[nateo]

I've been thinking/researching this for a while. What I've found has overwhelmingly been conjecture, so I'm looking for some practical experience. How exactly, in a finished beer, is Belgian pale malt different from an English (Scottish?) pale malt like Golden Promise?

The only "reputable" take on the topic I've found was this, by Fix: http://morebeer.com/brewingtechniques/library/backissues/issue1.1/fix.html

He basically said they're both great. Any thoughts?

[kylekohlmorgen]

Dr. Fix had one hell of a palette.

If he says its too close to call, I'm just going with whatever's cheaper from now on...

[denny]

IMO, it will be quite a noticeable difference.  Pils malt (Belgian or otherwise) will be crisp and light.  Golden Promise will have a much more pronounced malt profile and a sweeter flavor.  IMO.


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[nateo]

IMO, it will be quite a noticeable difference.  Pils malt (Belgian or otherwise) will be crisp and light.  Golden Promise will have a much more pronounced malt profile and a sweeter flavor.  IMO.

Yeah, the "pils v pale" thing has been done to death. I'm trying to figure out the difference between Belgian pale malt and UK pale malt.

[denny]

IMO, it will be quite a noticeable difference.  Pils malt (Belgian or otherwise) will be crisp and light.  Golden Promise will have a much more pronounced malt profile and a sweeter flavor.  IMO.

Yeah, the "pils v pale" thing has been done to death. I'm trying to figure out the difference between Belgian pale malt and UK pale malt.

Oops, sorry!  I think the difference between most UK and Belgian pale malts is going to be negligible.  IIRC, Golden Promise is kilned a bit darker and has a maltier flavor.


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[hopfenundmalz]

IMO, it will be quite a noticeable difference.  Pils malt (Belgian or otherwise) will be crisp and light.  Golden Promise will have a much more pronounced malt profile and a sweeter flavor.  IMO.

Yeah, the "pils v pale" thing has been done to death. I'm trying to figure out the difference between Belgian pale malt and UK pale malt.

Simpsons GP is at 1.9L and is sweet and malty.
http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brewing/brewing-ingredients/grain-malts/british-golden-promise.html

Thomas Fawcett GP is darker, around 3L, and has some toasty flavor.
http://www.rebelbrewer.com/shoppingcart/products/Fawcett-Golden-Promise-Malt-%28by-the-pound%29.html

I have had a beer made with light color Maris Otter, and it is Malty/Sweet without the toasty bready flavor.

Just saying there is the variety and then there is how it is malted.
 
Oops, sorry!  I think the difference between most UK and Belgian pale malts is going to be negligible.  IIRC, Golden Promise is kilned a bit darker and has a maltier flavor.


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[nateo]

I've got most of a sack of the Simpsons GP. For some reason, I thought I'd be brewing a lot of UK styles this year, which was dumb because I almost only brew continental styles. I have a sack of floor-malted bopils, but I had to mail-order that so it's quite a bit more expensive than the GP I got at my LHBS.

I guess what I'm getting at is, should I use my bopils malt for Belgian ales, or can I reasonably substitute the GP for the pils, in Belgian styles? You know, the typical enkel/tripel/dubbel/quad type beers.

[snowtiger87]

I say use the Golden Promise but cut back on specialty malts such as caramunich or crystal.

[Rhoobarb]

They are both great, but GP has a sweeter, biscuit flavor to my palate.  Keep in mind that Fix' article was written 19 years ago and there have been changes since then.

[nateo]

I've got a sour enkel and a flanders red planned. I guess I'll try the GP and see what happens. I usually use a bit of aromatic malt too (5% or so). Should I cut back the aromatic? It's the Simpsons 2*L stuff, not the Fawcett 3*L.

[bboy9000]

If you belong to a local hombrew club you could try selling your grain to someone.

[nateo]

If you belong to a local hombrew club you could try selling your grain to someone.

I don't usually care about brewing to style, as long as it tastes good. We'll see how the next couple beers go before I give up on the GP.

[bboy9000]

I used GP for a mini-mash on an American Bitter after finding out 21st Amendment uses it in their Bitter American.  I'm pleased with the results.

[nateo]

During mashing, I was definitely getting a "graham cracker" aroma. Is that what was meant by "toasty/biscuity?" I'll try to reserve judgment until I taste the beer, but I think I see what a few of you mentioned. 

[denny]

During mashing, I was definitely getting a "graham cracker" aroma. Is that what was meant by "toasty/biscuity?" I'll try to reserve judgment until I taste the beer, but I think I see what a few of you mentioned.

Yeah, I think that's a good description.


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