Pale base malts are only gaining in popularity in global craft beer; from the gradual decrease in colour in Hazy IPAs, to the use of solely pilsner-type malt in modern West Coast IPAs, and the renaissance of craft lager brewing. Here at Gladfield Malt we have been producing three great low-colour base malts for some time, differentiated by barley variety and kilning regime to give a variety of options in the brewhouse and diverse flavours in your final beer. In this article we explore some of the differences between and suggestions for use of these malts.
Gladfield Pilsner Malt
Low colour. Expect bready, cracker like flavour with honey notes, great extract potential. To make this malt out of plump low protein Canterbury barley.
Our Gladfield Pilsner malt has sufficient diastatic power to convert the addition of 10-20% coloured malts or adjuncts to the mash.
Use: as base malt for any beer style, including Czechs style Pilsner, IPLs/Cold IPAs, Sours and Hazy Pas and IPAs.
Wort Colour: 3.2-4.0 EBC DMSp(ppm): 3.5 Rate: up to 100%
Gladfield German Pilsner Malt
The perfect base to use with Ales and Lagers where brewer expect clean and crisp sweetness, allowing space for hops to build the whole beer. To make this malt we use plum spring barley that goes through our traditional long germination process followed by gentle kilning. This malt is designed to lauter well providing great extract. The higher protein barley will maintain a lot of medium chain proteins that provide both body and head retention. This malt has also enough diastatic power to convert the addition of 10-20% of specialty malts or/and adjuncts.
Use: as base malt for any beer style. Recommended for Bohemian style Pilsners, Lager, NZ and West Coast Pilsner, IPLs, Sours and crisp Ales among others.
Wort Colour: 3.0 - 4.5 EBC DMSp(ppm): 2.5 Rate: up to 100%
Gladfield Lager Light Malt
Made from UK barley variety. Gladfield Lager Light malt has been subjected to a gentler kilning cycle resulting on the lower coloured base malt. A crisp sweetness and great extract makes this malt ideal for any styles of beers. This malt has enough diastatic power to convert specialty malts and or adjuncts up to 20%.
Use: as base malt for any style. Highly recommended for brewing Pale Lager, Hazy PAs and IPAs, IPLs West Coast Pilsner as well as Sours, Saisons, etc.
Wort Colour: 2.5 – 2.9 EBC DMSp(ppm): 4.4 Rate: up to 100%
