Grains form the basis of beer, but there are quite a few types you can choose from. Which grain is right for your beer? Going alone here can be a confusing process. The type of grain you use will contribute a great deal to your finished beer, from final color to specific gravity. It’s important that you make the right choice about grains, so here’s some helpful information to get you started.
Understanding Basic Grain Types
The types of grains, or malts, form the basis of the beer. Before jumping right into the huge variety of specialty malts out there, it’s actually best to start with the basics. There are several general types of grains available for brewing and each lends itself to a different range of beer types.
base malts
Base malts are exactly what they sound like. These form the base of your beer and provide most of the sugar your yeast will thrive on. Base malts tend to be pale and don’t add much in the way of flavor or aroma, although you’ll find a handful of these malts making an impact here.
Special Grains
In addition to your base malt, you’ll need to add some specialty grains to your beer. These grains will be responsible for the overall color and flavor of the beer. You’ll find them labeled “chocolate malt,” “caramel malt,” or “crystal malt,” as well as “black malt.” The more you use them, the more robust and flavorful your finished beer will be. However, going overboard can cause some unintended consequences, so it’s best to start small and work your way up to higher concentrations batch by batch.
Use of malts in its elaboration
Because there are so many types of grains (malts), it can be a confusing place for new brewers. The best option for newcomers is to find a couple of recipes that sound appealing and brew them exactly as described, using the specified malt. You can start experimenting and changing things when you have a firm understanding of how those recipes work (and what they should taste like).
By making sure you know how a recipe is supposed to turn out, you’ll be able to measure your own results with different specialty grains in the making process. Just remember that experimentation is half the fun of brewing at home.
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Dustin Canestorp