Malt extract

[scorpien222]

Ok I am new to brewing and am still at the research stage I have not purchased any equipment or anything yet I want to learn as much as I can before even attempting a brew I have a question regarding malt extract what's the difference between dry malt extract and liquid malt extract ? Apart from if I saw right in my local home brew shop the other day that the liquid extract is around double the price. The reason I ask this is I have been reading John palmers how to brew and for his first recommended brew it tells you to use a fair amount of both of they are the same then why use a mixture ?

 

[y6y6y6]

You should read the "this vs that" sticky for more details, but they are basically different versions of the same thing. Picking dry rather than liquid is not a meaningful differentiater in terms of how the beer will turn out. Mixing them is fine, though most just pick one of the other. Remember to convert weights - 1lb DME = .8lb LME.

 

[homebrewdad]

I prefer dry for ease of use - there is less risk of scorching it (which is EASY to do with liquid), and less worry about carmelizing and getting darker colors. I also hate getting it out of the can.

That being said, dry is a pain in the butt to get to dissolve.

 

[Revvy]

The only difference is that one has had all the liquid removed totally, and one hasn't....Hence "Liquid" and "Dry." That's really all there is to it.

People have preferences for each which has been thoroughly discussed in this post in the "This vs That" thread.

 

[PA49erFan21]

The stores I purchase my kits from charge more for DME which is why I mainly use LME. Not sure why your LHBS charges twice as much for the LME.

 

[scorpien222]

So am I right in thinking that 1LB of LME is the same as using 0.8LB of DME because 20% of the LME is water ? I am not sure why it is much cheaper for the DME I think it was around £4.50 for the DME and £10.50 for the LME.

 

[ludomonster]

I have a LHBS that charges the same for 3 lb DME and 3.3 lb LME. I go for the LME if it's available since I add it late.

 

[y6y6y6]

So am I right in thinking that 1LB of LME is the same as using 0.8LB of DME because 20% of the LME is water ?

Yes. Also, yes.

I am not sure why it is much cheaper for the DME I think it was around £4.50 for the DME and £10.50 for the LME.

Assuming the weight is the same, and we're talking about the same type of malt, I think you read something wrong. Those prices look quite incorrect. I don't know of any place that would ever charge double for LME. That doesn't happen.

 

[scorpien222]

Right I will have to go back an double check I went in to get a few bits foraging some wine and just had a quick look I.