COCKTAIL PALE MALT

[johnmac]

I ordered some Optic from Faram's and they substituted Cocktail instead. They said it's much the same as Optic. It's also cheaper than either Maris or Optic.

[steve_flack]

My view is different to yours bloodoaf, in that I think Maris Otter has a better flavour. I must admit the only other varieties I've tried have been Perle(or was it Pearl?) and Lager Malt and Mild Ale Malt. Didn't like Perle at all and was pleased to get to the end of the sack.

What reinforced my view was the experiment carried out by Ray Ashworth at Saturday's CBA meeting in Colchester. What he did was mash small quantities of Mars Otter, Perle and an Optic/Cocktail mixture and put them in thermos flasks. The 15 of us present were asked to judge the unlabled flasks by tasting and/or eating the gruel. The two criteria we voted on were flavour/aroma and from the sweetness judge the likely extract.
1. for flavour was Maris Otter
1. for sweetness was the Optic/Cocktail mixture and the Perle came last both times.

I agree that there a definite differences. I generally use Maris Otter (usually Crisps) but I've just finished a sack of Pearl. I can't say I've found it unpleasant in flavour but it does seem to give much better head retention than a similar Maris Otter brew. Maybe the protein is higher but I didn't notice anything unusual in the boil and it's doesn't have a chill haze even at fridge temperatures (none of my beers usually do).

[DRB]

You never get chill haze,even when your beer has been in the fridge and gets really,really cold so whats your secret then.

[johnmac]

With a name like Cocktail and the fact it's cheaper, could it be all remnants of all the other malts just thrown into a bag ?

That did cross my mind but if Hop 'n' Grape are charging a premium for it, it must be alright. Mustn't it?

[steve_flack]

You never get chill haze,even when your beer has been in the fridge and gets really,really cold so whats your secret then.

I've got several of my recent brews in bottles in the fridge and none have a chill haze. Why I'm so blessed I don't know. I do hour long boils and use protafloc, Most of my beers get cooled to 5C in the fermenter for a week before racking but other than that it's all pretty normal.

[subsub]

I agree that there a definite differences. I generally use Maris Otter (usually Crisps) but I've just finished a sack of Pearl. I can't say I've found it unpleasant in flavour but it does seem to give much better head retention than a similar Maris Otter brew. Maybe the protein is higher but I didn't notice anything unusual in the boil and it's doesn't have a chill haze even at fridge temperatures (none of my beers usually do).

I have also just finished a sack of Pearl and have noticed a slight taste difference with Marris Otter not unpleasant, just different. I have noticed and increase in trub at the end of the boil and it definately gives good head

[johnmac]

Just started drinking my first Cocktail brew and I think I like it

Malty in a way that doesn't diminish the hop character, though at the moment, it's still dominated by diacetyl. Efiiciency was possibly better than I get with Maris.