One Malt To Rule Them All, Which One Would You Choose?

[Yesfan]

My club is doing another grain buy. Of these brands of pilsner malt, which would you choose and why?

BestMalz
Canada Malting Superior Pisner
Franco-Belges Pilsen*
Prostajov Czech Pilsen*

I'm mainly looking at BestMalz or Canada Malting. The last two aren't going to be the best choice for what I want to brew, but I listed them anyway. I like Belgians, but I'll just buy what I like when in the mood for them. I'm sure the Prostajov would be the best choice for a Czech pils, but if Bestmalz or Canada Malting can give me a more than good enough version, than that's all I need. I love Pilsner Urquell, but I'm not trying to clone it exactly. I'm leaning toward Bestmalz, but have never tried it. I mainly like session beers. I'm more or less done with big beer brewing. Really nothing above 4.5-5.5%abv. Hoppy ales and American Mexican lagers are what I prefer/drink the most. What would you choose?

 

[Steveruch]

I've only used Bestmaltz of those four. I was very happy with it.

 

[kevin58]

One malt to rule them all is the better question. It is the malting process and not so much the grain itself that makes them different.

 

[Yesfan]

One malt to rule them all is the better question. It is the malting process and not so much the grain itself that makes them different.

Agreed. I should have titled it that way. So which would you choose?

 

[Bramling Cross]

I know nothing about, nor have I ever used that Czech malt, but my right eyebrow shot up when I saw the Czech malt on your list. Is it a modern, easily converted malt? Or is it better suited for step/decoction mashing? I adore Czech malts, but I always make certain that I know exactly what it is that I'm buying. I step mash, as a rule, but I sure wouldn't want an under-converted malt as my everyday pils malt (it's complicated and not worth getting into here). Just be sure you guys really know what that malt is before you take the plunge.

The Bestmalz pils is a great malt. It makes a nice beer and you can't go wrong with it.

Same for the Belgian stuff, it's just too spendy these days.

I have no experience with the Canadian stuff. I've been eager to give it a try for years, but at the price they're asking, I'm cool sticking with Best's Barke pils. Best makes great malt and it has fewer rocks in it than Weyermann.

 

[wepeeler]

Personally, I'd go BestMalz. I've had great luck with nearly every German Malt. I'd be wary of the Czech malt @Bramling Cross said. Czech malt is notoriously undermodified for most American brewing techniques. You'd have to step mash/decoct to get the full efficiency from the Czech stuff.

 

[Yesfan]

I'm going to go with the BestMalz then. Thanks for the reassurance guys.

 

[monkeymath]

Personally, I'd go BestMalz. I've had great luck with nearly every German Malt. I'd be wary of the Czech malt @Bramling Cross said. Czech malt is notoriously undermodified for most American brewing techniques. You'd have to step mash/decoct to get the full efficiency from the Czech stuff.

Really? Which Czech malts are you referring to? I can't seem to find any Czech malts here in Germany, and I can't find any under modified malts (regardless of their origin) at all. Which is a shame because some recipes/guides call for one :/

 

[Dland]

Really? Which Czech malts are you referring to? I can't seem to find any Czech malts here in Germany, and I can't find any under modified malts (regardless of their origin) at all. Which is a shame because some recipes/guides call for one :/

I use this Weyermann Bohemian pilsner malt a lot and like it. It does not say it in the product description, but it says it is from Czech Republic on the bag. Is described as slightly under modified.

https://www.morebeer.com/products/weyermann-floored-bohemian-pilsner-malt.html

I use this one too, it is also good, and is suitable for Czech lagers;

https://www.morebeer.com/products/dingemans-belgian-pilsner-malt.html

Since these are both European companies, perhaps they are available in Germany too.

 

[monkeymath]

I use this Weyermann Bohemian pilsner malt a lot and like it. It does not say it in the product description, but it says it is from Czech Republic on the bag. Is described as slightly under modified.

https://www.morebeer.com/products/weyermann-floored-bohemian-pilsner-malt.html

I like this malt as well, but it's really not under-modified.

I've read that claim repeatedly and I really wonder who came up with the legend that this malt was in any way under-modified. According to the specification (https://www.weyermann.de/wp-content...ches-Tennenmalz-Pilsner-Art_Spezifikation.pdf) it has a Kolbach index of 36-44%. It's as modified as it gets.

For comparison, their "regular" Pilsner malt is listed as 36-42.5% (see
https://www.weyermann.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Weyermann®-Pilsner-Malz_Spezifikation.pdf).

 

[wepeeler]

Really? Which Czech malts are you referring to? I can't seem to find any Czech malts here in Germany, and I can't find any under modified malts (regardless of their origin) at all. Which is a shame because some recipes/guides call for one :/

In the new Modern Lager Beer book by the brewer and owner of Jack's Abby, they write about how Czech malt, even today, is undermodified because of how the Czechs brew. They are very traditional brewers and decoct a lot, which creates flavors associated with Czech beer. It also improves their efficiency and attenuation because their malt is undermodified.

 

[ninkwood]

Czech Pilsner is currently my favorite beer style to brew and I was lucky enough to stumble upon Prostejov before my very first attempt and haven't looked back since. It's a fantastic malt, however I suspect It's likely one dimensional/not a good choice if you're looking for versatility. I'm planning to try it in a double decocted German Hefeweizen in the near future but that will be my first time using it for something other than a Czech lager.

The apartment brewer used this malt on YouTube recently, it's a good video and he also seemed to really like it.

 

[kevin58]

I use Briess 2 Row Brewers Malt by the sack for most of my brewing because it's affordable (for my budget). When I am able to splurge I will buy a bag of Munton's Maris Otter.

 

[Yesfan]

I use Briess 2 Row Brewers Malt by the sack for most of my brewing because it's affordable (for my budget). When I am able to splurge I will buy a bag of Munton's Maris Otter.

I like their Pilsen malt too. I'm down to the last few pounds in my sack..


The more expensive malts I might just buy them as needed for a recipe. I think when my club does another grain buy, I'm just going to stick with Briess Pilsen and 2Row. Mexi-lagers and hoppy pales have been go to lately.

 

[UdonPete]

Maris Otter - can use for most beers