Maris otter comparisons

[beerlover77]

I am thinking of trying domestic ESB malt to replace Maris Otter for the next few batches. Specifically Gambrinus ESB as it is way cheaper.

Does anyone have experience using similar domestic malts for their British/malty brews?

 

[SoCal-Doug]

Gambrinus would be fine. Golden promise would work also. Or a good pilsner malt. You just don't want a wimpy domestic 2-row that lacks in flavor. I've seen some people mix in a little Vienna with cheaper domestic.

 

[thehaze]

50% Vienna and 50% 2-row will work nice.

Vienna seems to work well, at leats for me, in maltier brews and low-ish ABV IPAs and Pales ales.

 

[Steveruch]

It also depends on the recipe. You won't be able to identify the base grain in a beer with a complex grain bill or high IBUs.

 

[SoCal-Doug]

You won't be able to identify the base grain in a beer with high IBUs

That's for damn sure. Out of balance over-hopped crap is not beer. No need to use malt at all

 

[beerlover77]

Just priced out Maris Otter and Gambrinus ESB today...
MO $72 per sack
ESB $42 per sack

 

[-DELETED-MEMBER-]

I’ve been brewing with both the Gambrinus ESB and MO for the last few years. I think the ESB is a great malt but not a clone of MO. While I mostly use the two interchangeably, there are a few recipes where I will spring for the MO because it is just the right flavour. Otherwise, safe some cash, brew with Gambrinus and kick the malts up a notch with some Vienna or Munich when needed.

 

[leonardoreges]

80% pilsner 20% munich clone maris otter flavour

 

[imasickboy]

I’ve been brewing with both the Gambrinus ESB and MO for the last few years. I think the ESB is a great malt but not a clone of MO. While I mostly use the two interchangeably, there are a few recipes where I will spring for the MO because it is just the right flavour. Otherwise, safe some cash, brew with Gambrinus and kick the malts up a notch with some Vienna or Munich when needed.

+1 to this. It's exactly what I do.

 

[beerlover77]

Gambrinus ESB is now on order!

I always have vienna and munich on hand

 

[eric19312]

I use MO the way you guys use Vienna. 80/20 or 70/30 2-row to MO ratio for my base malt. And base malt malt is about 90% of the grain bill.

 

[hopjuice_71]

If you ever happen to drive through Armstrong BC a 25kg bag of the Gambrinus ESB malt is $25....hard to beat. Super nice people too.

 

[beerlover77]

Everytime I drive through it’s Sunday and they are closed lol

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

80% pilsner 20% munich clone maris otter flavour

I agree, as long as it is a very light colored Munich so as to not throw off the color vs. MO.

70% Pilsner and 30% Vienna is another alternative in a pinch.

 

[beerlover77]

Look what arrived!