Stupid Question!

[Chicken Dipper]

I want to brew a London Pride Clone for a bit of an after party for my friends and family after I complete the London Marathon (a pint and I'll be smashed no doubt)! Thing is I've only got dark crystal in and was wondering if using it will wreck the style and if I do use it should I wind back the quantity? I've got Amber and everything else I need, but not having a LHBS nearby, I can't face delivery charges for 68pence of grain! -so tight!

[AJC]

Can you post a few more details about your recipe and what you're intending to sub with the dark crystal?

Good luck with the marathon. I did it 10 years ago and was indeed hammered after my first pint!

[oz11]

If it's only a small amount of crystal malt that you need you could approach a local friendly micro brewery if you have one, I'm guessing it's perhaps only a few hundred grams you need?

[Chicken Dipper]

Thanks mate, the plan is to just brew according to Graham Wheelers London Pride recipe, I usually add 150g Amber and add the hops as; Target, 15g 90m, Challenger 10g last 15, Northdown 10g last 5, and EKG 10g last minute. Although I often up the late hop additions! So the medium crystal that the recipe calls for is 370g. I guess my question is, can I use the same quantity of dark crystal to replace it, and would this be too much? Having thought about it, and without any science, I'm thinking around 200g's is probably best, and I'll probably end up with a ruby coloured beer?

[Chicken Dipper]

Oz, good point. Thanks mate

[AJC]

Yeah, I don't think you'll see an awful lot of difference, to be honest - just a bit darker, as you say. Your tasting abilities are probably going to be shot anyway!

[vacant]

after I complete the London Marathon (a pint and I'll be smashed no doubt)!

Hmm, maybe you should be training the with the Hash Hound Harriers

"Hashing is a form of non-competitive cross-country running with the main objective of working up a decent thirst. Great emphasis is placed on the social aspects - particularly the refreshment session at the aprés-hash. "

[Chicken Dipper]

Ha! Now you're talking! That's my kind of sport!!