Specialty malts that you can't live without?

While we have a very good selection of specialty malts at my LHBS up and over here in Vancouver, Canada, there are a few that come up repeatedly in recipes that we can't get here without the hassle of mail ordering and paying duty, etc. to CBSA.

I'm heading down to Portland, Oregon for the Oregon Brewer's Festival next weekend and plan on stopping into some of Portland and Vancouver, WA's LHBSs to pick up some specialty malts. I can bring back any malted barley that I want as long as its cost is within my allowable 48 hr. limit and that I declare it, or so says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

So far on my list are the following:

Belgian Aromatic
Melanoidin malt
Special Roast
Victory

I can get most other specialties up here or at least can substitute for them.

Any other must haves?

For me,

Roasted Barley
Chocolate
Crystal 60

Yeah, Crystal 60 is another.

My LHBS has it sometimes, but always has British 70-80L. A lot of recipes call for 60. I end up trying to 'create' it by balancing amounts of Carastan and 70-80L.

Crystal xxL
Wheat
Roasted Barley

Simpsons chocolate. Yes, it does have to be Simpsons.

conpewter said:

For me,

Roasted Barley
Chocolate
Crystal 60

Click to expand...

had those same in mind...

Not the biggest crystal fan, I'll use a bit here and there. I like:

Brown malt (goes in just about every dark beer I make)
Honey malt (adds some great sweetness and can be used in small quantites)
Munich malt (excellent addition to just about anything not light, really...)

Crystal 60 (if I had to give up all the other crystals)
Brown Malt
Munich
Victory
Chocolate

Interesting that you said melanoidin malt, because you can substitute that for a decoction mash.

Crystal 20l and 60lMunich
Victory
Wheat
Flaked Maize
Biscuit
Aromatic
Chocolate

Pretty much in that order.

Crystal 40L and 120L
Chocolate
Black Patent
Roasted Barley
Brown Malt
Victory
Biscuit
Special B - I don't use it much but when I need it, I NEED it

Gambrinus Honey
Victory
Bonlander Munich
Muntons C-60
Pale Chocolate

..at least one of these ends up in each brew, and i'd be lost without them