I am trying to brew US style IPA over in Europe and I am having a really hard time finding a base malt which is as neutral and clean as US 2-row (which not available over here).
There are the German and English Lager/Pilsner and Ale malts, however these are respectively more grainy and bready than US 2-row. Also, US 2-row seems to fall in between them in terms of color, being between 1.8-2.1L, whereas the pilsner malts are between 1.5-2.1L and Ale malts between 2.3-3.0L - not that big of a deal though.
I have done a lot of testing with german pilsner (at around 90% of grist with 5% carapils and 5% crystal 40L) however the character is just not as clean and sweet as US IPAs with sort of grainy/starchy aromas which overpower some of the more the subtle hop aromas and flavors.
I have done a batch with 100% Marris Otter but this was far too bready/toasty/nutty and not suitable.
My next efforts will be focussing on the lighter UK pale ale malts like the following:
Golden Promise (2.3-3.0°L) - Golden Promise is a traditional Pale Ale Malt grown in Scotland. It produces sweet, mellow wort and is excellent for both brewing and distilling.
Halcyon (2.3-3.0°L) - Halcyon is a barley variety that was bred from the Maris Otter and Sargent barley varieties. It tends to produce a less sweet wort than Maris Otter.
Optic (2.3-3.0°L) - Optic is a barley variety widely grown in the United Kingdom. Our customers have been impressed with its highly aromatic qualities.
Pearl (2.3-3.0°L) - A traditional English barley variety known for its slightly bready flavor.
Optic seems interesting, which I have just ordered a bag of.
I know brewdog uses an extra pale Marris Otter malt but I do not get the clean malt backbone on their IPA's that I find in US IPA's.
Has anyone else gone through such an exercise and been able to find a suitable substitute?
There are the German and English Lager/Pilsner and Ale malts, however these are respectively more grainy and bready than US 2-row. Also, US 2-row seems to fall in between them in terms of color, being between 1.8-2.1L, whereas the pilsner malts are between 1.5-2.1L and Ale malts between 2.3-3.0L - not that big of a deal though.
I have done a lot of testing with german pilsner (at around 90% of grist with 5% carapils and 5% crystal 40L) however the character is just not as clean and sweet as US IPAs with sort of grainy/starchy aromas which overpower some of the more the subtle hop aromas and flavors.
I have done a batch with 100% Marris Otter but this was far too bready/toasty/nutty and not suitable.
My next efforts will be focussing on the lighter UK pale ale malts like the following:
Golden Promise (2.3-3.0°L) - Golden Promise is a traditional Pale Ale Malt grown in Scotland. It produces sweet, mellow wort and is excellent for both brewing and distilling.
Halcyon (2.3-3.0°L) - Halcyon is a barley variety that was bred from the Maris Otter and Sargent barley varieties. It tends to produce a less sweet wort than Maris Otter.
Optic (2.3-3.0°L) - Optic is a barley variety widely grown in the United Kingdom. Our customers have been impressed with its highly aromatic qualities.
Pearl (2.3-3.0°L) - A traditional English barley variety known for its slightly bready flavor.
Optic seems interesting, which I have just ordered a bag of.
I know brewdog uses an extra pale Marris Otter malt but I do not get the clean malt backbone on their IPA's that I find in US IPA's.
Has anyone else gone through such an exercise and been able to find a suitable substitute?
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