2 row Pale or pilsner

[enohcs]

I want to make a blond ale. What differences would I see if I were to use pilsner malt instead of 2 row?

 

[Beerrific]

The pale malt will have a deeper malt profile. It will lend more toasty, bready flavors to the beer. The pilsner malt has its own distinct flavor and sweetness. The pilsner will give you a lighter beer.

I would not hesitate to use either, but would not go out of my way to get one over the other. Also pilsner malt needs to handled appropriately to prevent DMS in the final beer (90 minute boil, fast chill, etc.).

 

[BeerSmith]

Hi,
Personally I would go with the pale malt. It is appropriate to the style.

Cheers!
Brad

 

[ron1guz]

what about going the other way?

I have a sack of pilsner malt and want to make a porter. The recpie calls for 2-row. How do you think the pilsner will taste in a porter?

 

[Desert_Sky]

Ive done both. With that said, if Im brewing a blonde, its always with belgian pilsner now

 

[Desert_Sky]

what about going the other way?

I have a sack of pilsner malt and want to make a porter. The recpie calls for 2-row. How do you think the pilsner will taste in a porter?

Look in my recipes. I have a brown ale I use pilsner in and its freaking awesome

 

[TexLaw]

For the blonde, pale malt is a little sweeter and will give a little more color to the beer. Pilsner is a little crisper and, like Beerriffic said, you have to watch out for DMS. I have made some nice beers combining the two, usually along the lines of combining two parts U.S. pale malt with one part Pilsner malt. You still get a little crispness from the Pilsner, and you do not have to worry so much about DMS. A 70 boil is plenty, and the extra 10 minutes might not even be necessary (but that's what I've always done, at least).

For the porter, I doubt anyone could tell much of a difference between pale malt and Pilsner, depending on the rest of your recipe. If you go 100% Pilsner for the base malt, you will lack a bit of malt character, but the biggest difference will be with DMS. You definitely have to watch out for it, there. Plan on a good 90 minute boil.


TL