On August 2, I made my MLPA which I have made many, many times in the past. The recipe calls for one pound of crystal 60 which I did not have at the time. The recipe ended up having 8 ounces of C60, 6 ounces of C40 and 2 ounces of C80 which you would think would get you in the zip code of the pound of C60. However, this beer (now on tap) has the most beautiful color to it. It's a bit lighter but still has this deep amber-orange color to it. Every time I tap a glass of it, I marvel at the color of it. So is it the mash up of crystal malts? I remember hearing at some point that using a combination of various crystal malts was better than using just one. Or... is it the fact that this is the first batch of MLPA where I had good control over mash, sparge and kettle pH? According to Kai, keeping the kettle pH right will help keep beer color truer as opposed to a kettle pH that is too high which can dull and darken the color. Thoughts?
Interesting beer color observations...
#1
Posted 30 September 2014 - 06:55 PM
#2
Posted 30 September 2014 - 07:04 PM
the lighter color makes sense. you'd want to have done 4 oz each of c40 and c80 to get a similar color. otherwise yeah - maybe the mash pH is helping you out.
#3
Posted 30 September 2014 - 07:21 PM
Can you show us a pic of this marvelously colored beer please?
#4
Posted 30 September 2014 - 07:28 PM
Can you show us a pic of this marvelously colored beer please?
This.
Also I think your pH has to get pretty darn high (like in Kai's example) before it starts to darken.
With this being the first batch under full pH control do you notice a difference in the flavor or mouthfeel?
#5
Posted 01 October 2014 - 05:04 AM
#6
Posted 02 October 2014 - 05:55 AM
#7
Posted 02 October 2014 - 07:57 AM
Ken I've had MLPA come out that light before.
#8
Posted 02 October 2014 - 08:32 AM
I'm sure it's a combination of the grains I used and the pH control. I also realize that not all C60 (or any crystal) is created equal and some variables exist. My very pale beers have been noticeably lighter since I got the pH thing down and clarity is better all the way around.Ken I've had MLPA come out that light before.
#9
Posted 02 October 2014 - 01:57 PM
Wow, that bottom one really is beautiful, nearly copper. Looks delicious too.
I like off-pale ales.
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