Late Malt Extract additions

[Boris2012]

***This needs to be said***
When you follow the loosely inferred guideline to add 20-25% of your extract at the beginning and the balance with a few minutes left
in an attempt to keep your beer a lighter color, you WILL GET HIGHER HOP USAGE! Holy crap is my cream ale bitter! I'm gonna leave this batch sit until fall to see if it mellows out.

So I'm your classic "a little knowledge is dangerous" guy, and now I ask you, what is the process for controlling this outcome? Anyone got a link to a chart or some good advice?

 

[agrazela]

Space out your hop additions, too. Like if the recipe says "1 oz hop X at 60 min", instead do maybe 1/2 oz at 60 min and 1/2 oz at 45 (or 30, or not at all).

 

[sepley]

What was the extract/hops/recipe? Was it a full boil? I am new and have done a few partial boil late additions and have not noticed overly bitter brews. I haven't done a cream ale so maybe that is affected more.

 

[unionrdr]

This is where a recipe calculator like Beersmith comes in handy. You can set your equipment profile to account for partial boils,etc.

 

[boydster]

Use software to help. I use BrewTarget, and it has an option you can select for adding a fermentable late in the boil. I know Beersmith has that option too, although I'm not familiar with the ins and outs of how to use that program.

Edit: Unionrdr, you beat me to the draw

 

[DAJDive]

My last extract was Caribou Slobber and I did a full boil with 100% of LME at flameout. I only used 1/2 of the hops from the recipe. I ball parked it and didn't get an exact measurement. Still was a tad bitter for my liking. But it has sat for a couple months and mellowed out in the keg.

I would say use half of the hops the recipe calls for and adjust from there on your next batches. Unless you like bitter beer.

 

[Boris2012]

I did the Liberty Cream Ale from Midwest Supplies.
Full boil.
6 lb. Gold liquid malt extract
8 oz. Carapils® specialty grains
2 oz. of Cascade pellet hops
But then I got creative....
1/2 oz. of Horizon (wicked Alpha acidity) at flame out. (I'm an idiot)

I added 1/4 of the LME initially, then the balance at flame out. Think I might just boil a 5 gallon batch of (hop free) LME, let it ferment for 2 weeks and add to the other five gallons.