Inexperience question #421 Pale vs. Amber Extract

[Grinder12000]

What would be the basic difference between using, say, and Amber Malt Extract instead of a Pale Malt Extract.

I can't find any real info on WHAT the differences are besides color.

Is that THAT big of a difference??

I notice Austin Home Brew Supply does not even carry a Pale Extract so I purchased an Amber for my American amber Ale. Just curious WHAT the difference would be ??

You guys must think I sit around all day thinking of questions . . . yup . . but not just for the sake of asking - for the sake of learning.

 

[Yooper]

Well, the pale is lighter. I usually buy the pale extract, because LME tends to darken (carmelize) during the boil anyway. Actually, when I buy DME, I buy the lightest available, too, and then just use specialty grains for color and flavor.

I think that I've read that the amber does have a slightly different flavor, but that depends on the manufacturer. Here's some info from NorthenBrewer.com on their products:

Northern Brewer Amber. Northern Brewer Amber is a mix of pale and Munich malt with Caramel 60 for a sweet malt flavor with caramel overtones.

Northern Brewer Gold. Northern Brewer Gold is made from pale malt with a small amount of CaraPils and is light colored with a malt flavor.

Northern Brewer Pilsen. This is the lightest-colored 100% malted barley extract available — 1.5 - 3.0° L. Produces a very crisp clear wort with a subtle, malty flavor and is an excellent base for all beers, especially pale styles

For your beer, I would have chosen the middle one, but I think other than being very dark, your beer will still be great.

AHS does have a pale extract:

Extra Pale Liquid Malt Extract [00761]
$2.79

We buy our liquid malt extract exclusively from North American sources. The main reason for this is simple: transit time. We get our extract months faster from the manufacturer than we would if we bought from overseas suppliers. The added transit time causes malt extract to darken. So our extract (your extract) got here quicker, and is lighter and fresher.

Our extra pale extract has an EBC rating of approximately 2.5 (1.25 lovibond)

 

[Drunkensatyr]

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_21_72_133&products_id=141

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_21_72_132&products_id=135

 

[Grinder12000]

I saw the Extra Pale but a poster here said stay away from EXTRA Pale.

So it's MOSTLY color with a little flavor - no probs then - this entire recipe is being mangled anyway with hops being unavailable and so forth. I can't wait!!!!!

Thanks you. I will become a supporter soon.

 

[Yooper]

I saw the Extra Pale but a poster here said stay away from EXTRA Pale.

So it's MOSTLY color with a little flavor - no probs then - this entire recipe is being mangled anyway with hops being unavailable and so forth. I can't wait!!!!!

Thanks you. I will become a supporter soon.

I don't know who told you to stay away from extra pale malt- it's what I would use as a base malt if I was buying liquid malt extract. I prefer dry malt extract (DME), though, hugely over LME.