Why shoulld I use liquid malt extract ?

[eimar]

I'm mostly an all grain homebrewer , but I'm amazed about the improvement of malt extract compared to what it was when I started ... more than 25 years ago.
Today we can download the specs of malt extract ( from Briess for example ) , that was unknown several years ago.
I use Briess CBW Pilsen light DME for making yeast starters and to brew some quick one when I feel "lazy"
What are the advantages ( if any ) of using LME over DME ?
LME is messy to weight
LME costs more to ship (one pay to have some ... water shipped )
Maillard reactions , while the extract is stored , are faster with LME than with DME

I'm not sarcastic here, I just want to know

Jacques

 

[ericbw]

I prefer DME. I think it can be neater than the DME powder that gets all over everything. For a beginner, 1 can of LME is easier to use - no weighing, depending on the recipe you use.

Doesn't seem like much of a reason!

 

[Yooper]

LME comes in more "flavors". I've seen Munich LME, rye LME, maris otter LME, Vienna LME, even gluten-free sorghum LME. I've never seen those in DME.

 

[ericbw]

That's true, and it seems like it's growing. Why don't they make those in DME? Especially since you might use a little rye but not the whole can.

 

[dmtaylor]

LME is an inferior product overall. The specialty ones for Munich, rye, etc. are the ONLY reasons I'd consider using any of them. And even then, I'm willing to bet, if Brulosophy did a side-by-side of one of those as the base vs. amber LME, they couldn't reliably taste any difference. (To my knowledge, they have not run such an xBmt but I'm just guessing what the result would be.)

 

[ericbw]

LME is an inferior product overall. The specialty ones for Munich, rye, etc. are the ONLY reasons I'd consider using any of them. And even then, I'm willing to bet, if Brulosophy did a side-by-side of one of those as the base vs. amber LME, they couldn't reliably taste any difference. (To my knowledge, they have not run such an xBmt but I'm just guessing what the result would be.)

Why is LME inferior overall?

 

[shoengine]

The only thing I am aware of that would make LME inferior to DME is the darkening and staling during storage. And DME isn't perfect either. If you don't use the entire amount you open, you have to be extremely careful because it sucks moisture out of the air like a desiccant.

 

[kh54s10]

I would say the only way LME is better is the flavors you can get.

I used light DME and use specialty grains to add flavor and color.

LME will drop to the bottom of the pot and possibly scorch. DME will clump into balls that are difficult to break up in the wort. I haven't had any problem keeping DME dry. I store it in the fridge in its original bag and that inside a ziplock bag.

 

[Homercidal]

The only thing I am aware of that would make LME inferior to DME is the darkening and staling during storage. And DME isn't perfect either. If you don't use the entire amount you open, you have to be extremely careful because it sucks moisture out of the air like a desiccant.

Those issues are enough to keep me from preferring LME.

I've used DME for years and never had an issue with it drawing moisture like that. I generally just roll up the opened end and either use a clip to hold it shut, or put a piece of tape over it. Half a bag of Light DME has stayed fine for almost 2 years that way.

Anyway, the question isn't so much whether your extract will go bad while you have it sitting on YOUR shelf, as much as whether it will have gone bad sitting on the STORE shelf. I'd go with a properly sealed bag of DME over LME any day. (All other things equal.)

I too would be curious to see an Xbeeriment between the various base malts in liquid extract form.

 

[shoengine]

Well, apparently DME is perfect, I stand corrected.

 

[ong]

At least at my local shops, LME is quite a bit cheaper (per point of gravity added). I mainly just use it to boost gravity for beers that are too big for my system.

 

[eimar]

Thank to the members who took some of their time to reply.
To resume:

DME

Easy to weight
stable during storage

gets all over everything
hygroscopic ( absorbs moisture )
DME will clump into balls that are difficult to break up in the wort

LME

More flavors
Might be cheaper in some homebrew store

Once the can is open you must use it
drop to the bottom of the pot and possibly scorch

Good conclusion : Anyway, the question isn't so much whether your extract will go bad while you have it sitting on YOUR shelf, as much as whether it will have gone bad sitting on the STORE shelf. I'd go with a properly sealed bag of DME over LME any day. (All other things equal.)


Using specialty grains is an easy way to improve both DME and LME

Jacques

 

[ericbw]

Yep, that's a good summary.

One other thing I have noticed is that liquid *tends* to finish a little higher than DME for me. Sometimes. But there are a lot of factors involved, so it could be other things, too.

 

[dmtaylor]

You all identified everything well enough so I don't have to.

 

[Darthbrewder]

One thing I've noticed that wasn't mentioned here is the difference in dextrin and proteins in LME and DME.

Using DME I always have a larger hot break.

Using lME I hardly ever have much of a hot break to baby sit.

Any thoughts or similar experience with this?

 

[AJinJacksonville]

Like Darth said, I typically notice much more of a reaction on the hot break on the DME than with the LME. Initially, I did all my extract brews with LME...mainly due to the variety. As I've gone on though, I have figured out how to manage the DME to the point where I actually prefer it, and then use specialty grains to tweak whatever I believe needs tweaking.

Overall, I'm never dissatisfied with the results using either...haha.

I've learned that by dumping all the DME into a large bowl and then adding it gently, it minimizes the clumping in the liquid and the mess it can make if pouring right out of the bag it comes in. Took me about three or four extract brews to finally figure out how much I was wasting by pouring right in from the bag...duh...

 

[eimar]

One point in favour of LME .A few months ago I brewed one IPA from malt extract. I always purchase Briess Pilsen light DME but i was no available so I ordered the LME version . To me it looks like that fresh LME has more flavour and aroma than the DME version.

 

[Lefou]

One point in favour of LME .A few months ago I brewed one IPA from malt extract. I always purchase Briess Pilsen light DME but i was no available so I ordered the LME version . To me it looks like that fresh LME has more flavour and aroma than the DME version.

When purchasing the Briess LME products select for freshness. The smaller 3.3lb canisters should have production dates on the bottom. I used to stock shelves in a super market after-hours and even though you're taught to pull the oldest stock to the front, a large variance in dates can be found with sealed, processed food product.
Select the freshest you can find, and yes, extract has been boiled and concentrated, so it's common to find your "hot break" never really happens unless you augment with freshly mashed grain that contains uncooked proteins and gluten.