Malt extracts

[quantum24]

Recently ive noticed that lots of extract recipes call for both liquid malt extract as well as dry malt extract, for instace a recipe i looked at called for 4.4 lbs of light lme and 2 lbs of light dme, why would this be? i had always assumed that extracts, be them dry or liquid, were the same (esp when it is bulk extract)

[shughes600]

The only difference I know of would be extract potential. You get more bang for your buck with dry. 1.045 vs 1.038 per pound. I prefer to use dry. It is easier to store once opened, and it is easier to get all of it out of the container. Maybe you ran in to some recipes that need a certain charecterisitic that can only be found in liquid or dry as the case may be.

[S.F.B.]

This may or may not make any sense but here goes. I have brewed with both syrup and dry extract. My experience has been that dry produces a lighter color. I can't explain it. So possibly the recipes are by someone who is after a certain Lovibond number and hits it with the combination.

[paul84043]

My experience with the Liquid versus DME has been that, since you can get DME in pretty much any quantity you want, they will call out an amount of liquid that you can get out of a can, say 3.3#, 6.6#, I think I have even seen 4.4#, depending on the manufacturer, then they use DME to top off the malt to get the exact amount that they want.
Usually the places that sell the kits that package thier malt in the large plastic containers, will only use DME if there is a precise flavor profile or color they are going for. Say 6.6# of light LME and 1 or 2# of Dark DME to get an amber colored beer. (along with the grains of course)

Just a guess....I try to keep a 4 pound bag of DME on hand for starters and for kicking up a batch that seems like it may come out a little too weak for my tastes...it's very easy to store and use.

[danno]

the color variation comes from the manufacturing process.. DME is made by misting liquid into an oven (vast oversimplification here...) and collecting it, whereas LME is essentially cooked down... The cooking process will darken your extract, as does any reduction...