Description

Crisp – Crushed Wheat Malt

What is it?

Wheat Malt is the second most common malted grain used in brewing, after barley malt. When used in beer, wheat malt imparts a lighter body than barley malt, together with a gently refreshing touch of acidity. Wheat has been used for brewing beer nearly as long as barley and has equal diastatic power. Malted wheat typically makes up  5-70% of the mash/grist depending on the actual style being brewed.

Weissbiers (“white” beers) of Bavaria are heavy users and are often brewed with up to 60 to 70% % wheat malt, combined with 30 to 40% barley malt. In the US many craft breweries offer at least one wheat beer in their range, and they tend to brew with a lower portion (40 to 50%) of malted wheat.

When used as an adjunct for ales, up to 40% of the grist can be Wheat malt, although this often produces a cloudy beer. Alternatively, Wheat Malt can be added at 5% to most light beers and IPA’s to increase foam stability without affecting haze or flavour. Used at up to 70% as a base malt for Wheat Beer, it imparts a bready flavour and characteristic citrus notes. 

Technical information:

Main Characteristics -Head retention and lacing. Wheat Malt imparts a bready or dry biscuity flavour to beers. Greater percentages in the grist can result in a cloudy beer. However, this characteristic is typical in commercial Wheat Beers (such as Hoegaarden) so this should not present a problem.

3-4 EBC

1.52-2.03 L

Maximum Grist Percentage: up to 70% for Wheat Beers, or 5% to improve head retention in other ales.

“Degrees Lovibond” or “°L” scale is a measure of the colour of beer. The determination of the degrees Lovibond takes place by comparing the colour of the substance to a series of amber to brown glass slides. The scale was devised by Joseph Williams Lovibond. The Standard Reference Method (SRM) and European Brewery Convention (EBC) methods have largely replaced it, with the SRM giving results approximately equal to the °L.

The Standard Reference Method or SRM is a system modern brewers use to measure the colour intensity of a beer or wort. The EBC convention also measures beer and wort colour, as well as quantifying turbidity (also known as haze) in beer. EBC (European Brewing Convention) is used to indicate colour in malts (and beers).

The lower the EBC is, the lighter is the malt (thus kilned for a shorter time). EBC and SRM/°L scales and conversions are available online and usually provide colour swatches to indicate the colour depth that you are likely to achieve from specific malts. Most craft brewers measure the colour of the grain using EBC (European Brewing Convention).

The higher the EBC the darker the malt. Other countries may prefer Lovibond (L) or the Standard Reference Method (SRM). There are currently two colour scales in common use: SRM in the US, and EBC in Europe. The SRM (Standard Research Method) scale is based on an older degrees Lovibond scale and for all practical purposes, SRM and degree Lovibond are identical. So to convert SRM to EBC simply multiply by 2. e.g. 4 SRM = 8 EBC. The formula for converting Lovibond to EBC is  EBC=(2*Lovibond)-1.2

Why Use Dark Rock Malts and Hops?

The Dark Rock Brewing team are passionate about producing the best quality beers. Their mission is to help you to “Master your Craft” and brew the best craft beers possible. There is no reason why home-produced ales cannot be just as good as commercial equivalents. The key to success is having a wide selection of the best quality and freshest ingredients possible. Dark Rock ingredients are not just great value, they are of the highest quality and always supplied fresh. The team strive to constantly innovate and experiment with new styles and products.

Dark Rock also markets top-quality all grain and part kits which receive fabulous reviews. They are experienced commercial brewers and supply craft micro-breweries and nano-breweries with equipment and ingredients. They also provide training and business development consultancy to scale-up breweries. This experience is channelled into equipping the home craft brewer with the “tools to compete”. Use Dark Rock products and you can’t go wrong.