Good substitude for Caramel colouring

[Wicks]

I have a recipe for a Old Ale that calls for some Caramel to darken the beer, to get to 70 EBC. I have some Carafa Special III in the grain box and I was looking to substitute the Caramel with that. Would work out at 5% of the total grain bill. Does this sound like a good idea? I read that Carafa Special III should impart the least flavour and the most colour.
Also a decent calculator to work out EBC from a grain bill if anyone has any favourites please.

[MTW]

Haven't used it, so won't guess, but that's really dark for an old ale! That said, I guess it is a style that can vary a lot.

[BrannigansLove]

I'd agree, I wouldn't be going any higher than 50. Also a little Carafa 3 goes a long way. I used a tiny amount in a pale ale (1%), and it came out dark brown (Newcy brown dark).

[Jocky]

I think what you're suggesting is fine, although can't advise whether 5% is too much.

An alternative to have tight control on colour is to make your own sinamar. Sinamar is the German equivalent of brewer's caramel and it's made from carafa special so it's ok under the reinheitsgebot law.

You can make it yourself by steeping your carafa special in cold water for 24 hours, then straining through a coffee filter and finally giving it a quick boil to kill anything in it. It will keep for at least a week in the fridge so you can make it in advance, and then you can gradually add the liquid to your brew boil, pulling samples as you go to check the colour.

[BenB]

I wonder what Newcastle Brown used when formulating their beer for the states......

[scotsloon]

Back in the 50's and 60's they used to use Gravy Browning (CJJBerry and Dave Line) so I would consider this a step up!

[charliemartin]

I have a bottle of gravy browning in the kitchen cupboard. It actually says on the label that it can be used for adjusting the colour of beer! I have been thinking about trying it in a TTL clone in place of the black malt used in GW's BYOBRA recipe, but have to admit to being a little bit scared.

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[Wezzel]

I've used Brewers caramel from my home brew shop. A little goes a very long way.


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[Good Ed]

I've used Brewers caramel from my home brew shop. A little goes a very long way.


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Yes, I get mine from Hop & Grape also as suggested gravy browning, although I've never used it.

Alternatively don't use anything in your recipe if you are not bothered about the colour.

Another way to add colour without altering flavour significantly is use a small amount of black malt, and yes you could use Carafa Sp III, (say 30-50g in a 23L brew) and either whiz in a coffee grinder and sprinkle on the grain bed before sparging (I fly sparge) or just bung the grain in the copper at the start of boil.

[Rookie]

I think what you're suggesting is fine, although can't advise whether 5% is too much.

An alternative to have tight control on colour is to make your own sinamar. Sinamar is the German equivalent of brewer's caramel and it's made from carafa special so it's ok under the reinheitsgebot law.

You can make it yourself by steeping your carafa special in cold water for 24 hours, then straining through a coffee filter and finally giving it a quick boil to kill anything in it. It will keep for at least a week in the fridge so you can make it in advance, and then you can gradually add the liquid to your brew boil, pulling samples as you go to check the colour.

#1.
I recently submitted an article to BYO about brewing dark versions of pale color beer and cold steeping the grain is a good way to go.

[Rookie]

I have a bottle of gravy browning in the kitchen cupboard. It actually says on the label that it can be used for adjusting the colour of beer! I have been thinking about trying it in a TTL clone in place of the black malt used in GW's BYOBRA recipe, but have to admit to being a little bit scared.

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That might work, but I cringe at the thought of adding gravy browning to any of my beers.

[WalesAles]

I have a bottle of gravy browning in the kitchen cupboard. It actually says on the label that it can be used for adjusting the colour of beer! but have to admit to being a little bit scared

cm,
Scared of what?
It`s only Beer!
Get in there with the Gravy Browning then we will all be following like Sheep!
Go on, Do it! You know you want to!

WA

Sent from my top bunk in the spare room!

[Wezzel]

Don't say "cheers" say "ahh, Bisto"


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[Dave S]

Taken from Cooksinfo.com -

Strict Gravy Browning products -- ones that have no additional flavour, just colouring -- are made from ingredients such as caramel (E150), salt and water. These products can also be used as for darkening cakes, such as fruit or rum cakes.

So as long as you get unflavoured gravy browning, it's just caramel with a pinch of salt. So I would have no problem using it to colour beer.