What is the difference between special dark lme and traditional dark lme? I have an extract recipe that calls for 6.6lbs of special dark lme but I’m finding it’s not readily available. If I used traditional dark lme instead, is there a crushed grain or malt I would need to steep to obtain the same flavor?
From the Internet Archives, captured in June 2015:
CBW® Traditional Dark
54% Munich Malt 10L
30% Base Malt
13% Caramel Malt 60L
3% Black Malt
CBW® Special Dark
24% Base Malt
25% Wheat Malt
29% Caramel Malt 60L
19% Chocolate Malt
3% Roasted Barley
eta: Wheat DME/LME + steeping might be an alternative (although that’s a lot of 60L/chocolate malt). Wheat DME/LME is roughly 50% base malt & 50% wheat malt.
The Briess website Malt Extracts - Briess Malt & Ingredients doesn’t show the special dark. Apparently, they don’t make it any more. I’m not an expert at that sort of thing, but it doesn’t look to me like you could duplicate the special dark with extract plus specialty grains. Like Brewn said, it’s a lot of chocolate. Also a lot of caramel.
You might be able to get in the ballpark with Traditional Dark and some chocolate & black malt steeping. Or by using some cacao and coffee to bring those notes in.
I like Traditional Dark DME, but I’ve never used it with steeping grains.
Or find a newer recipe for the same style (I’m guessing it’s a stout or something like that if it uses that much dark lme).
It’s a Founders KBS clone extract recipe. There is a partial mash recipe also so maybe I should go that route. The couple PM recipes I tried, I didn’t quite hit the OG target but maybe adding an extra pound of dme might fix that issue?
Is the recipe from MIBrew Supply?
- Brewing Steps for KBS Extract Clone | MIBrew
- KBS Partial Mash Homebrew Recipe by MichiganBrewSupply | MIBrew
If so, a good path forward would be to find a KBS extract clone recipe that uses currently available malt extracts.
Another good path forward would be use the partial mash kit and have some DME available for adjustments.