Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: If you had to choose only 3...  (Read 6553 times)

Offline Pinski

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1943
  • Portland, Oregon
If you had to choose only 3...
« on: February 02, 2014, 11:44:17 am »
varieties of malt to keep on-hand, in-house.  What would you choose?
I'm thinking...
1) A favorite continental pilsner malt, either Best Malz or Weyermann Floor Malted BoPils
2) Crisp Maris Otter
3) Weyermann light Munich

Possible alternatives for me; Gambrinus Organic Pale Malt, GW Northwest Pale Ale malt
I'm mostly set on the pils and maris otter because those are the ones that are occasionally out of stock at my LHBS.
Steve Carper
Green Dragon Brewers
Clubs: Oregon Brew Crew & Strange Brew
BJCP Certified

Offline dmtaylor

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4730
  • Lord Idiot the Lazy
    • YEAST MASTER Perma-Living
Re: If you had to choose only 3...
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2014, 11:46:33 am »
Those are great options, and I would probably pick something along those same lines.
Dave

The world will become a much more pleasant place to live when each and every one of us realizes that we are all idiots.

Offline HoosierBrew

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 13031
  • Indianapolis,IN
Re: If you had to choose only 3...
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2014, 12:11:52 pm »
  I'd say:               1. Rahr 2 Row
                           2. Best or Weyermann Pils
                           3. Crisp Maris Otter

                           If it were 4 I'd choose, light Munich would be 4th.
Jon H.

Offline erockrph

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 7795
  • Chepachet, RI
    • The Hop WHisperer
Re: If you had to choose only 3...
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2014, 12:12:14 pm »
Assuming we're talking base malts only, right?

Crisp MO
Weyermann floor-malted Bo Pils or Best Malz Pilsner
Continental light Munich (I haven't tried a brand comparison yet, since most of the online shops don't give you an option)

Unless someone out there brews a lot of Vienna lagers or wheat beer, I'm guessing that a whole lot of us will have fairly similar lists. I'll be interested to hear everyone's brand preferences, though, since there are still a lot of brands of malt out there that I haven't tried.

Eric B.

Finally got around to starting a homebrewing blog: The Hop Whisperer

Offline Pinski

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1943
  • Portland, Oregon
Re: If you had to choose only 3...
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2014, 12:31:42 pm »
Assuming we're talking base malts only, right?

Crisp MO
Weyermann floor-malted Bo Pils or Best Malz Pilsner
Continental light Munich (I haven't tried a brand comparison yet, since most of the online shops don't give you an option)

Unless someone out there brews a lot of Vienna lagers or wheat beer, I'm guessing that a whole lot of us will have fairly similar lists. I'll be interested to hear everyone's brand preferences, though, since there are still a lot of brands of malt out there that I haven't tried.

Yeah, I would assume most folks are going to go with base malts. But if someone has a reason to keep 55 lbs. of specialty grain around, let's hear it. I'm also curious to hear about folks' preference on base malts and hopefully learn something about the nuances of various maltsters.
Steve Carper
Green Dragon Brewers
Clubs: Oregon Brew Crew & Strange Brew
BJCP Certified

Offline dkfick

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1054
Re: If you had to choose only 3...
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2014, 01:59:33 pm »
1) Warminster MO
2) Best Pilsner
3) Briess 2 row
BJCP A0936 National Beer Judge and Mead Judge
Cicerone Certified Beer Server
AHA Member
CRAFT Homebrew Club
Sons of Liberty Homebrew Club
HBT "mors"

Offline morticaixavier

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 7781
  • Underhill VT
    • The Best Artist in the WORLD!!!!!
Re: If you had to choose only 3...
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2014, 02:20:24 pm »
Keeping i mind that my choices are influenced by a) if there is an organic option and b) trying to minimize the total distance traveled by my ingredients:

1) GW either CA Select or WA Select (the WA actually travels less than the CA for me because although it's grown here in CA it is malted up in WA soooo)
2)Gambrinus pils
3)Gambrinus 10L Munich

I've used the continental stuff and I am not sure I could tell the difference. some people could I'm sure but not so much for me. or maybe I'm just telling myself that because I don't want to order continental ingredients if I can help it.

but i think with those three I can emulate MO (CA select and Munich) or vienna (Munich and Pils) neither of which are available within a 6000 mile radius of me.
"Creativity is the residue of wasted time"
-A Einstein

"errors are [...] the portals of discovery"
- J Joyce

Offline mugwort

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 159
  • Baby T Aleworks
Re: If you had to choose only 3...
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2014, 04:01:49 pm »
Keeping i mind that my choices are influenced by a) if there is an organic option and b) trying to minimize the total distance traveled by my ingredients:

1) GW either CA Select or WA Select (the WA actually travels less than the CA for me because although it's grown here in CA it is malted up in WA soooo)
2)Gambrinus pils
3)Gambrinus 10L Munich

My soon to be list exactly.  Using up the last of my OG Gamb Pale to be replaced by OG GW WA select.

Just need to stop by Seven Bridges in Santa Cruz for 50# while ostensibly visiting family.
Baby T Aleworks | 100% Organic Abode-Crafted Ales | San Gabriel, CA | On tap...

Offline morticaixavier

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 7781
  • Underhill VT
    • The Best Artist in the WORLD!!!!!
Re: If you had to choose only 3...
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2014, 04:56:42 pm »
Keeping i mind that my choices are influenced by a) if there is an organic option and b) trying to minimize the total distance traveled by my ingredients:

1) GW either CA Select or WA Select (the WA actually travels less than the CA for me because although it's grown here in CA it is malted up in WA soooo)
2)Gambrinus pils
3)Gambrinus 10L Munich

My soon to be list exactly.  Using up the last of my OG Gamb Pale to be replaced by OG GW WA select.

Just need to stop by Seven Bridges in Santa Cruz for 50# while ostensibly visiting family.

Last I checked they did not have any GW select makes at all in stock. Done till the new crop is in
"Creativity is the residue of wasted time"
-A Einstein

"errors are [...] the portals of discovery"
- J Joyce

Offline Pinski

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1943
  • Portland, Oregon
Re: If you had to choose only 3...
« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2014, 05:04:00 pm »
Keeping i mind that my choices are influenced by a) if there is an organic option and b) trying to minimize the total distance traveled by my ingredients:

1) GW either CA Select or WA Select (the WA actually travels less than the CA for me because although it's grown here in CA it is malted up in WA soooo)
2)Gambrinus pils
3)Gambrinus 10L Munich

My soon to be list exactly.  Using up the last of my OG Gamb Pale to be replaced by OG GW WA select.

Just need to stop by Seven Bridges in Santa Cruz for 50# while ostensibly visiting family.
;D ;D
Steve Carper
Green Dragon Brewers
Clubs: Oregon Brew Crew & Strange Brew
BJCP Certified

Offline beersk

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3721
  • In the night!
Re: If you had to choose only 3...
« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2014, 08:45:27 pm »
I'd go with:
Warminster floor malted maris otter
Best pils
Weyermann or Best munich
Jesse

Offline AmandaK

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1850
  • Redbird Brewhouse
Re: If you had to choose only 3...
« Reply #11 on: February 03, 2014, 05:54:09 am »
Considering I now have 5 bulk base grains in stock, I'll have to pick my favorites.

Best Malz Pils
Best Malz Munich I
Crisp Maris Otter


I also keep Castle Belgian Pilsner and Rahr 2 row on hand. I may pick up a sack of TF Golden Promise as well. You know, for variety's sake.
« Last Edit: February 03, 2014, 05:55:50 am by AmandaK »
Amanda Burkemper
KC Bier Meisters Lifetime Member - KCBM 3x AHA Club of the Year!!
BJCP Assistant (to the) Midwest Rep
BJCP Grand Master/Mead/Cider


Our Homebrewed Wedding, AHA Article

Offline kmccaf

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 622
  • Kyle (Champaign, Hensley Township, Il)
Re: If you had to choose only 3...
« Reply #12 on: February 03, 2014, 06:48:11 am »
Best Malz Pils
TF Maris Otter
Colorado Malting Co. Rye Malt (Because I put rye in basically everything these days, and I have been really loving this one. Wyermann Munich would be high up on my list as well.)

Kyle M.

Offline klickitat jim

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8604
Re: If you had to choose only 3...
« Reply #13 on: February 03, 2014, 06:53:14 am »
Only 3? I'd quit brewing.

Ok, pils pale and Munich. And I'd hide the rest and claim I was making it myself.

Offline hopfenundmalz

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 10687
  • Milford, MI
Re: If you had to choose only 3...
« Reply #14 on: February 03, 2014, 08:00:19 am »
I could not keep it to 3.
Jeff Rankert
AHA Lifetime Member
BJCP National
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!