2 Row or Pilsener

[theowlman16]

Just picked up grain to do a Golden Monkey clone. I got Belgian 2 row. Realized recipe called for Belgian Pilsener (2 row). Are these the same thing? If not, will I notice?

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

the color will be darker, pilsner is Lovibond: 1.6 and the pale malt is Lovibond: 3.4

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

You may like it even better. The only way to find out is to brew it.

 

[JonM]

Well, they are quite different and I think you will notice. If it were me, I'd get the Pilsner and use the 2-row for some other recipe later, especially because this is a Trippel recipe.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Agree w JonM above, I think the 2 row would be too much for such a big beer. I've recently come to appreciate pilsner malt to the point I prefer it over 2 row and pale malt.

 

[applescrap]

It's no big deal to make it with the 2row imo. Depending on what Pilsner and what 2 row, they could be very alike anyways. I like pilsner malt as well and if you can afford to save it or buy some new stuff that's not the worst idea either. There's all kinds of malt I love, but getting 50 lb of my norm for $34 makes it a hard pass, especially since it's good. It just depends on the month when I'm buying it. I know I could miss out a little on flavor by not always following the recipe and using my two row as my base, but I get a great deal on bulk.

 

[z-bob]

Just picked up grain to do a Golden Monkey clone. I got Belgian 2 row. Realized recipe called for Belgian Pilsener (2 row). Are these the same thing? If not, will I notice?

They are not the same thing. You might notice. It will be beer either way, and it should be good. Depends how much "clone" means to you. I would run with it, and see what you get

 

[MaxStout]

You'll end up with something different. Whether that's good or bad is up to you. But nothing wrong with painting outside the lines once in a while. If you brew it that way and it turns out good, post your Not-So Golden Monkey recipe.

 

[mabrungard]

The term "2 row" is not descriptive. Pils malt is also 2 row. The better term (as described above) is to use Pils and Pale malt. The difference is their color rating.

 

[applescrap]

The term "2 row" is not descriptive. Pils malt is also 2 row. The better term (as described above) is to use Pils and Pale malt. The difference is their color rating.

Good point, both are indeed barely, presumably 2 row. But the label two row applies to product as well imo. Great western and briess both offer "2 row" and pale malts. The 2 row is 1.8l° and 2l° and their pale malts are 3l° and 3.5l°. Side note, Weyerman pilsner is 1.6l and breiss pilsner is 1.2. Rahr "2 row" is 1.8l°. I think the stuff I use is 1.8l°. Imo these numbers show how close in l° pilsner and 2 row can be, and also that depending on brand its fairly safe to assume "2 row" is lighter than pale malt. Whats really important though imo is to know the exact l° of ones malt if one really wanted to care all that much. Otherwise my advice is to use the one you think tastes the best for that beer or buy in bulk, etc...

 

[mabrungard]

Agreed. Even Weyermann has an Extra Pale malt that clocks in around 1.2L, so the naming confusion abounds. However, since pilsner beer was created by the kilning breakthroughs that led to the very light colored malt that creates pilsner beer, it seems appropriate that the term pilsner malt should be left to the lightest kilned malts. In my opinion, pale malt should refer to base malt kilned to above 2.5L.

 

[RM-MN]

Agreed. Even Weyermann has an Extra Pale malt that clocks in around 1.2L, so the naming confusion abounds. However, since pilsner beer was created by the kilning breakthroughs that led to the very light colored malt that creates pilsner beer, it seems appropriate that the term pilsner malt should be left to the lightest kilned malts. In my opinion, pale malt should refer to base malt kilned to above 2.5L.

Lets add more confusion to the naming by putting in Briess "Brewer's Malt" that comes in at 1.8L and can be had in 2-row or 6-row. Add to that the pale ale malt at 3.5L and distillers malt at 2.4L. Just what were they thinking with all those malt designations?

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

There are also spring barleys and winter barleys, each with differing properties. And added to that the DI_mash pH range exhibited by barley malts can be noticeably influenced by the region or continent in which it is grown, and also influenced by annual/seasonal climate variations. A roughly 3L base malt (give or take) from one region can be significantly more basic than a 1.8L malt (give or take) from another region, or visa-versa.

 

[shoreman]

If you go the 2row route make sure you mash low. I could deal with the color but there’s nothing worse than a cloyingly sweet triple.

 

[passedpawn]

The term "2 row" is not descriptive. Pils malt is also 2 row. The better term (as described above) is to use Pils and Pale malt. The difference is their color rating.

Yea, I wish the term 2-row only applied to the raw cultivar and not any malt product. Here's 2-row vs 6-row. It's possible that the only barley you get at your LHBS is malted 2-row.

The 2-row has two vertical rows of seeds, the 6-row has six. There was a time when the plumpness and extract yield of 2-row was superior to 6-row, but nowadays they are nearly the same. 2-row converts in the malt-house more quickly, so that makes it slightly cheaper. But 6-row has 33% more diastatic power, and that's a major advantage when brewing with a lot of non-barley ingredients that lack conversion enzymes (thing Bud ). Overseas, it's likely that 6-row is only used for animal feed.

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

Avangard, which has recently become Continental Europe's largest maltster, lists 6-Row Winter malt among its selection of Pilsner malts.