joed
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We are the people our parents warned us about!
Posts: 36
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Post by joed on Jan 10, 2023 12:05:40 GMT -6
Was planning on brewing my Czech Dark Lager as first beer for 2023, and the beer calls for 3/4 of a pound of CaraBohemian and for the life of me I can't find it anywhere. No LHBS anymore, a search of dozens of online sites, only place that even has it on their website was Hop Craft Supply in Michigan, but it was sold out. I know a lot of people say to just use Crystal malts instead, but CaraBohemian has such a distinct flavor or caramel, bread and toffee.
After much hand wringing on changing a recipe that has served me well in comps (made the final 12 beers in medal round at NHC in 2019), I came up with a possible replacement to help with the malt complexity the style should have. I am thinking of replacing CaraBohemian with 6 oz of Deer Creek's First Crack and 6 ounces of Victory. First Crack is a melanoidin malt that has notes of toasted bread, burnt sugar and dried fruit, while Victory brings in toasty, baked bread, biscuit notes.
Any thoughts or ther replacement suggestions? Or a shop that you know that carries CaraBohemian that can be bought online?
I am usually a stickier for the CaraBohemian due to Chris Loring, owner of Notch Brewing here in Mass (they make fantastic lagers) doing a podcast some years back and highly recommended it in the style.
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Post by Ken on Jan 10, 2023 12:49:47 GMT -6
THIS is local to me and currently has 4 pounds in stock. It's a nice local supplier. Carabohemian is supposed to range in color from 64°L to 83°L and I wonder if you could sub another "cara" malt. For awhile there they kept coming out with new cara malts and I swear I bought every one of them. CaraAroma, CaraBohemian, CaraRed, CaraSchputz, CaraSchreinhutz (okay, I made up the last two) and haven't bought any in awhile. Order some from Perfect Brewing and make your Czech Dark Lager. Cheers.
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Post by Megary on Jan 10, 2023 14:13:14 GMT -6
I have used First Crack a few times. The flavor profile you describe is accurate, but it has a very rich quality and is probably best used with a light hand. I don't know your percentages, but ≤ 2% would be my recommendation. I have never used CaraBohemian so I couldn't say if you are on the right track here. Good luck.
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joed
New Member
We are the people our parents warned us about!
Posts: 36
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Post by joed on Jan 10, 2023 14:32:14 GMT -6
I have used First Crack a few times. The flavor profile you describe is accurate, but it has a very rich quality and is probably best used with a light hand. I don't know your percentages, but ≤ 2% would be my recommendation. I have never used CaraBohemian so I couldn't say if you are on the right track here. Good luck. Thanks! It would be 3% if I use it, so maybe a little high, but could always cut it back. |
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joed
New Member
We are the people our parents warned us about!
Posts: 36
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Post by joed on Jan 10, 2023 14:33:31 GMT -6
THIS is local to me and currently has 4 pounds in stock. It's a nice local supplier. Carabohemian is supposed to range in color from 64°L to 83°L and I wonder if you could sub another "cara" malt. For awhile there they kept coming out with new cara malts and I swear I bought every one of them. CaraAroma, CaraBohemian, CaraRed, CaraSchputz, CaraSchreinhutz (okay, I made up the last two) and haven't bought any in awhile. Order some from Perfect Brewing and make your Czech Dark Lager. Cheers. Perfect! Thanks Ken, much appreciated! Cheers! Edit: Ouch, $24 shipping for 1 pound of grain. Guess I will try it with the First Crack/Victory that I already ordered from Keystone in PA. Thanks for the suggestion though! |
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Post by Ken on Jan 10, 2023 17:22:02 GMT -6
Whoa. $24 for one pound of grain. Nope, nope, nope.
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Post by jimdkc on Jan 10, 2023 18:46:43 GMT -6
Whoa. $24 for one pound of grain. Nope, nope, nope. Didn't know Toonces sold homebrew stuff... |
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Post by Ken on Jan 11, 2023 8:56:31 GMT -6
Whoa. $24 for one pound of grain. Nope, nope, nope. Didn't know Toonces sold homebrew stuff...  The shipping will kill you. Sincerely, that's insane. I have had full 55-pound sacks of grain shipped for $18 so that $24 is just thievery. |
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Post by brewbama on Jan 11, 2023 17:31:44 GMT -6
Ken, run down and get our brother some Cara BoHo and ship it to him. No way it’ll cost you over $5
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joed
New Member
We are the people our parents warned us about!
Posts: 36
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Post by joed on Jan 20, 2023 11:01:29 GMT -6
Ken, run down and get our brother some Cara BoHo and ship it to him. No way it’ll cost you over $5 Haha! I wound up finding some CaraBohemian at a liquor store that has a small homebrew section in my state. But then I decided to use the First Crack/Victory anyway...I did a smell test of both and then tasted a little of the blend vs the CaraBo...and the blend tasted and smelled a lot better, so it made me think it would add a little more complexity to the beer. It's fermenting away, so time will tell. |
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joed
New Member
We are the people our parents warned us about!
Posts: 36
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Post by joed on Apr 26, 2023 10:27:26 GMT -6
Follow up on the Czech Dark with the First Crack/Victory sub for CaraBohemian...well it was drinkable, but kind of underwhelming. Did not have as rich of a malt complexity that I wanted. Averaged 32.67 in three comps, which is low for annual Czech Dark brew, though it did score a 43 in a 4th comp and take first, when I diluted it in the bottles with 2 ounces of water and entered it as an International Dark. Sadly, I am not expecting to advance in NHC, but to cover my bases, will be brewing a small batch with the CaraBohemian next week just in case.
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