Looking for inspiration.

[PaulCa]

So my progression in brewing in short is:

Kits + sugar.
Kits + malt extract.
Kits + steeped crystal + malt extract.
Kits + steeped crystal + malt extract + hops
Kits + steeped crystal and base malt + hops.
Mashed grains + malt extract + hops.
A small AG lager (still in the FVs)
A very small AG ale (still in the FV)

I've been sticking to either "what the kit makes" or "Irish Red Ale", the later being a style I particularly like. I've moved around with the recipe for a while and got some real crackers, some "more like newcastle brown" and some more heavy and bitter. All drinkable and I will continue this Red Ale quest...

But...

I'm a little bored of just light and medium crystal and want to venture out into other ingredients. I have tried CaraRed and I think it gave more of red hue, but as my brews tend to come out with a range of colours anyway I can't tell if the carared did it that time or not. I tried torrified wheat for head, but since I started kegging I have no trouble with head without it. I tried chocolate malt, but didn't like the bitter taste (stout like) it gave.

I see lots of recipes which have lots of different things in them, 2 or 3 types of malt and other adjuncts, but I have no idea what they bring to the beer or why you would use them.

Can anyone suggest what I could try next that will bring something new to my beer and my brewing?

Thanks,
Paul

 

[nobyipa]

this may give you some ideas


http://hbd.org/brewery/library/Malt101.html

:thumb: