Adding Crystal To A Kit

[JayBee]

I`ve just bought a Coopers bitter kit that I want to experiment with just a little for the first time.
Normally I would add a kilo of light DME and make it up to about 20 litres but it can be just a tad bitter. Having a search around on the forums and have decided to steep 100 - 150 grams or so of crystal malt which I think is worth a try and add that to the mix. Should I still add the full kilo of spraymalt or cut back a little to compensate for the steeped grains? I don`t mind if it raises the ABV a little but I don`t want to upset the balance of the brew.

[Gurgeh]

if you find it a tad too bitter, then adding crystal malt and not reducing the extract addition will balance that out a little for you - obviously upping the original gravity a little and bringing the beer a little more balance.

there's a ratio known as BU:GU which you could research a little but basically backs up my suggestion.

[steve_flack]

There's a webpage I found a week or two ago that was quite interesting on the question of balance. The problem with BU:GU is that it doesn't tell you how sweet the beer will end up as it only takes account of OG not FG. This page suggests another way of doing it that takes in to account both OG and FG.

http://beercolor.netfirms.com/balance.html

[Gurgeh]

Nice find Steve, fancy doing a calculator for us?

My favourite styles of beer all seem to have very very similar BV's, which i find interesting...

[JayBee]

Very good link Steve. Seems there`s a bit more to learn every day.
Cheers.