CaraFa II!?!?

stoutman7 · May 10, 2012

The only dark malt I have available is CaraFaII regular. I have never used it before. Anyone had experience with it? Will it impart enough roast/flavors for making porters and stouts without any other roasted malts in the grain bill? How much would you recommend for stouts and porters?

MVKTR2 · May 11, 2012

I think it's an awesome addition for a porter, and used at slightly higher percentages should work fine in a stout as a poor-man's roasted barley substitution. FWIW typical roasted grain usage in a stout recipe can be about 10%, so if this is all you have I'd brew some up at 7-12% of the grain bill. It'll be beer, it'll be roasty, and it'll be good. Good luck and happy brewing!

Phillip

bobbrews · May 11, 2012

I would pick up some roasted barley.

brrman · May 11, 2012

bobbrews said:
I would pick up some roasted barley.

+1 on this.

stoutman7 · May 11, 2012

bobbrews said:
I would pick up some roasted barley.

Wish I could but I am lucky that carafa is available right now, only through another home brewer.

and Thanks Philip, think I'll try a porter first and see how it goes. Like you said, it will be beer! :mug:

stoutman7 · May 21, 2012

Ended up brewing a porter with BIAB. Here's the grain bill.

5 pounds pilsner
2 pounds vienna
1 pound carahell
.85 pounds carafa

Not as roasty as I would like, but the wort had good chocolate and coffee flavors. I will try to up the percentage of carafa next time. These being the only malts I have available I am pleased with the results.