Biscuit Malt in an APA/IPA?

Due to a last-minute recipe change, I find myself with a pound of biscuit malt. I've never used it before and I'm curious--I know it's an ingredient that is easy to misuse. Would it be appropriate/interesting/whatever to add it as a specialty grain to an extract pale ale/India pale ale?

Maybe; an APA sounds like it would mesh better than IPA. I would personally save it for a different brew but maybe 4 oz wouldn't hurt, might be nice with some earthy, spicy hops.

not sure how well that would mesh. Definitely use a limited amount if you use it.

I used a 1/2 lb in my ESB with some earthy hops and it came out awesome but I did use MO as my base malt so that may have balance it a bit.

Let me ask a related question, then: if you were primarily an extract/extract with specialty grains brewer (I tried partial mash for the first time recently and it was a disaster), what would you do with an extra pound of biscuit malt?

I made an APA in which 1% of the grain bill was biscuit malt. Turned out amazing. Definitely not just because of the biscuit, but it was in there.

I've used biscuit/victory in ESBs, Belgians, and Porters; usually in the amount of 8 oz per 5 gallons. I've also made an American ESB (as opposed to APA) with some victory and toasted malt, and it came out fantastic. I mention victory because it's very similar to biscuit (for the most part).

PJoyce85 said:

I made an APA in which 1% of the grain bill was biscuit malt. Turned out amazing. Definitely not just because of the biscuit, but it was in there.

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Exactly...I do this with my standard IIPA grain bill, maybe 1-2%. Just a great hint to the backbone of your beer that I like, hardly detectable and great for a slight boost in color

Enoch52 said:

Let me ask a related question, then: if you were primarily an extract/extract with specialty grains brewer (I tried partial mash for the first time recently and it was a disaster), what would you do with an extra pound of biscuit malt?

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i'd split it among a few beers. 1# biscuit is too much in anyone one beer IMO. a few oz in an APA or IPA works well, also goes well in anything english or belgian pales. wouldn't go over 5% in the grist

Yeah, like a few others on here, I'd consider making an "American" ESB type beer. Personally, I like ESBs a lot more than IPAs or even APAs. Love the flavor I get from biscuit malt.

I DO think that you've got enough for 2 brews, though

I'm a big fan of Biscuit or Aromatic in I/APA's. Like others have said a full pound is too much. A delicious Ithaca Flower Power clone has .15lb biscuit and 16lbs of 2-row (5 gallons)- it's .86% of the grain bill but is still noticeable. Kyle

I'm about to start a batch of 1-gallon brews using the same malt base but different hops. Maybe when I finish with that I should do a set with the same hops but a different malt base.

Conan said:

I'm a big fan of Biscuit or Aromatic in I/APA's. Like others have said a full pound is too much. A delicious Ithaca Flower Power clone has .15lb biscuit and 16lbs of 2-row (5 gallons)- it's .86% of the grain bill but is still noticeable. Kyle

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Love the flower power. Any other malts in there?