Malto Dextrin

[roggae]

what purpose does malto dextrin serve in beer making?

[generalzonzo]

MaltoDextrin is relatively complex carbohydrate which is derived from corn starch. It is unfermentable and therefore is used to added body, foam stability, and sweetness to beers. I have used it a few times in my brewing. It provided a nice amount of body and mouth feel to my Winter Welcome last year.

How to Brew - John Palmer - http://www.howtobrew.com/section4/chapter20-1.html

and

http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/BOS_BRI/BREWING_CHEMISTRY.html

[roggae]

is it best used in winter warmer beers? any substitutions?

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by roggae
is it best used in winter warmer beers? any substitutions?

not really, just anytime you want more body and a touch more sweetness. If you are doing all-grain batches, you use the mash tempeture to control these variables, but extract brews don't have that ability

[roggae]

so if i am doing all grain do i need the malto dextrin?

[BrewDog]

No, unless you are having trouble achieving body/head retention and want to take somewhat of a "short cut".

CaraPils/CaraFoam/Dextrin malt achieves the same thing.

I will use it in an extract batch if I don't want to take the time to do a mini mash.


HTH-