price of malt

[Kev888]

MO is kind of like an old friend and so I tend to go with it through habit more than anything - its tried, tested and predictable in my process.

But in practice, whenever I've tried others (from reputable maltsters) they've been just as good - the last one I tried was optic and I'd be lying if i said I could taste any particular difference or had any less yield from it.

Cheers
Kev

[Beer O'Clock]

Not sure I agree with your brother-in-law's verdict. I much prefer the view of Warminster Maltings:

Maris Otter is widely acknowledged right across the brewing world as The Finest Brewing Malt in the World.

The fact that it is still grown must mean it has something going for it. For me, English Ale and Maris Otter go hand in hand but I can't speak for Aussie beer.

With respect, wouldn't Warminsters have a drum to bang ?

[Beer O'Clock]

To be fair Boingy, as he stated, it's a niche market here. Very few brewers use it worldwide. It is a peculiarly UK product.

That doesn't necessarily make it better

[boingy]

Very few brewers use it worldwide.

That's because it's an English malt, grown especially for quality English cask ales. Warminster sell other pale malts, but they consider MO to be their premium product. Likewise with Crisps Maltings, and probably the others.

Can I tell the difference in the final beer? Um.. not sure...

[Beer O'Clock]

From what I gather, several UK maltsters have invested a lot of emotional baggage in a product that requires a parochial following. Thus they market it as such.

I guess at some point there was a real demand for it, otherwise it's use wouldn't have become so widespread since it's introduction. As noted earlier, as a product, it holds cache. But what's behind that cache ? Is it a genuinely better product or a success off the back of the 60/70s 'Buy British' phenomena ?

[boingy]

From what I gather, several UK maltsters have invested a lot of emotional baggage in a product that requires a parochial following. Thus they market it as such.

I guess at some point there was a real demand for it, otherwise it's use wouldn't have become so widespread since it's introduction. As noted earlier, as a product, it holds cache. But what's behind that cache ? Is it a genuinely better product or a success off the back of the 60/70s 'Buy British' phenomena ?

A bit of an extreme view but I'm not totally disagreeing. I'm also resisting the urge to be rude about Aussie beer....

[Beer O'Clock]

I'm also resisting the urge to be rude about Aussie beer....

No point. We all know it's shite

[Kev888]

At this sort of level I'd say its more a matter of personal preference than it is of one malt variety being outright 'better' than another.

MO is a very good product and if you are into British ales then its very appropriate too, along with fuggles and EKG for instance. I'm not sure I'd completely accept the 'buy british' drives, but I'd agree it has a sense of national and historical satisfaction, if a relatively recent one - perhaps such things are in reaction to the surge of anonymous/bland fizzy cr@p we got saturated with some years back.

But on performance and taste alone I personally wouldn't have a problem using good alternatives if there were a reason. I suspect the skill and consistency of the maltster is, if anything, more important than the slight differences in currently popular varieties.

Cheers
kev

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Hey, I'm starting to wear out the + button here

+1....

[Capped]

Always used MO up until my last purchase,when I got Golden Promise (from the usual supplier). The GP,to my mild astonishment (um?) knocked the MO into a cocked hat - better extract,perfect run-off,just a pleasure to use and I don't know if it's my imagination or what,but it appeared to clear quicker and the malty flavour is more pronounced but very clean. Great stuff;won't be using MO again. Er...in keeping with this thread's title,I can't for the life of me remember how it compared to MO price wise. But I'd happily pay more for it anyways!

[alfie09]

i can taste a difference in the crisp malt my self i think it has a lovely nutty character. in my opinion better than bairds which i used 50kg of last year and that was shite

[DeGarre]

For international comparison, in Finland there is only one maltster really, Viking Malt, and a 40kg sack of uncrushed Pale Ale is just below 20 quid (excl. 13% VAT). 20kg sack of crushed wheat was less than a tenner. My neighbour grows barley on a field next to my house and he says he is getting a sweet f-a from the maltster for his effort to support my hobby...

[far9410]

Just been looking for a 25kg sack golden promise, cant find any, have you lot bought it all?

[Andy]

Copper Kettle sell GP.

http://www.copperkettlehomebrewing.co.uk/

[far9410]

Copper Kettle sell GP.

http://www.copperkettlehomebrewing.co.uk/

Well spotted that man!