That which imparts flavor and body to beer. Malt is made from barley, a cereal similar to wheat. In crafting beer, barley is soaked until it sprouts. It is then drained and dried for storage. This process harnesses natural enzymes – a process that releases fermentable sugars, and develops the flavors in beer.
Name | Malt Examples | Colour | Description |
Acidulated/Sauer Malt | Weyermann Acidulated | 2-3 | Pale malt that has been treated with lactic acid. Used in small quantities to lower pH in mash. Also used to impart a tart flavor |
Aromatic Malt | Weyermann Melanoidin, Dingemans Aromatic, Briess Aromatic | 24-26 | High kilned malt. Adds color, malty flavors and aromas |
Biscuit Malt | Briess Victory Malt, Dingemans Biscuit Malt | 25-0 | A lightly roasted malt. Imparts a biscuity flavor and aroma, and a light brown color |
Black (Patent) Malt | Muntons Black Malt, Briess Black Malt | 470-560 | Kilned at a very high temperature. Used in small quantities for a red color. In larger quantites imparts a dry-burnt bitterness |
Brown Malt | Crisp Brown Malt | 60-70 | A roasted malt, darker than biscuit, lighter than chocolate. Imparts a dry biscuity flavor, and a light brown color |
Cara Munich | Weyermann Cara, Munich I Weyermann, Cara Munich II Briess, Cara Munich | 40-65 | A medium colored crystal malt. Imparts a copper color, caramel sweetness and aroma |
Cara Vienna | Dingemans Caravienne, Briess Cara Vienne | 27-35 | A light colored crystal malt. Imparts a golden color, caramel sweetness and aroma |
Caramel Wheat | Weyermann Caramel, Wheat | 38-53 | Caramel malt produced from wheat. Imparts caramel character, improves head retention. One to experiment with |
Chocolate Malt | Muntons Chocolate Malt, Briess Chocolate Malt | 400-475 | Kilned at a high temperature to a chocolate color. Imparts a nutty toasted aroma and flavor, and a chocolate color |
Chocolate Rye Malt | Weyermann Chocolate, Rye Malt | 190-300 | Kilned at a high temperature to a chocolate color. Imparts a nutty spicy aroma and flavor, and a chocolate color with rye character |
Chocolate Wheat Malt | Weyermann Chocolate, Wheat Malt | 375-450 | Kilned at a high temperature to a chocolate color. Imparts a nutty toasted aroma and flavor, and a chocolate color with wheat character |
Coffee Malt | Simpsons Coffee Malt | 130-170 | Kilned at a high temperature to a coffee color. Imparts a coffee-like character and color. |
Crystal/Caramel Malt | Weyermann Cara Hell, Dingemans Cara Pils, Weyermann Cara Red, Briess Crystal 10 - 120, Muntons Crystal 60 | 10-120 | Crystal malts come in a wide range of color. The lightest are mostly dextrinous, imparting mostly body and mouthfeel. Moving up the color range imparts more caramel character and darker colors. At the dark end, flavors and aromas take on a raisiny note. |
Dark Crystal Malt | 60-120 | Dark Crystal will lend a complex sharp caramel flavor and aroma to beers. Used in smaller quantities this malt will add color and slight sweetness to beers, while heavier concentrations are well suited to strong beers. | |
Dextrin Malt | Weyermann Cara Foam, Dingemans Cara Pils | 2-10 | Kilned at a higher temperature than Pale Malt. Mostly dextrinous. Contributes body and improves head retention |
Flaked Barley | Briess Flaked Barley | 1-2 | Unmalted barley processed through hot rollers. Imparts grainy flavor, improves head retention |
Flaked Maize | Briess Flaked Maize | 1-2 | Processed through hot rollers. Imparts subtle corn flavor, source of fermentable sugar when used with enough base malt to convert |
Flaked Oats | Briess Flaked Oats | 1-2 | Processed through hot rollers. Adds body, smoothness and creamy head |
Flaked Rye | Briess Flaked Rye | 1-2 | Processed through hot rollers. Imparts a crisp spicy character |
Flaked Wheat | Briess Flaked Red Wheat | 1-2 | Processed through hot rollers. Imparts a tart grainy character, hazy appearance |
Golden Promise Malt | Simpsons Golden Promise | 2-3 | Pale malt produced from Scottish winter barley. |
Honey Malt | Gambrinus Honey Malt | 18-20 | Kilned to produce a malt that imparts a sweet honey-like character |
Maris Otter Malt | Crisp Maris Otter, Muntons Maris Otter | 2-3 | Base malt produced from winter barley. Imparts a rich malt flavor and aroma. |
Mild Ale Malt | Muntons Mild Ale Malt | 3-4 | Lightly toasted base malt. Imparts a nutty character |
Munich Malt | Weyermann Munich I, Weyermann Munich II, Durst Turbo Munich | 7-10 | A high-kilned malt. Imparts malty aromas, flavors, and light copper color |
Pale 2-Row Malt | 1-2 | Base malt suitable for all beer style. Provides fermentable sugars, light malt color flavor and aroma | |
Pale 6-Row Malt | Briess 6-Row Brewers Malt | 1-2 | Base malt with higher enzymatic power than 2-row. Used in American styles with higher percentage of adjuct grains |
Pale Ale Malt | Briess Pale Ale Malt Muntons Pale Ale Malt Weyermann Pale Ale Malt |
2-3 | Base malt with slightly darker color. Provides fermentable sugars, light malt color flavor and aroma |
Peated Malt | Simpsons Peated Malt | 2-4 | Pale malt smoked with peat. |
Pilsener Malt | Weyermann Pilsener | 1-2 | The lightest of the base malts. |
Roasted Barley | Muntons Roasted Barley | 470-560 | Unmalted barley roasted to a very dark color |
Rye Malt | Weyermann Rye Malt | 3-5 | Base malt for all rye beers. Imparts a spicy flavor and aroma. |
Smoked Malt | 1-3 | Pale malt that has been smoked with a hardwood. Imparts a smokey flavor and aroma. | |
Special B Malt | Dingemans Special B | 139-141 | The darkest of the caramel malts. |
Toasted Malt | Briess Special Roast | 49-51 | Pale malt that has been toasted. |
Vienna Malt | Weyermann Vienna Durst Turbo Vienna |
2-4 | High kilned base malt malt. |
Wheat Malt | Weyermann Wheat Malt | 2-0 | Base malt produced from wheat. |
Brugse Zot blond from Brewery De Halve Maan is available in the Beer Store