I've brewed about a dozen IPAs using extract with specialty grains with no issues. I decided to try making a porter and seem to have a problem getting the color anywhere near black. The best I seem to be able to get is a dark brown.
My understanding is that I can use a pils or pale extract and rely on the grains to achieve the color. I tried that on my first porter and did not get a dark black beer. On my last try I used even more grains for the steep as well as the darkest extract they have at my shop (amber) and still the beer turned out brown rather than the dark black I was hoping for.
At this point I'm beginning to wonder if I need to use a different brand of extract. Maybe a more expensive DME instead of the bulk LME at my shop? Any thoughts? Has anyone had similar issues?
Here is the last recipe I made:
-2oz black patent
-6oz chocolate
-8oz dark crystal (120 L)
-8oz Victory
-8oz American Wheat
-8lbs Amber LME (10L)
-2oz Chinook (60)
-1oz Willamette (10)
-1oz Willamette (0)
-WYeast 1084 Irish Ale Yeast
I steeped at 150 for about 30 minutes. I intentionally did NOT do a late addition on the LME, all of it went in @ 60.
My understanding is that I can use a pils or pale extract and rely on the grains to achieve the color. I tried that on my first porter and did not get a dark black beer. On my last try I used even more grains for the steep as well as the darkest extract they have at my shop (amber) and still the beer turned out brown rather than the dark black I was hoping for.
At this point I'm beginning to wonder if I need to use a different brand of extract. Maybe a more expensive DME instead of the bulk LME at my shop? Any thoughts? Has anyone had similar issues?
Here is the last recipe I made:
-2oz black patent
-6oz chocolate
-8oz dark crystal (120 L)
-8oz Victory
-8oz American Wheat
-8lbs Amber LME (10L)
-2oz Chinook (60)
-1oz Willamette (10)
-1oz Willamette (0)
-WYeast 1084 Irish Ale Yeast
I steeped at 150 for about 30 minutes. I intentionally did NOT do a late addition on the LME, all of it went in @ 60.