Body

[DRB]

Whats the best thing to add body to ales, whether it is a light or darker ale.Do you think that flaked oats are any good or would they cause a lot of haze,or is cara-pils the way to go.

[tubby_shaw]

To add body as I understand it, you can either use crystal malt or one of its derivatives or mash at a higher temperature or use a stiffer mash. I have tried using oats in the past and always had hazy beer

[deadlydes]

i have used oats around 5% and have never had a haze

[tubby_shaw]

i have used oats around 5% and have never had a haze

It must be me
My log though has reminded me that I had very slow run off both times I tried to make a beer with oats, so I stirred it a couple of times to try and get it moving
I think it might have my impatience and stirring that caused the problem

[mysterio]

Crystal and carapils are the most common body builders. Crystal will add colour and a caramel sweetness and carapils will add very little of either. Both are good for head retention. There is also continental variants like Carahell, Caravienne and CaraMunich that are worth looking into.

Another one common in stouts is flaked barley which adds a grainy taste and I think, slight haze.

Tubby, I get haze when brewing with oats too.

[deadlydes]

some malted wheat will add abit of body also.
flaked barley will not give a cloudyness up to about 5-10% and also gives body and creamyness.
KISS (keep it simple....stupid) to start with and just play around with crystal and mash temp. try a previous recipe and mash at 68 instead of 66 and you will taste a difference

EDIT:
the stupid bit isnt meant to cause offense, thought i better say something just is case. KISS is better than just KIS

[PieOPah]

I only use oats in a stout - not really too worried about haze then

Just bought 500g of 'Taste the Difference' Oats from Sainsbury's (I was there and they were the only oats available - not bad at 49p).

All I need to do now is book a day off work so I can brew...