⇒ Use 'beer enhancer' to make better tasting homebrew

Using beer enhancer to make better homebrew beer

The thing about beer is that is that there’s so much variety in style and taste but there is one thing they all have in common: 

The so-called ‘mouth feel’ which makes a beer feel like it has 'body'. 

Like how a good pint of Guinness feels. 

Like a creamy but solid breakfast. 

If you simply brewed malt with sugar you will get a beer but your beer’s mouthfeel will be closer to feeling like water. Which is just wrong, as a full-bodied beer enhances the drinking experience!

To get an improved mouthfeel, many beer brewers use an ‘enhancer’ to do exactly what it says it will do – enhance the beer by giving it greater body and mouthfeel.

Beer enhancers are made of basic ingredients, being a mix of fermentable and non-fermentable. They usually contain a mix of dextrose and maltodextrin.

Such beer enhancers work the dextrose serving as the food for the yeast and are thus used in the fermentation process. 

The maltodextrin does not ferment and thus forms part of the beer solution giving the beer mouthfeel and a true sense of body. It also has the benefit of allowing the poured beer to have a good head of foam and to retain it. 

I have no idea how the science of this part works!

The combination of dextrose and maltodextrin suits the lighter style beers such as pilsner, draught, and lagers.

If you are brewing an ale or a beer where you desire a full, maltier flavor an enhancer that also has an element of light dry malt extract will be what you need.

This is often simply referred to as DME.

Some beer enhancers also have hops added to match the kind of beer style so if you are ordering from an online store, check that the particular enhancer's hops matches the kind of beer you are trying to make. 

'Branded' beer enhancers

The Australian beer making company, Coopers, offer two well-known beer enhancers to help achieve these goals. 

They are simply known as Brew Enhancer 1 and Brew Enhancer 2. 

What is the difference between enhancer one and two? 

The difference between the two is one suits a lager, the other ales. 

You can imagine the salty old brewer that came up with those very telling names! 

Coopers include the enhancers with their beer kits but you can buy them separately too. I've often seen them in supermarkets for a reasonable price (and reviewed them!) Side note - never do a Coopers Lager Kit without an enhancer, I have and trust me the results are rubbish. 

The result was the beer having very little body and the flavor could have been stronger. 

Which is what you expect me to report in an article like this eh?

There are some other popular enhancer brands out there too. Muntons, Young's and Copper Tun are well known and trusted by many brewers.

Using spraymalt to add body to beer

You may have also heard the word 'spraymalt'. It can be used as an alternative to standard beer enhancer. 

Spraymalt is a specially prepared kind of DME. Drying is achieved by the use of a spraydrier, a process which produces particularly uniform powders both in terms of particle size and flavor. 

This means a spraymalt beer will be less dry than beers that simply use sugar. Or you can add spraymalt in addition to the sugar for more effect on the taste or your beer.

How to make your own beer enhancer

Of course, you do not need to buy brew enhancer, you can make your own! 

If you going to make your own enhancer, here’s some ingredient ratios which you could use as a guide: 

Beer style	Dextrose	Maltodextrin	DME
Light Beer	60%	40%	0%
Ale, more malty beer	50%	25%	25%

The quantity to make is is 1Kg per 23 litre brew (which is a standard amount for a fermenter drum).

The beauty of the dextrose is that it is apparently a more favored food of the yeast when compared to ordinary sucrose sugar and so fermentation will commence more quickly. 

Whether that makes a difference, I don't know however using too much sugar gives the beer too much a citrus flavor which can be off-putting.

Many beer supply shops will carry the ingredients you need. That way you can get the advantage of buying in bulk so to reduce your brewing costs.

Adding beer enhancer will likely increase the alcohol production of the yeast as well! 

When do I add beer enhancer?

When you are preparing your wort - I do it first and then add the malt extract as I think it all dissolves better in that order. You can add your hops at the same time.

Are beer enhancers cost effective per batch brew?

Adding a brew enhancer to your brew does add to the cost per glass somewhat, however, given that enhancers actually really do work (I use them every time I brew), it's my view and that of thousands of other home brewers, that the taste and body improvements are very worth it. 

If your enhancer costs 8 dollars and you make 23 liters, that’s only 35 cents extra per liter. 

Naturally, the mileage may vary depending on what brand and at what price you’ve purchased!

If you’re not interested in making your own enhancer but think brand name enhancers are too expensive, there is a happy medium. 

Many beer shop suppliers will do the mixing for you and sell you a 1Kg bag of no frills beer enhancer.

Leave a Comment coopers, copper tun, dextrose, DME, enhancer, malt, maltodextrin, muntons, spraymalt, sucrose, sugar

What's the difference between dry malt and liquid malt (extract)?

If you're an avid beer brewer, you've likely heard of Liquid Malt Extract (LME) and Dry Malt Extract (DME). These two common ingredients are crucial for adding fermentable sugars to your wort. While the difference between the two may seem minimal, understanding the nuances can help you create a better beer.

One of the key differences between LME and DME is the water content, which affects the sugar content. Therefore, it is not recommended to substitute LME for DME or vice versa if you want to stay true to a beer recipe. However, a simple conversion formula can be used to determine the equivalent amount of one to the other.

If you're a new brewer using extract kits, you may not need to worry too much about which type of malt extract you use. However, adding a little something extra to your malt kit can help elevate the flavor profile of your beer. One popular option is a 'beer enhancer' that typically contains DME.

When it comes to using DME or LME, there are some pros and cons to consider. DME is prone to clumping and becomes difficult to work with due to its moisture-absorbing properties. However, it has a longer shelf life than LME, making it a popular choice for many brewers. LME can lead to darker beer coloration and boilovers, but its flavor profile is often preferred by some brewers.

Some popular brands of malt extract for brewing include Briess, Muntons, and Coopers. In addition to LME and DME, spray malt is another popular option that can be used as a substitute for sugar, especially in lighter beer styles.

To help you achieve the desired gravity for your beer, it's important to remember the ratios when using DME or LME. For example, 1 kilogram or a pound of DME will raise your original gravity more than 1 pound or kilogram of LME. As a general rule of thumb, 4 pounds of DME is equivalent to 5 pounds of LME.

In conclusion, understanding the differences between LME and DME and how they work in the brewing process can help you create a better beer. While there is no significant difference between the two, knowing the conversion ratios can allow you to substitute one for the other if necessary. As always, it's about trial and error to find what works best for your beer.

Here are a few additional details about the use of DME and LME in beer brewing that you may find useful:

Use of Spray Malt: In addition to DME and LME, spray malt is another type of malt extract that can be used in beer brewing. Spray malt is essentially DME that has been partially dried and then sprayed onto a carrier (such as maltodextrin) to make it easier to use. It is often used as a substitute for sugar or as a way to boost the body and maltiness of a beer.

Use in All-Grain Brewing: While DME and LME are commonly used in extract brewing, they can also be used in all-grain brewing as a way to supplement the grain bill and increase the gravity of the wort. This can be especially useful when brewing high-gravity beers like barleywines or imperial stouts.

Impact on Flavor: While DME and LME are both made from malted barley, they can have slightly different flavor profiles. Some brewers prefer the malty, caramel-like flavors of LME, while others prefer the cleaner, more neutral flavor of DME. Experimenting with both types can help you find the flavor profile that works best for your recipe.

Measuring and Storage: When measuring out DME or LME, it's important to use a scale to get an accurate measurement. Storing DME in an airtight container can help prevent it from clumping due to moisture, while LME should be stored in a cool, dry place away from light to prevent it from darkening.

Leave a Comment DME, dry malt extract, liquid malt extract, LME

How ordering bulk beer making ingredients will save you money (so you can brew more)

If you're a beer kit brewer like myself, you'll know that to make a good beer you really should use a beer enhancer as they give the body and taste that can tip a homebrew beer from 'just being a beer' into a really enjoyable brew, one that is worthy of being shared with family and friends.

But those beer enhancers are not cheap!

In my neck of the woods a beer kit can cost $18 - $22 and the enhancer will be ten dollars, about half the price of the extract kit!

It seems that enhancers are somewhat over priced but home brewers purchase them as they make OK beer into good beer.

So one way of saving money in the long term is to buy bulk ingredients so you can make your own beer enhancers.

So what goes into an enhancer?

Basically it's a ratio of three ingredients, Dextrose, Maltodextrin and DME which is dry malt extract.

Different ratios of the three suit different kinds of beer styles as below:

Beer style	Dextrose	Maltodextrin	DME
Light Beer	60%	40%	0%
Ale, more malty beer	50%	25%	25%

So what you want to do is by these items in bulk as that's where you can make some great value savings.

Dextrose has a proper name of Dextrose monohydrate and often is referred to as corn sugar. So go on to Amazon and look for Corn Sugar (or Dextrose) in bulk and you will find plenty of options including 50 pounds! Which is about 22 KG.

We think anything that comes in a 50 pound sack has to be value for money! And if you can find your ingredient with free shipping, even better!

There are also plenty of Amazon based options to suit your maltodextrine budget as well.

Once you have your ingredients, you then get some large sealable bags and then make up the enhancer according to the above rations. You can then keep them in a safe place and pull one out every time you ready a kit for brewing.

Dead simple and an easy way to save money on your home brewing!

Leave a Comment corn sugar, dextrose, DME, enhancer, maltodextrin

How to make your own beer enhancer (and save money)

How to make your own beer enhancer

The key goal of any brew enhancer is to help the beer have more body, a great taste and good mouth feel. 

If you just use sugar for the yeast to feed on, you will get a thin, weak feeling beer which can reduce the satisfaction of your drinking experience. 

Of course, you do not need to buy brew enhancer, you can make your own. There is no right way to prepare the enhancer as different ratios and different ingredients can produce different effects on your beer.

If you are going to make your own enhancer, here’s some ingredient ratios which you could use as a guide:

Beer style	Dextrose	Maltodextrin	DME
Light Beer	60%	40%	0%
Ale, more malty beer	50%	25%	25%

The quantity to make is is 1Kg per 23 litre brew.

The beauty of using the dextrose is that it is apparently a more favoured food of the yeast when compared to ordinary sucrose sugar and so fermentation will commence more quickly. 

Whether that makes a difference to the end result, I don't know. 

You do not have to follow the above guide - you could simply make a 50/50 split of DME and brewing sugar (which is simply corn sugar).

Many beer supply shops will carry the ingredients you need. That way you can get the advantage of buying in bulk so to reduce your brewing costs. 

Check out the price of DME on Amazon.

Leave a Comment brewing sugar, corn sugar, dextrose, DME, enhancer, maltodextrin, mouth feel