Substitute for Meussdoerffer Rost

[Bromley]

I'm putting together the ingredients to do the bock recipe from Zainasheff's book Brewing Classic Styles and he calls for Meussdoerffer Rost. I'm unable to locate it anywhere, so I was going to use his suggestion for a replacement, "the darkest crystal you can get". But I got wondering if Special B would work. Would this be an appropriate substitution?

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Bromley]

OK, maybe this would be a better way to put my question. Special B is described as: "Extreme caramel aroma and flavored malt" with a color around 180L. Does that mean it would be comparable to a very dark crystal malt?

Or, put even more to the point, would Special B be out of place in a Bock?

Thanks!

 

[david_42]

Meussdoerffer Rost is around 200L and described as "dark, aromatic". Special B sounds like a good substitute.

[Looks like Meussdoerffer is out of business.]

 

[snailsongs]

So, how did it turn out with Special B if that's what you brewed with? I'm gearing up for the same recpe, so actually, how did it turn out overall, as well? thanks!

 

[Oldsock]

I'd go with Simpsons Extra Dark (~155 L). I added some to a big dark wheat lager, it is lagering now but seems to be going in the right direction.

 

[kenwells]

Hello All,

I have been looking and looking for Meussdoerffer Rost malt (200L) to make the Brewing Classic Styles traditional bock and haven't had any luck, so I decided to ask Jamil where he gets it and here is his response:

Ken,
Rost malt is just so darn hard to find. I wish I could have left it out of the recipe...

...The fact is I got that malt shipped to me by mistake and I just gave it a try. That beer did well in competition and so I had to stick with that for the book. I think your simpsons substitute is a good one.

JZ

The Simpsons malt I referred to in my question to Jamil was Simpsons Extra Dark Crystal found (among other places) at

NORTHERN BREWER: Grain Malts

If any bock champions have additional opinions, I would sure like to make a good one. Cheers, all!

-Ken

 

[Oldsock]

The beer I mentioned above with the Simpson's Extra Dark took home a second place in its category as an eisbock, not to bad for being less than 6 months old.

 

[babalu87]

Boil it for two hours