Is fresh LME much better than DME?

[morethanworts]

I've seen a number of snippets where LME is criticised for often being past its best, even when used well within its sell by date, the resulting 'tang' possibly being a familiar homebrew taste we all want to avoid.

I'm very tempted to use DME instead, as a base in an extract brew, which I've never done in 20-30 brews - some extracts, some kits.

Other than clumping and slightly increased cost, are there any issues with DME that will restrict the success of the final beer, or will it never be as good as fresh LME?

 

[rpt]

I've done one extract brew with DME and 3 kits with LME. The DME based brew is way better. Too small a sample to draw a statistically significant conclusion but I'd use DME if I wasn't able to do AG.

 

[morethanworts]

Thanks for the reply. DME is something I'm going to try, I think. I had started to make enquires about getting fresher LME than before, and I'm checking any kits really carefully for the BB Date in the meantime, though that doesn't directly tell me how recently they were produced.

My current Wherry had a BBDate of Feb 2015 (!) which seems like a long time for the stuff to sit in a can to me (never mind the yeast to lose up to 25% viability per year at room temperature), but I've used it straight away.

How fresh is fresh, for LME?

 

[MPLMPL]

Other than clumping and slightly increased cost, are there any issues with DME that will restrict the success of the final beer, or will it never be as good as fresh LME?

I guess cost depends on where you buy from. If you look at the sponsors of this site, 3kg of DME is ~ £15, whereas 2 x 1.5 kg tins of brand name LME is £18-22. The own brand is about £12 for 2 tins, but remember you need less DME than LME as LME is typically 20% (?) water. If you're buying 500g packs of a certain branded DME then it is considerably more expensive. I'd go with DME.

 

[rpt]

I wonder how the generic spraymalt that the various online homebrew shops sell compares to the expensive Muntons 500g packs in quality.

 

[borischarlton]

I wonder how the generic spraymalt that the various online homebrew shops sell compares to the expensive Muntons 500g packs in quality.

It's one and the same from me:)

Rob

 

[rpt]

I wonder how the generic spraymalt that the various online homebrew shops sell compares to the expensive Muntons 500g packs in quality.

It's one and the same from me:)

Rob

So you buy a big bag and split it yourself? By the way, who is Neale?

 

[PD]

Robert Neale, alias The Malt Miller.

 

[Pearlfisher]

I've only used DME once and it was a disaster , it never cleared and tasted horrible . I'll stick to LME for the foreseeable future 100% success rate. :)

 

[rpt]

Robert Neale, alias The Malt Miller.

Ah, his surname! I'd assumed it was someone's first name.

 

[RobWalker]

better or not, it's just another factor that can affect quality, and there are tonnes of ways to make better beer :

 

[morethanworts]

I've only used DME once and it was a disaster , it never cleared and tasted horrible . I'll stick to LME for the foreseeable future 100% success rate. :)

That's put a spanner in the works!

Anyone got any other DME disasters to report?

 

[fbsf]

Never had a problem with DME, whether as an extract brew, an ingredient in a kit brew or as an arse-saver in a high-abv IIPA that didn't come out anywhere near the intended OG. Always worked as expected.

 

[RobWalker]

no problems here too, sounds like a problem with the brew rather than the extract...

it's worth noting to shop for prices too. my LHBS charge £2.30/500g which is about right. some stores charge up to £5 for 500g which is just extortionate!

 

[alanywiseman.]

Currently got my first extract on the go with DME. No problems with clumping as you are adding it before you boil so it has plenty of time to dissolve in the water. The brew seems good so far but it is only 5 days into priamary so will reserve judgement till i take the first SG reading.

 

[rpt]

If I had to do an extract brew rather than AG I'd definitely go with dried malt extract. I read loads about it clumping but I have had no problem with it - you just have to stir loads.