Using Burnt Caramel / Brewer's Caramel in Recipes

Has anyone worked with using either burnt caramel or brewer's caramel in their recipes? I have read a few places that Fuller's is known to use this to increase the SRM of some of their product line, specifically London Pride.

What I am wondering is:

  • How much is generally used to increase the SRM? I am assuming that this will mostly end up being a trial and error sort of experiment over a few batches with no "hard and fast" rule.
  • How will this affect the OG of the recipe? Even though it is basically just caramelized sugar, I am assuming that it will not have the same properties of sugar because of the carbon reactions that have taken place. (And specifically, I would like to be able to figure out the value to add as an item in BeerSmith.)

Thanks, in advance.

Topic beersmith color sugar original-gravity recipe homebrew

Category Mac

1
answered at

I have not used burnt caramel so I can not advise you on it. But if you are not trying to add any flavor, but only darken your beer, you should check out Sinamar Coloring Agent from Weyerman. 4 oz will raise your beer 16 SRM for five gallons so 4 SRM per ounce for BeerSmith.

The Burnt Caramel will add flavor to your beer, if this is also what you were trying to do then I have just wasted your time. Sorry.

1
answered at

Good formatted question, and an intriguing idea using burnt caramel for flavoring and color.

However addressing the part about London Pride. On "Can You Brew It" at The Brewing Network, they covered Fullers ESB. In that episode, it was discussed that London Pride actually is made from a partigyle process post the ESB run off. There is an actual interview with the brewer at Fullers, so its not just an assumption or hear-say. I don't remember any talk about the use of caramel to color or flavor London Pride. I could be miss remembering it though, maybe someone will set me straight. I'll try and give it another go soon.

Here is a link to the episode: Fullers ESB/London Pride

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