Holland & Barrett Malt Extract?

[Steiney66]

I was in the above shop today & saw a jar of malt extract & wonder is it the same stuff you chaps use as a sugar substitute? Ive used golden syrup, brown sugar & brewing sugar & could I use this in kit brewing - if so what quantity? Apologies if Ive got it totally wrong about the use of it- still new to the game!

thanks- Steiney

[WishboneBrewery]

I could be wrong, but so long as it doesn't contain added 'Cod Liver oil' etc, you'd think it would be fine... though I'm not sure it would be the cheapest solution.

[grumpysod]

I've used it a couple of times with Geordie kits and it is far better than sugar and almost as good as spraymalt to my tastebubuds. In my local health food store its £1.20 for a 454g pot and I use 3 with a beerkit.

[WishboneBrewery]

Will have to pop to a couple of local ones, see what the prices are like.

[pauljmuk]

Could you use this as the base of a partial extract kit - ie, get three of those at 1.20 each, and make up fermentables with spraymalt, and flavours with crystal etc, hop it yourself?

I ask, as I've just made a beer to the Camra brew book recipe, using a 1.6kg can of John Bull Amber, added spraymalt, hopped it myself, and ran a boil for 90 mins or so. The 1.6kg malt LME was £6.50 from brewgenie. 1.6kg worth from H &B would be just over £3.60

[batemans fan]

I'm wondering whether the proportion of fermentable sugars to the non-fermentable ones will be fit-for-purpose.

[Providence]

I've used it a couple of times with Geordie kits and it is far better than sugar and almost as good as spraymalt to my tastebubuds. In my local health food store its £1.20 for a 454g pot and I use 3 with a beerkit.

When you say 'almost as good' can you be more specific?

[grumpysod]

I've used it a couple of times with Geordie kits and it is far better than sugar and almost as good as spraymalt to my tastebubuds. In my local health food store its £1.20 for a 454g pot and I use 3 with a beerkit.

When you say 'almost as good' can you be more specific?

The finished beer has less body and a little less maltiness than with spraymalt.

Each brand has a different amount of fermentables, but is still better than using sugar.

I have made an extract brew with 4 jars (1.8kg) and 100g crystal and Pioneer hops and it was drinkable, though I wouldn't do it again.

[Steiney66]

I think it was £1.20 a jar & after reading you chaps advice I will def consider using it for my next ale-

thanks

Steiney

[Providence]

I've used it a couple of times with Geordie kits and it is far better than sugar and almost as good as spraymalt to my tastebubuds. In my local health food store its £1.20 for a 454g pot and I use 3 with a beerkit.

When you say 'almost as good' can you be more specific?

The finished beer has less body and a little less maltiness than with spraymalt.

Each brand has a different amount of fermentables, but is still better than using sugar.

I have made an extract brew with 4 jars (1.8kg) and 100g crystal and Pioneer hops and it was drinkable, though I wouldn't do it again.

Sorry to go on but if I understand you correctly you're saying that you would not use it for extract brewing but added to a kit it's fine.

So, in order of quality of brew,

1. Kit + 1Kg Spray Malt.

2. Kit + 3 x 454gms health food shop malt extract.

3. Kit + 1Kg Beer enhancer (50% Spray Malt, 50% Brewing Sugar).

Lastly, did you use Holland and Barrett malt extract?

[grumpysod]

The extract brew I did was drinkable and tasted fine, it was using the H&B extract, but it was a wee bit lacking on mouthfeel.

I would say that the malt extract does make a better brew than using BKE, though i've only used BKE once and that was in a Geordie Mild. In my experience the malt extract did make a more enjoyable pint.

[Providence]

Thanks, I think I'll give it a try.