Always dark amber

[bantu1957]

Whenever I brew a beer, the color comes out dark amber. Even if it's Belgian Blonde or lager. In my opinion, the Belgian Blond has always been light gold in color. In my version, dark amber. I recently bought a ready-made all-grain set from Dark Rock and hoped that following the instructions, it would be light beer, nothing like that, dark amber again. I would like to add that I strictly adhere to the instructions provided. My brew kettle is Brewzilla 3.1.1. What is wrong? Beer tastes delicious, has a lot of alcohol, but the color sucks.

 

[stubrewworx]

Have you tried a pale malt only recipe?

 

[The Baron]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
Ypu would need to post the recipes so that we can see what is in the ingredient list and how much also I note you say the beer has a lot of alcohol are you doing it to the correct liquid amount or boiling it down longer than it should which can make beers darker if the have some darker malts in it

 

[bantu1957]

I will go for it next time. What about pilsner malt only? Do you think, that single malt and eventually single hop will solve a colour problem? The question is, why do they sell all grain kits, which are not compatible with final effect?

 

[bantu1957]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
Ypu would need to post the recipes so that we can see what is in the ingredient list and how much also I note you say the beer has a lot of alcohol are you doing it to the correct liquid amount or boiling it down longer than it should which can make beers darker if the have some darker malts in it

Their recipe for Belgian Blonde:

 

[bantu1957]

They do not specify the percentage or weight of malts used, because it is a ready mixture that you receive.

 

[The Baron]

If you look at the recipe sheet it tells you the colour which is in EBC and shows 17 which is like a bitter colour.
You are wanting something in the colour range around 8/10 ish for a blonde with a little colour to it. If you have boiled the 17 EBC coloured beer down a little more than usual lets say you have done a vigorous boil or have not put the correct amount of water in this will concentrate the colour even further than 17 EBC.
When you are buying or making a recipe watch the EBC number to give you a idea of the final colour

 

[bantu1957]

If you look at the recipe sheet it tells you the colour which is in EBC and shows 17 which is like a bitter colour.
You are wanting something in the colour range around 8/10 ish for a blonde with a little colour to it. If you have boiled the 17 EBC coloured beer down a little more than usual lets say you have done a vigorous boil or have not put the correct amount of water in this will concentrate the colour even further than 17 EBC.
When you are buying or making a recipe watch the EBC number to give you a idea of the final colour

OK, fully agree, my mistake, did not pay enough attention to what they write. But again, Belgian Blonde should not be light in colour? Or maybe the recipes they provide have nothing to do with the type of beer you are about to brew?

 

[The Baron]

Going forward look at the EBC guide given or produced in a recipe generator to give you a example go to beer review sites and search some beers you know and generally they will give a colour guide so that you can get a insight into what the number actually means to you

 

[marshbrewer]

But again, Belgian Blonde should not be light in colour?

Looking at the BJCP guidelines for a Belgian blonde, and I realise these aren't the be all and end all of style guides but they are an indication, colour can range from 15 - 30 EBC, so that recipe looks in the right sort of range.

I'd give a simple SMASH recipe a go; enough pale ale mat to give about 4% abv perhaps, and see what colour that comes out.

 

[chthon]

Looking at the BJCP guidelines for a Belgian blonde, and I realise these aren't the be all and end all of style guides but they are an indication, colour can range from 15 - 30 EBC, so that recipe looks in the right sort of range.

I'd give a simple SMASH recipe a go; enough pale ale mat to give about 4% abv perhaps, and see what colour that comes out.

15-30 EBC? They must be mad. And inconsistent. I use Brewtarget 2, which bases its styles also on the BJCP, and there it says for that style 8-14 EBC.

 

[Sadfield]

Whenever I brew a beer, the color comes out dark amber. Even if it's Belgian Blonde or lager.

If it's consistent across all pale brews, it's unlikely to be a recipe/style guide issue. Too high a mash pH will do that. Do you live in a hard water area?

 

[bantu1957]

If it's consistent across all pale brews, it's unlikely to be a recipe/style guide issue. Too high a mash pH will do that. Do you live in a hard water area?

no, no my tap water is like spring water, perfect for brewing!

 

[bantu1957]

17 EBC for Blonde Beer? A joke!

 

[The Baron]

15-30 EBC? They must be mad. And inconsistent. I use Brewtarget 2, which bases its styles also on the BJCP, and there it says for that style 8-14 EBC.

I have just checked and Belgian Blonde is 8-14 EBC as said by Chthon

 

[Sadfield]

no, no my tap water is like spring water, perfect for brewing!

Perfect for brewing because you know what is in it? Or, its like spring water therefore must be perfect for brewing? I'm asking as Buxton Spring water isn't very good for brewing Pales as it is high in bicarbonates, 248mg where brewers would be looking for 50-150mg.

 

[bantu1957]

Remember beer TV ads? Made from fresh spring water from Scottish Highlands.

 

[The Baron]

95% of beer is water so it is quite important depending on style

 

[Sadfield]

Remember beer TV ads? Made from fresh spring water from Scottish Highlands.

Sorry, no. Was it for a dark amber beer?

 

[bantu1957]

95% of beer is water so it is quite important depending on style

True! But it is funny how beer company's are trying to fool people with fresh, crisp, spring fresh water from Scottish Highlands, when everyone knows, that it is made from regular tap water filtered using reverse osmose systems.