Beer Forum

I was looking at an extract Cali common recipe online and it included carapils as one of the specialty grains. My question to you all is whether I can steep this grain or if I need to mash it. I'm only one batch down where I steeped some breiss caramel 40 and I have no mashing experience.


TIA


-Tim

Pretty sure you can just steep carapils.

Mills

Quoth How to Brew, emphasis mine:

Dextrin Malt 3 L Also known as American Carapils, this malt is used sparingly and contributes little color but enhances the mouthfeel and perceived body of the beer. A common amount for a five gallon batch is 1/2 lb. Dextrin malt has no diastatic power. It must be mashed; if steeped it will contribute a lot of unconverted starch and cause starch haze.

You can likely substitute a light crystal malt (which can be steeped); post the recipe and we can advise.

6 lbs LME
8 oz Carapils
8 oz Caramel 40L
1 oz Northern Brewer (60 min)
1 oz Cascade (2 min)

1 Saflager S-23 Dry Yeast packet

OG: 1.042

You could also substitute maltodextrin.

+1 on the maltodextrin powder. 1/2 cup or so in a 5 gallon batch is plenty.

Carapils is a Trademarked brand name for Breiss' lightest kilned caramel malt. It does contribute starch and should be mashed.

Carafoam is another brand (Weyermann's?) that achieves the same thing but can be steeped.

I'd say that in that recipe, you can also go with Crystal 10, too, which can be steeped. It won't make very much of a flavor difference in a Cal Common.

HTH-

I have steeped carapils with good results , it wont add fementables for the yeast but does make for a good flavor IMO