Honing in the right color

[tony269]

So, I am trying to get a rich orange color (like Blue Moon) on this beer I have brewed twice now but for some reason it keeps coming out a light copper instead.

Here is what I am using:

Grains:
5.5 lbs 2-row
1 lb Honey malt
5 lb White Wheat
8 oz Caravienne
8 oz Munich

Other:
.5 oz Orange Bitter

Hops:
1oz Hallertau
1oz Saaz

Yeast:
1 Safale S-05

Any ideas why the color would be more copper than orange and what I can do to change that? I mean the beer tastes good so I really shouldn’t be complaining but when I entered the recipe into Brewers Friend it says I should get a darkish yellow to orange color and it really isn’t close.

THANKS EVERYONE!!!

[dannyboy58]

Are you using the 10L or the 20L munich malt? Maybe use the dark munich or use more? That’s what will contribute the orange color to your beer.

[tony269]

@dannyboy58

Are you using the 10L or the 20L munich malt? Maybe use the dark munich or use more? That’s what will contribute the orange color to your beer.

I am using the 10L because that is all that is available at my local brewer, so you are saying I should use more?

[dannyboy58]

@tony269

[quote=“dannyboy58”]Are you using the 10L or the 20L munich malt? Maybe use the dark munich or use more? That’s what will contribute the orange color to your beer.

I am using the 10L because that is all that is available at my local brewer, so you are saying I should use more?[/quote]

The 20L would probably give you a darker orange hue without changing the beer profile much. I’m not sure how much sweetness or additional malt flavor you’ll get by just adding more of the 10L.

[holaday1185]

1 lb of honey malt is waaayyyy too much IMO! Use closer to 1/4 lb of 4 oz.

[tony269]

@dannyboy58

[quote=“tony269”][quote=“dannyboy58”]Are you using the 10L or the 20L munich malt? Maybe use the dark munich or use more? That’s what will contribute the orange color to your beer.

I am using the 10L because that is all that is available at my local brewer, so you are saying I should use more?[/quote]

The 20L would probably give you a darker orange hue without changing the beer profile much. I’m not sure how much sweetness or additional malt flavor you’ll get by just adding more of the 10L.[/quote]

OK, maybe I will order some 20L off the Northerbrewer website and give that a run, thanks again!

[tony269]

@holaday1185

1 lb of honey malt is waaayyyy too much IMO! Use closer to 1/4 lb of 4 oz.

Yeah I used 6 oz the first time I brewed this beer and I didnt get enough honey flavor and I like a sweeter summer beer so I rolled the dice with 1lb, it might be too much but I will find out once it is carbonated but tasting it uncarbonated it doesnt taste too sweet.

[mattnaik]

@tony269

[quote=“holaday1185”]1 lb of honey malt is waaayyyy too much IMO! Use closer to 1/4 lb of 4 oz.

Yeah I used 6 oz the first time I brewed this beer and I didnt get enough honey flavor and I like a sweeter summer beer so I rolled the dice with 1lb, it might be too much but I will find out once it is carbonated but tasting it uncarbonated it doesnt taste too sweet.[/quote]

Everyone’s tastes are different but once a beer is carbed it will usually taste drier not sweeter so you should be ok. I used 0.5lb of honey malt in an IPA and it was almost undrinkable but this was due to the honey malt in addition to being under-attenuated.

As far as color, the darker munich should help. I personally wouldn’t add anymore caramel malts as that beer already looks way to sweet for me. Maybe if you dial back the honey and replace it with a little bit of C60 that would help darken it up a bit.