Bewildered by steeping grains

[Simonh82]

I'd like to add some steeping grains to my next extract brew but I am completely bewildered by choice. I know that caramel and roasted malts can be steeped rather than mashed to impart varying degrees of caramel sweetness and stronger malty/biscuit/toasted flavours but there are so many choices out there.

Could you perhaps pick out 3 grains from http://www.thehomebrewcompany.co.uk/crushed-grain-crushed-caramel-malts-c-69_222_224.html that I could use to experiment with over the next couple of brews.

Generally I prefer paler ales which are strong on hops, but I do like a bit of malt to balance this out. I was probably going to avoid the darkest strongest grains, although maybe a bag of this to use sparingly would be a good idea. Let me know.

Also, what quantity would you typically use these grains in for a 23L brew?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[clibit]

Maybe start with three very different crystal malts. Caramalt is very pale, medium crystal around 150 EBC is used widely, and dark crystal is great, around 250 EBC. 200-300g is pretty typical in a 23 litre brew, but recipes vary. Check out recipes.

 

[MyQul]

If you prefer the paler ales with some maltyness I would go with what Clibit has suggested to start off with. As although there all crystal and will offer different colour, they will also offer differnet flavours - caramels, honeys and toffees.

The darker grains are usually for darker beers of course milds, brown, porters and stouts. Although darker grains are used in small amounts for colouring purposes in less malt forward beers.

Here an interesting article on the method of steeping both cold steeping and hot

http://www.jovialmonk.com.au/brewManual/Steeping_grains.pdf

 

[Simonh82]

Thank you both for the suggestions and the useful article. I will get a few bags of various grades of crystal and have a play around. The problem is now, I have too many brews planned and nowhere to store everything.

 

[clibit]

Thank you both for the suggestions and the useful article. I will get a few bags of various grades of crystal and have a play around. The problem is now, I have too many brews planned and nowhere to store everything.

Join the club. :smile: