Biscuit Malt

[grainbrew]

I'm formulating my third all grain, a pale ale, and have decided, after tasting Fuller's London Pride, to use some Biscuit malt.

I'm doing a 19L batch, with approximately 9lbs of grains (SG 1.05)

When using Biscuit Malt, how much (range) is usually used? I don't want to overpower the beer but don't know how much flavour is extracted from Biscuit per quantity. What I means is that when using Pale Malt, you can use 8 or 9 lbs and the flavour is minimal. So I would say that per pound, Pale Malts have little flavour. I'm looking for this type of answer with regards to Biscuit malt.

Cheers!

J

[brewmonkey]

I would think about 2-3% of the total weight of the grist would be a good place to start but that more then 10% would be over the top in a pale.

[Grog]

I used 5% in the Bitter I am drinking right now. I really only taste it in the nice toasty finish.

-G-

[grainbrew]

Thanks guys. I don't want it to overpower it at all. In fact, I found it a bit too abrassive in the London Pride.

J

[BrewDog]

I usually go around 5% give or take.

You might want to try some Victory malt, too. Gives it a nutty flavor which is very complementary to a Pale Ale.

[denver brewhoo]

BrewDog---I thought Victory had the same characteristics and did the same thing as Biscuit....am I misinformed?

[BrewDog]

They are quite similar, but Victory is a little more toasty and grape-nut flavored, and Biscuit is more, well, biscuit/bready flavored. :)

Bottom line, both are nice and tasty.

[grainbrew]

I'll probably end up trying both at some point in time.

I enjoyed it in the London Pride (Fuller's) but felt it was a bit much. Anyone know what percentage it has in LP?

Brewing this saturday. University starting again...taking time from my brewing!

J

[grainbrew]

Is Amber malt the same thing as Biscuit malt?

The guy at the brewstore told me that they had Amber malt, which is Victory malt, which is Biscuit malt.???

Confused,

J

[Grog]

Unless I am confused as well, Amber malt is it's own thing, along the lines of Mild malt. Mosher lists it in its own category as it has enzymes. Victory is a TM product I believe, and biscuit is its own thing. 3 different malts.

-G-

[grainbrew]

Thanks,

That's what I thought too. I guess I won't be able to use biscuit malt. He did have some Munich malt, which I heard can be nice.

J

[grainbrew]

What is Munich Malt like?

J

[ray m]

Grainbrew.....I've used Munich malt a couple times and the best flavor that I can describe that it contributes is "grainy". It's not a bad adjective, mind you, but I think it gives the brew a very distinct taste, especially if you use 1+ pounds in your bill.

[grainbrew]

Thanks,

I don't think I'll use it. I was really hoping for biscuit malt, but they don't have any, although he's still trying to convince me that Amber malt is the same thing...

I'm trying to make a nice pale ale that is not too hoppy and celebrates it's malts.

J

[Grog]

Julien - Amber malt (if used in a substanstial enough quantity) will give you a very nice, rounded malt flavor, albeit it is not the same flavor as biscuit malt, but you will be pretty happy with the results. The bitter I have kegged now is about 35% mild ale malt (which is essentally amber malt).

-G-

[grainbrew]

So amber malt is used as a substitude for Pale malt?

J

[Grog]

Not so much a substitute as much as an augmentation. Amber mallt has a different character than pale malt, that will add malt complexity to your brew (which it sounds like what you are aiming for). The mild malt I get CAN be used as 100% of the grist, but it is not a direct replacement for pale malt. Hope that makes sense.

-G-

[grainbrew]

I'm going to wait for some biscuit malt. My Plant Biology class is keeping me away from the beer this weekend.

J