Late Extract Additions

[Kaiser]

and just stir a lot to minimize carmelization.

I don't think that stiring a proper boil gives you anything, as there is already enough chruning going on.

But yes, I could see a change in flavor happening.

Kai

[jpskin]

What is the interaction between the hops and the malt that we need to be concerned with, anyone know? Can my specialty grains steep keep me covered or do I really need some more sugar and junk from extract? I just brewed a beer that has a bad after taste that I am attributing to this carmelization you've been speaking of. It's almost a coffee type bitterness. I've only done 3 batches now so I'm pretty green, but I think keeping the extract boiling that long could have some effect on it.

Thanks Yo!
jpskin

[Kaiser]

What is the interaction between the hops and the malt that we need to be concerned with, anyone know?

I'm not speaking from experience here.

But hop utilization is affected by hot break formation and PH of the wort. Both will be different if the majority of the extract is added late. This is why I expect a change in the amount and quality of the bitterness achieved with late extract additions. But I cannot say if it will be better or worse just that you should expect a difference.

If you are burning your wort, what is your heat source? You should make sure that the thermal loading is not to high (not more than 8-12% boil-off rate per hour should be achieved).

Kai

[BeerPal]

I've heard you can get some grassy flavors if you just boil the hops in plain water so ive tried adding about a third of the extract at the beginning and the rest with about 15 min to go and the beer came out just fine, but now i just add it all at the beggining so i can take gravity readings throughout the boil so i know i am on target and just stir a lot to minimize carmelization.

I don't know about grassy flavors, but I've read that hop utilization is reduced in a low gravity wort (like hot water) so I always add some of my extract at 60 minutes to increase the gravity of what would otherwise be "hop tea," then add the rest at 15 minutes. In addition I have found that you must stir extremely well and add the extract very slowly to avoid scorthing.

My $.02.

[Impalla]

Do you notice a large difference with the late extract additions? I never tried that with extract and am curious as to what difference it can make...

-Impalla

[BeerPal]

Do you notice a large difference with the late extract additions? I never tried that with extract and am curious as to what difference it can make...

I'll be honest, maybe the biggest difference I notice is color. My late extract beers tend to be lighter in color. I never had a lot of caramelization issues to begin with, so I didn't see much change there. My last three extract batches have been made using DME only, however. I had noticed what I finally decided was an "extract twang" component to my beer's flavor, so I'm switching to all-DME to see if it makes a difference.

[BrewNoob]

I did my last 2 batches with late additions. Haven't been able to try them yet, one is still in ferm and the other I just bottled. The one I just bottled was a hefe and it has a nice light yellow color. Never made a hefe before so I can't vouch for wether or not it made a difference. I just read that late additions help in a few ways for extract brewing so I'm trying it. I do 50% of what the recipe calls for for 60 mins then the other half at 15 mins.

Gerard

[Impalla]

I'll be honest, maybe the biggest difference I notice is color. My late extract beers tend to be lighter in color. I never had a lot of caramelization issues to begin with, so I didn't see much change there. My last three extract batches have been made using DME only, however. I had noticed what I finally decided was an "extract twang" component to my beer's flavor, so I'm switching to all-DME to see if it makes a difference.

Very interesting. I'd be interested to read your opinion when you are done with your test batches of all-DME. I think I might try an extract recipe I have with the late extract addition and see if I notice anything.

-Impalla