Amber Malt - Main ingredient?

[Bigveees]

Just a quick query for someone in the know, Can you make a brew from Amber malt as the main ingredient?

[steve_flack]

Depends on what sort of amber malt. The regular stuff - no.

[Bigveees]

Oh bugger, I'd ordered too much amber and was hoping to get away with it. Never mind I needed the practice!

[WishboneBrewery]

Amber malt has a very distinct flavour, I've done a 20% amber brew and its too much, better to stick to less than 10% if you ask me.

[simple one]

Amber malt has a very distinct flavour, I've done a 20% amber brew and its too much, better to stick to less than 10% if you ask me.

Totally agree. I would say that 5% is pushing it, especially in a lighter beer.

[pdc]

I like Amber Malt done one with 17% viewtopic.php?f=5&t=30108
I was a bit worried about the flavour to start with but it has turned out very nice - one of my favourite dark brews.

PDC

[Bigveees]

I won't hold too much hope for my 95% Amber 4% Crystal 1% Flaked barley then!!!!!

[coatesg]

Not if it's normal amber - I'd be surprised if it had even converted to fermentable sugar in the mash!

Modern amber has virtually no diastatic power (the enzymes are destroyed by roasting) - however, you can get Belgian diastatic amber (Hop and Grape sell it I think), or you can very gently roast your own from uncrushed pale malt- both of these types of amber can be used as a base malt and there are several recipes along these lines in the Durden Park book.

[Zapp Brannigan]

I won't hold too much hope for my 95% Amber 4% Crystal 1% Flaked barley then!!!!!

Christ, that would have been a bit of a taste sensation

ZB