the recipe I've linked to with this?

 

[rodwha]

Are there any other shops you can shop from?

I'd think US-05 ought to be available there if you look. Not sure about pale malt though, but with American beers gaining popularity there is think someone carries it.

We have a local IPA made here where the guys used Maris Otter, Munich, and American 2-row and it's quite nice and unique.

 

[DromJohn]

The Northern Brewer Condundrum Session IPA I'm drinking is Pilsner based, very good and shows off the hops.
Another option is the Clear Choice, though pricy.
CaraRed for the C20.
No White Labs, so use the Wyeast 1056.

 

[unionrdr]

To me, 2-row has a bit more color & flavor than pilsner malt. US-05 is a " clean" yeast.

 

[jrcrilly]

Yes, all of these things will make a difference and impact your end product, some more than others.

Yup. And you may well like the differences. No recipe is perfect.

 

[douglasbarbin]

To me, 2-row has a bit more color & flavor than pilsner malt.

My experience has been the opposite. But then again, I usually get German Pilsner malt and U.S. 2-row, so that also makes a difference.

 

[douglasbarbin]

For example I saw this recipe which shows a yeast of S-05, the closest one shop I looked at stock is S-04. Does that matter? I know it won't be an exact match to the beer in the recipe but will that be an issue? Or will it just turn out a complete mess?

S-04 is a British Ale yeast that is a little fruiter and more flocculant than US-05. Personally, I probably like it a little bit more.

Additionally, and I know this has probably been asked before, is this fine as the 2-row listed in this recipe? On this page there are a lot of pale malts listed, I know some are ales and some aren't, but what's the difference between them all? Why isn't it specified which to use on the recipe?

Maris Otter looks like the closes thing that your homebrew store has. It's a little nuttier than American 2-row, but close enough, really.

Final one. on this recipe again, it lists Caramel 20L. This is listed as 60 EBC which is think is ~30L and is the closest I can find to 20L is that the same, okay, or not okay? There are also a lot of other malts here too, some of which are also 60 EBC what's the difference?

CaraRed is essentially the same as Crystal 20.

 

[Calder]

S-04, MO, and C30 will make a fine beer. It will not be the same as the recipe. It could be better. It all depends on what you like. S-04 will make it a little fruitier, MO will be maltier, and C30 will be slightly darker, and a little sweeter.