Which Crystal Malt do I have?

[badgerdan]

I bought some CM and have now realised I don't know which type it is. 60L, 120L or something else.

I have a few recipes asking for 60L but on the CM bag it doesn't say much and on the website it only says

Crystal Malt (UK) Colour 80 - 140 EBC Maximum percentage 20% The classic British body builder and a British invention. Unsurpassed in Bitter beers for adding subtle sweetness to balance the customary high hop rate. Crystal malt is produced in much the same manner as Carapils except that kilning is prolonged until the desired colour is reached. Crystal malts cover a wide range of colours but the usual level is around 120 EBC.

Would this then be a 120L Crystal Malt? It's the only one they had on the site so didn't think much of it at the time as I've not started my first brew yet

[Garth]

confusingly 120L Crystal is about 90 EBC

most shops I've bought Crystal from stock 55L (120 EBC) and 30L (60 EBC)

if you're wondering L is Lovibond (SRM), another way of measuring malt/beer colour

[jubby]

60L is between light and dark. As a very general rule:

Pale Crystal = 50 EBC (20L)
Med Crystal = 120 EBC (45L)
Dark Crystal = 200 EBC (75L)

We use EBC over here (can't remember what it stands for though) some use 'L' (Lovibond) to convert EBC to Lovibond: multiply by .375 and add .46. To go the other way, subtract .46 and divide by .375

Edit, Garth got there first, our messages crossed in the ether.

[badgerdan]

Aha, so am I right in thinking this one's then between 45L - 55L? and if a brew asks for 60L I can just use this?

Thanks in advance

[Garth]

they give only slightly different results

for example, in a 23 litre brew with 4.5 pale and 200g light (30L) crystal, the EBC of the finished beer is only about 3 EBC lighter than if you used the dark crystal in the same proportions.

[badgerdan]

What a bout taste difference?

I read somewhere that there's a huge taste difference when using 50% 120L compared to 100% 60L

[Kahuna]

There is a BIG flavor difference between a pound of 120L and two pounds of 60L.

The grains taste significantly different. The lighter crystals have more of a caramel and sweet character. As you move up to the higher lovibonds, you get more raisiny, toasty, drier characteristics. You'll also get a color difference.

Certain crystals are more appropriate for certain styles (ie. 40L for Pale Ales) both for flavor and color. For darker beers, you can play with combinations of different Crystals to tweak the flavor and color.

Garth is right, the difference between 45-55L and 60L is subtle. Plus roasters are not all that consistent with their roasting/labeling. A bag of crystal labeled 60L might actually be 55L.

[badgerdan]

Thanks for clearing that up.

I am confused though. The recipe said to steep 200 grams of crystal malt for this Pale Ale but it's just made it dark now. Never mentioned any times so I just steeped for 30 mins like I've read lots of times in other recipes, seemed to be the time people steep for?