LME and DME

[jakead]

Why do some recipes call for both LME and DME?

 

[Yooper]

In many cases, it's due to the availability LME is cheaper, but sometimes it comes only in 3.3 pound cans. If you need, say 4.5 pounds, for a recipe, it's hard to use 1.45 of a second can. So, you can use DME by the pound to "make up" the difference.

Also, sometimes you need a specialty grain that only comes in LME. For example, your recipe might use Munich malt as 1/2 the fermentables. Since it only comes in LME, you might use 3.3 pounds of Munich LME and 3 pounds of DME for the recipe. DME comes in "extra light" so if you want a lighter beer, you'll use DME for some of the fermentables.

 

[sempf]

All the recipes that I have seen calling for both recommend a particular type of hopped LME. That might be part of it anyway.

S

 

[homebrewer_99]

Just remember a recipe is a list of ingredients someone has on hand at the time.

It doesn't necessarilty mean that's what they wanted to use, but what they did use.

 

[Grinder12000]

I use both. LME for the main pump of maly (3.3 lbs) and then DME to fill in the smaller amounts. Easier to work with.