I’m going to pick up some local malts at our local malster, Valley Malt, in Hadley Ma. next Friday. (For my birthday). I’m getting 50# each of pale malt and pilsner malt plus a few pounds of specialty malts. They also have 6 row malt but I’ve never really used it except maybe in a partial mash in my extract days. Are there any styles or uses where 6 row is just the thing? In what percentage? As the main base malt or in smaller amounts? I’m curious. (Obviously)
Yep, those are good styles for it. Some people use it for the diastatic power to convert other grains, but that’s not really necessary any more. These days the diastatic power of 2 row is about equal to 6 row.
Most brewers seem to prefer the flavor of 2-row, and now that the agronomics have caught up even the macro breweries are incorporating it more and more. About the only reason to use 6-row at this point is for the additional protein content in adjunct brewing - hence CAPs and cream ales.
Six row can also be used in making some old recipes like Ballantine IPA clones and many recipes out of “the Homebrewer’s Guide to Vintage Beer” by Ron Pattinson.
+1 I really like some in British styles. I also just happen to like 6-row in general, and will use it to mix with different base malts. A cream ale base for a braggot is quite tasty.
Cream ale is something that had not been on my radar that I’m hearing a lot about lately. My only experience is the Genessee Cream Ale my brother in law gave me on vacation when I was 13.
Six row can be used interchangeably with domestic two row pale malt. IMO. I’ve brewed plenty of hoppy pale ales and IPAs with six row, and really couldn’t tell the difference.
I need to add that to my library. I’m interested in how this domestic 2 row would work in English styles. They say their 2 row has a “subtle New England terroir”. Not sure what that means but I’m interested in coming up with a recipe for a “New England” style ale with other local ingredients just for fun.
They say this about their 6 row: “This is not Cow feed but rather a beautiful 6-Row malt with a pleasant sweetness and that classic grainy / husky character though, more subtle than other examples. This malt is on par with Pale Ale and Pilsner in terms of quality. A unique flavor contribution to any beer and great base malt for styles where Pale Ale would be a major component.”
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Well, you can say it was similar, but it is different. I might have to post what I have been doing tomorrow.
I actually helped in brewing a 7 bbl batch of it at Arbor Brewing in Ann Arbor. It was a hit, and sold well as it was different, hoppy in different way, and more-ish.
Jon, I haven’t found it either yet. I have checked all over the tri state area: Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. Must still just be east coast distribution