Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Dark Malt extract  (Read 4115 times)

Offline karlh

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 122
Dark Malt extract
« on: April 01, 2010, 12:31:28 pm »
OK... I'm an all grain brewer, and when I did do extract, I always bought pale or wheat extracts and used crystal and other darker malts for color and flavor contributions.  I always went with the greater amount of control on my part.  Now I won 6.6 lbs of Northwestern/Breiss dark liquid malt extract and I would like to try using it for something besides making starters.  The Breiss web page tells me they use Pale Malt, Munich, and Black malt in the product, but emails to Briess failed to get anything beyond a spec sheet as far as relative proportions or flavor expectations. 

Does anyone out there use Dark Malt extract?  My LHBS tells me some people buy it, but he has no clue what their using it for.  I'm thinking of using it to just boost the gravity a bit in a Baltic Porter, but would love to hear from someone familiar with the product. 
Karl
Mundelein, IL  USA

Offline euge

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8017
  • Ego ceruisam ad bibere cervisiam
Re: Dark Malt extract
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2010, 12:37:25 pm »
I've used it before as an addition to Amber extract- about 50%. The beer was really tasty as an 100% extract recipe. Better than my steeping efforts at the time.




The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

Laws are spider-webs, which catch the little flies, but cannot hold the big ones. -Anacharsis

Offline craigg

  • 1st Kit
  • *
  • Posts: 24
Re: Dark Malt extract
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2010, 06:42:53 pm »
I'm a partial mash brewer, and frequently use either a dark dry DME or straight LDME in about a 1:2 ratio with a light or superlight malt for red ales, browns, and porters. It adds nice body, color and flavor.

Offline diybrewing

  • Retailers
  • Cellarman
  • *
  • Posts: 42
  • Owner of DIY Brewing Supply.
    • DIY Brewing Supply
Re: Dark Malt extract
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2010, 09:43:11 pm »
I never recommend it to people in my shop. The color has too many variables as well as it is different from company to company. I would always use grains for your color and body. You will get more out of it and have greater control too.
DIY Brewing Supply owner. 
The best beer I ever had is the one I have in my hand.
DIY Brewing Supply

Offline karlh

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 122
Re: Dark Malt extract
« Reply #4 on: April 08, 2010, 08:52:16 am »
Back to my original post, I won the stuff in the raffle at a homebrew contest.  I was simply trying to figure out how to use this particular product in beer, rather than just as a fermentable for starters.  I have received numerous opinions over the years that Dark LME "isn't good for much besides starters", and have never bought it.  In fact I had a couple of cans (again free) that sat unused until they were thrown away a few years back.  I simply wanted some advice from someone who has used the stuff on how they used it and what they thought the flavor contribution might be like. 

I added one 3.3# package to a (12g ~1.058) batch of smoked porter to boost the gravity slightly.  I kept the percentage of LME low, so I suspect flavor contributions will be minimal.  I will likely make a similar gravity stout and again use the second package in that. 

For what its worth, it might be a worthwhile experiment for those extract brewers out there to prepare otherwise identical recipies of beer using Pale, Amber, and Dark LME from a single supplier to determine exactly how the flavors differ. 
Karl
Mundelein, IL  USA

Offline euge

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8017
  • Ego ceruisam ad bibere cervisiam
Re: Dark Malt extract
« Reply #5 on: April 08, 2010, 11:37:33 am »
The problem about extract: definitely is a perishable item. Let it sit around too long and you'll get the dreaded extract "twang" which to me tastes "cidery".

Using what you have as a gravity booster sounds like the right approach. Let us know if you can tell it's in there... :)
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

Laws are spider-webs, which catch the little flies, but cannot hold the big ones. -Anacharsis

Offline karlh

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 122
Re: Dark Malt extract
« Reply #6 on: April 28, 2010, 01:42:33 pm »
I can't say there's any indication I used extract.  I will add that I chose not to add any black/patent malt to my porter base, since I knew briess adds some and I was worried about overdoing the roast character.  I did use 1/2 lb of roasted barley (for a 12 gallon batch), and I would say the roast character is quite mild.  My next 3# of dark LME (since I won 2) will most likely go into a belgian with a pound of liquid belgian candy sugar.  I would say the dark malt contribution in this extract (Briess or Northwestern) is minimal.
Karl
Mundelein, IL  USA

Offline euge

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8017
  • Ego ceruisam ad bibere cervisiam
Re: Dark Malt extract
« Reply #7 on: April 29, 2010, 06:54:27 pm »
This sounds about right. My thoughts are if it gets used in Brauerei Euge again then it'll be at 100%.
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

Laws are spider-webs, which catch the little flies, but cannot hold the big ones. -Anacharsis

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11320
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
Re: Dark Malt extract
« Reply #8 on: April 30, 2010, 05:17:00 am »
I would use the extract to bump up a high gravity dark beer. A Baltic Porter would be the perfect fit because you want a heafty amount of sweetness in the end. Or a high gravity sweet stout. Use a style you don't mind getting a  lower attenuation on.