Base grain fight - ON!

[delboy]

I am about ready to buy my first bulk sack of grain. I was thinking MO. I mostly have been brewing UK style ales. I was wondering to myself yesterday though how it would work with a hefe? I am thinking of trying one again. Guess I could just buy a small amount of 2row.

I have never used MO yet but it seems to be highly recommended. $35 bucks for a sack at my LHBS (any kind actually) and they let me use their mill free. I am excited!

It works well by all accounts, a uk based forum i also post on has a hefe recipe using pale malt (which in 95% of cases in the uk will be MO) running to 17 pages with lots of happy customers

 

[Cheesefood]

It works well by all accounts, a uk based forum i also post on has a hefe recipe using pale malt (which in 95% of cases in the uk will be MO) running to 17 pages with lots of happy customers

Repost, please.

 

[the_bird]

I think Marris Otter would be fine for a hefe. MO is considered to be a "maltier" base malt, and hefes can have some of that character to them (they are traditional decocted). I used a German pils malt when I brewed mine, but I wouldn't recommend Pils as your core base grain since it pretty much requires a 90-minute boil.

 

[Desert_Sky]

but I wouldn't recommend Pils as your core base grain since it pretty much requires a 90-minute boil.

how do you figure?

 

[the_bird]

DMS. Lots more created with Pils malt. Something to do with how its kilned, I think.

 

[Desert_Sky]

true, pils has a lower curing temp @ 85F than say MO which is more at 100-105F. The higher temp removes the DMS in MO.

However, I use Pils a lot, and it always turns out really well with only a 60(actually 70-75 to be honest) minute boil. Granted that I keep my boils on the verge of a boil over through out the whole boil. Very vigorous.


and if you want a good example of DMS drink a Rolling Rock. They have built a beer around DMS

 

[jayflap]

Like a few others have mentioned, it all depends on what you are brewing. I currently have a sack of Marris Otter, a sack of Rahr 2-Row, and a sack of Pilsner. I brew fairly often and find a need for each of these base grains in my inventory.

Cheers,
J

 

[Got Trub?]

And your preference?

Crisp - but to be honest based on others recommendations. I have not compared different maltsters myself.

 

[Buford]

The hefe I made (RIP batch #10) that used Pils malt I only boiled for 60 min and I didn't notice any DMS taste in it. Granted this may be due to boiling the hell out of it during the mash as I did a couple decoctions.

 

[zoebisch01]

Well if I had to pick just one base bulk malt....I'd probably say Pils. The reason for this is because if it is maltiness and color you can always make those up with additions. But you cannot go in reverse if you want a really light colored beer.

However, if you make a lot of APA's IPA's and such, then I would go with MO or Optic.

The other base malt I'd have would be malted Wheat.

I currently have bulk Pils, Optic, Pale Ale, Vienna, Munich and Wheat.

 

[delboy]

Repost, please.

Not sure if links to other forums are frowned upon or not, so i deliberately didn't post a link.
Its simplicity itself though, 50% wheat and 50 % MO, obviously you can tinker and put in some crystal or whatever but thats the bare bones of the recipe.

 

[Brewer3401]

I use Maris Otter ( Thomas Fawcett) for all ales.
If I want more or less body, I adjust my mash temps.
Never worried about super light color in ales.

 

[Orfy]

I use Maris Otter ( Thomas Fawcett) for all ales.
If I want more or less body, I adjust my mash temps.
Never worried about super light color in ales.

That's what I use.
I take it it's shipped to you guys rather than produced by licence?


http://www.fawcett-maltsters.co.uk/export.htm
http://www.northcountrymalt.com/pages.php?pageid=23

 

[McCall St. Brewer]

As far as I know, it's imported here. It costs a bit more a pound, as as everyone says a 55 lb. sack is quite a bit more than the domestic 2 row stuff. There've been other threads here on this recently and it appears that lots of folks on this forum use MO.