Lawrence Brewers Guild

Has anyone brewed a CDA using either or both Sinamar or Carafa? Have you made one with only one or the other? What good came from it and what would you change?

If you've used the Sinamar how much did you use for what size batch?

If you have any other suggestions I'm all ears.

Thanks,

John Pepin

I can only comment on the Carafa. I use Carafa II Special (dehusked) around 375-400L. Brew up your favorite IpA and add just enough Carafa to darken it down. Software helps. Doesn't take much and thats what you want. Somewhere around 1.5#'s in a 10g batch shooting between 23.5 and 25L.

Thanks, Was that you that honked at me ?

Congrats on the recient awards,

John

I take a small amount of Carafa and pulverize it in a clean coffee grinder. Then sprinkle it across the top of the grain bed before sparging.. This give you color without much roast flavor (which carafa still has, but not as much as roast or chocolate malts.

cyburai wrote:I take a small amount of Carafa and pulverize it in a clean coffee grinder. Then sprinkle it across the top of the grain bed before sparging.. This give you color without much roast flavor (which carafa still has, but not as much as roast or chocolate malts.

You could also cold mash.

I made a Black IPA last month that I have on tap right now. For a 11 gal batch, 25 lb grain bill, I used 1.5 lbs of Carafa II Dehusked (Special) along with 1 lb Amber malt and the rest 2-row and Carastan. IBU's were 69, heavy on the ending. I like it, and I don't like IPAs often.

We had quite a bit of roast flavor using carafa in the whole length of the mash, even with promash giving us JUST enough for color... I think Sean's late addition, or even better, Andy's cold steep method would add the color and the smoothness of the dark grains. The dark grains I think clash too much with the hop/malt profile of this style. Most of the commercial examples I have had have had this same problem.

Jensen wrote:We had quite a bit of roast flavor using carafa in the whole length of the mash, even with promash giving us JUST enough for color... I think Sean's late addition, or even better, Andy's cold steep method would add the color and the smoothness of the dark grains. The dark grains I think clash too much with the hop/malt profile of this style. Most of the commercial examples I have had have had this same problem.

It is an issue. Doubt the Sinamar would do this. Ive never heard of using it in this style tho. Not that it hasn't already been done.

1/2# of carafa special II will give you enough color for a 5.5g batch. I added a 1/2# to a grain bill that comprised of just 2row and it was plenty. With a IPA I doubt you would even taste the slight roast that it leaves in the beer.

Carafa III is pretty clean IMO. I've used it in BIPAs and Alts.

IMO means ???

I must admit that that i do not understand alot of the current abriviations ?

Thanks,

John

johnpepin wrote:IMO means ???

I must admit that that i do not understand alot of the current abriviations ?

Thanks,

John

IMO = in my opinion. Lots of it goes over my head sometimes too.

There's also IMHO, where the h is for humble. FWIW, for what its worth.