Maris Otter vs. Optic Malt

[adm]

OK - so how do you guys think that a beer made with Maris Otter tastes compared to Optic Malt - all else being equal?

Reason I'm asking is that I'm drinking a few pints of my "Fuggin Ale" right now and it's bloody lovely.

It's 5kg Optic, 0.5kg crystal, 50g 90 mins, 30g 15 mins, 20g 1 min Fuggles, then dry hopped in secondary with a further 27g of Fuggles. Yeast was S04.

But - it's the only beer I've made with Optic (and Fuggles for that matter), so I'm not sure what is down to the malt, what's down to the hops and what's the yeast.

It's certainly fruity - but has a slightly sweet taste compared to my Maris based beers. Hops seem to be well balanced against the malt, with a nice nose and a smooth finish. All in all, it's a lovely ESB type of beer and I am thinking of brewing another batch - but I don't have any more Optic malt and want to know what difference Maris would make....

Any thoughts on the taste of Maris Otter vs Optic Malt ?

[Matt]

There was an article in the last Brewer's Contact about a trial to compare pale malts - Optic was described as a fuller flavoured and richer malt - more roasty, rich and biscuity.

So it sounds like you have found the same thing.

However I think you'll need to send some bottles out and enlist the help of other tasters to confirm this, my address is …

[adm]

Ah.....Matt, I'd love to send some bottles out.

Problem is, it's in a corny and it feels really rather light when i lift it. Can't be more than a pint or two left, and I think i'd better use those for testing. Yeah...that's it......testing.....