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So Trevor pointed out to me that the colour I've been using in beersmith for one of my malts was off, causing me to use more than I needed and missing my intended style. Beer was still good, just not what I was aiming for.

Reading up on it I find that what we're given by North Country Malts is a range in *L, but beersmith allows me to use either SRM or EBC. I've just been using the preset colours that beersmith has for each grain

Also found that the two aren't completely the same:
°L = (SRM + 0.6) / 1.35
SRM = (1.35 x °L) - 0.6

So I guess my question is where can I find a number for colour that I purchased from the group buys that I can rely on? I suppose I can call NG for the grains I purchased there.

Am I over-thinking this?

You could look back through the group buy threads, find the spreadsheets, record the maltster and research the info...

Bluenose, That's worth mentioning. I don't worry about getting the colour spot on though. Perhaps I should. The Bru'n water calculator calculates the colour based on the malts (you have to enter their colour) but also the water chemistry/PH, which will also affect the colour. I think BS is very inaccurate with colour estimation, regardless of whether you meticulously enter the correct EBC or not.

Also worth mentioning, if you don't read the acid % of the hops off your bag of hops and enter it, and use the BS default for that hop, your bitterness can be way way off. I have a bag of Bramling Cross that is 7.4% AA and the BS default is 6% AA. Made a difference of 9 IBUs, when I changed that, and put in the correct AA% in one of my BS recipes.

jtmwhyte wrote:You could look back through the group buy threads, find the spreadsheets, record the maltster and research the info...

yup I've already done that for the group buys grains, will have to call NG for theirs (if they have them)

GuingesRock wrote:...if you don't read the acid % of the hops off your bag of hops and enter it, and use the BS default for that hop, your bitterness can be way way off. I have a bag of Bramling Cross that is 7.4% AA and the BS default is 6% AA. Made a difference of 9 IBUs, when I changed that, and put in the correct AA% in one of my BS recipes.

yes, I believe I read that somewhere as well... For my shame I'm guilty of not doing this as well

The colour you see is only as accurate as the the monitor you view it on. In the graphic arts industry what you see on the monitor is never whats expected in print.

GuingesRock wrote:Bluenose, That's worth mentioning. I don't worry about getting the colour spot on though. Perhaps I should. The Bru'n water calculator calculates the colour based on the malts (you have to enter their colour) but also the water chemistry/PH, which will also affect the colour. I think BS is very inaccurate with colour estimation, regardless of whether you meticulously enter the correct EBC or not.

Also worth mentioning, if you don't read the acid % of the hops off your bag of hops and enter it, and use the BS default for that hop, your bitterness can be way way off. I have a bag of Bramling Cross that is 7.4% AA and the BS default is 6% AA. Made a difference of 9 IBUs, when I changed that, and put in the correct AA% in one of my BS recipes.

BS! I love it.

Sandy

Beersmith shows Roasted Barley 300SRM and Chocolate 350 SRM which was messing me up. I've had much better luck when I change them to RB 575 SRM and Chocolate to 475 SRM.

Araxi wrote:The colour you see is only as accurate as the the monitor you view it on. In the graphic arts industry what you see on the monitor is never whats expected in print.

I'm usually just looking to see where the SRM falls in the range for the style

You can get calibrated SRM colour guides from the BJCP. They are just small and laminated about 10-15 cm long. They are pretty useful to determine SRM.

Woody wrote:Beersmith shows Roasted Barley 300SRM and Chocolate 350 SRM which was messing me up. I've had much better luck when I change them to RB 575 SRM and Chocolate to 475 SRM.

Depends on which maltster. There is also 600 and 695 srm roasted barley in Beersmith also (several chocolate as well).

They're not all the same when it comes to color. It's easy to look it up based on the brand/type tho.

I'll look into it. With the group buy items I should be able to look it up as I know the brands. I have other Chocolate/RB from Everwood and OBK which I do not. I guess I could ask. Thanks..

Woody wrote:I'll look into it. With the group buy items I should be able to look it up as I know the brands. I have other Chocolate/RB from Everwood and OBK which I do not. I guess I could ask. Thanks..

Sounds like the same problem I have

Beersmith is good for forming up the recipes, but you should always check your AA% for hops and SRM for your specialty grains is you are looking for semi-accurate results. It's just a database, hops change with every crop and there a differences in some malts.

Woody wrote:I'll look into it. With the group buy items I should be able to look it up as I know the brands. I have other Chocolate/RB from Everwood and OBK which I do not. I guess I could ask. Thanks..

Both the roasted barley and Chocolate Dave had when i got it was Thomas Fawcett (available via addon in BS, if you dont have it already)

I've always modified the AA% for accurate IBU's but I'll get my ass in gear for the SRM. Thanks guys!