Smoked Malts

Homebrewing Smoked Malt

Smoked malts or smoked barley or wheat is grain that is dried with the burning of a specific type of wood. The flavor of the burning wood carries over into the taste and aroma of the grain. Smoked malts are used in producing the smoked character in a number of interesting beer styles. One of the most common is beech smoked malt which is used to make the traditional Bamberg German Rauchbier. Beech smoked malt can be added to most any beer style and we add it to our Smoked Porter Beer Kit.

Adding a touch of peat smoked malt (1-2 oz per 5 gallons of beer) can add an interesting note to a Scottish Ale recipe.  Cherry smoked malt can impart some interesting flavors and aromas and is a good smoked malt to experiment with. Oak Smoked Wheat malt is used in the traditional Polish beer called 'Gratzer'.

Note: Smoked malts do not need to be mashed. They can be 'steeped 'in the brewing water prior to the boil when brewing a batch of beer in a malt extract kit. You will have to experiment with quantities when it comes to smoked malts so that the beer has just the right amount of smoked character based upon your personal taste.

Contact us if you have any questions about our smoked malts.