Why does color matter

[Emc]

So I started thinking about designing my own recipe. In "designing Great Beers" one of the first chapters talks about color, and in all of the recipes I have read obviously color is mentioned as well. So my question is, and maybe its because I just read the color chapter and it is trying to make the subject seem important, why does color matter? Unless I am trying to enter and win competitions under certain categories, when following recipes, or making a recipe, if the beer taste like what I am after, tastes good, does it matter if the colors not what the guidelines call for? Of course one of the beauties of home brew for me is to be creative and hopefully make great beer, just trying to figure out how color would affect this, if at all?

[jm]

So I started thinking about designing my own recipe. In "designing Great Beers" one of the first chapters talks about color, and in all of the recipes I have read obviously color is mentioned as well. So my question is, and maybe its because I just read the color chapter and it is trying to make the subject seem important, why does color matter? Unless I am trying to enter and win competitions under certain categories, when following recipes, or making a recipe, if the beer taste like what I am after, tastes good, does it matter if the colors not what the guidelines call for? Of course one of the beauties of home brew for me is to be creative and hopefully make great beer, just trying to figure out how color would affect this, if at all?

The BJCP includes color in the "Appearance" section of the score sheet so even in competition you'll only get knocked a maximum of 3 out of 50 points; and even then probably not the whole 3 unless you're way, way out of style. If the BJCP only cares a little I'm inclined to follow their lead.

[brewinhard]

I agree with your "color" statement. Although, do keep in mind that appearance has a big role in overall beer enjoyment and satisfaction, at least IMO. If I give you an amber pilsner, then you would most likely question the color of this beer style which would therefore influence your percieved tastes of malt within the beer. If you are simply brewing for home enjoyment, then by all means brew a black hefeweizen, but once competitions enter your mind, adherence to the style guidelines can really pay off both in helping one to understand the various categories as well as jumping off and brewing something totally new and interesting!

[jm]

I agree with your "color" statement. Although, do keep in mind that appearance has a big role in overall beer enjoyment and satisfaction, at least IMO. If I give you an amber pilsner, then you would most likely question the color of this beer style which would therefore influence your percieved tastes of malt within the beer. If you are simply brewing for home enjoyment, then by all means brew a black hefeweizen, but once competitions enter your mind, adherence to the style guidelines can really pay off both in helping one to understand the various categories as well as jumping off and brewing something totally new and interesting!

Good point about color affecting perception. I'd never thought of that but it makes perfect sense.

[BenTheBrewer]

Every now and then I will go to a Craft Brewer website (Redhook.com, Rogue.com) and attempt to clone one of their beers. Those breweries are nice enough to give tidbits of information about their brews without giving you the complete recipe. They will give you the types of grain and the types of hops, but they won't tell you percentages. However they will give you and OG and an SRM. Those help out when I use QBrew, or Pro Mash, to figure out the recipe. For example, if they mention that they use Crystal Malt I goof around with the different crystal malts that don't exceed the recommended percentages and match the SRM and OG.

[BarefootLion]

Think about what contributed to the color, even though it may be a small portion there may be some flavor contributions to that malt that might throw off the flavor.

BUT if you are brewing for yourself who cares, as long as you enjoy it, maybe its that little touch that makes a difference.

[alan_marks]

I have just finished Dr. Bamforth's latest book on beer, and he relates an experiment he did at Bass. His team took a light lager and colored it with a flavorless caramel color. Many of the tasters thought they were drinking an amber ale, demonstrating that we eat and drink with our eyes first, and that our beliefs and perceptions can generate our personal reality, the facts be damned. So, while we are all welcome to do whatever we please, we need to acknowlege that we all live in a world of agreement on what is "real".

I'll get off my soapbox now,
Alan

[jwatkins56550]

I have just finished Dr. Bamforth's latest book on beer, and he relates an experiment he did at Bass. His team took a light lager and colored it with a flavorless caramel color. Many of the tasters thought they were drinking an amber ale, demonstrating that we eat and drink with our eyes first, and that our beliefs and perceptions can generate our personal reality, the facts be damned. So, while we are all welcome to do whatever we please, we need to acknowlege that we all live in a world of agreement on what is "real".

I'll get off my soapbox now,
Alan

I heard that one on his audiobook. I rarely give two shits about color.