Specialist malt extract?

[carpet]

I bought 2 tins of what I assume is specialist malt extract (1 crystal and 1 chocolate - can't remember the brand but can check when I get home) as they were going cheap at the HBS (just gone use by date but they're canned so should be OK)

Am I right in thinking they're extracts? And I've realised I'm not too sure how to go about using them. Will they essentially be what I would get after steeping specialist grains and I would use them as such?

[beardybrewer]

Hmm, I'm not sure what you have there. Malt extract is either liquid syrup (like a kit) or powder. Crystal and chocolate malts on the other hand is germinated barley kilned to different temperatures to add flavor and color.

http://www.howtobrew.com/section2/chapter12.html

[carpet]

I have the name of them now - Morgan's Master Blend (about halfway down).

How do you think I should use them?

[carpet]

Just noticed a recipe on that site (the cans don't come with much instruction as how to use them):

RECIPE

Australian Sunrise Amber Ale
A smooth drinking thirst quencher with a lively mango flavour.

Ingredients:
1.5kg Morgan's Pale Unhopped Extract
1kg Morgan's Beer Enhancer Master Blend
1kg Morgans Caramalt Master Blend
60ml Mango extract
70g Cluster hops
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 Sachet Morgan's Ale yeastSugar for bottling

Method:
Add Pale extract to 8 litres of warm water. Turn heat up and when boiling starts add the Cluster hops. Boil for 30 minutes. When 10 minutes remain, add the mango extract. Wait 5 minutes, add the cloves.

After the boil is over, turn off heat, and add both of the Master Blends, stir to dissolve.

Strain, then pour liquid into fermenter and make up to 23 litres with cold water. When cooled below 30C add yeast and allow to ferment.

Bottle as normal once fully fermented after first priming with sugar.

Looks like you add them after the boil. I'm sure they'll be fun to use.

[carpet]

OK so the site says that the 1kg tin of crystal malt is made up of:

Contains 60% dark crystal malt grain and 40% Vienna malt grain, being 800g Dark Crystal and 550g Vienna malt grain.
Colour added - 1kg Master Blend in 23 litres 38.4 ebc.

I guess I could add 1.6kg of LME with this and some hops and see what happens?

How do I work out what the OG should be in 23L - I'm sure I saw a formula for this the other day.

[carpet]

Hmmm, no wonder they were going cheap!

It shall be fun experimenting with them...