Pale Malt Guide

Pale Malt Guide: The Perfect Malt

Latest posts by Gavin Eales (see all)

Beer is the third most consumed liquid on earth (surpassed only by water and tea) and would not have the notoriety it has if it was not for the coveted beer malts used in the brewing process

Malts are essential to almost every beer style imaginable, delivering structure with delightful tastes and aromas. Additionally, malts are responsible for the enticing color of beer and for providing the sugar content, which is magically converted to alcohol when consumed by the yeast.

Pale Malt is the most commonly used base malt in the beer sector. Pale Malt is also known as 2-Row Malt, and it is versatile base malt that allows all homebrewers to create an assortment of beers and beer styles.

This Pale Malt guide will explore the history and characteristics of Pale Malt while highlighting malt substitutes, beer styles, and homebrewing tips.

Bottom Line Up Front

I love Pale Malt, and I am not the only one. It is safe to say that this malt variety has it all and does it all. Authentic Pale Malt brings delightful tastes and aromas while providing a gorgeous golden color.

Pale Malt is easy to use and forgiving in the brew, an ideal base malt for all homebrewers to create an array of beer styles and beer types in their brew cave. 

Pros

  • Excellent British base malt
  • Most commonly used base malt in the brewing industry
  • Can make up 100% of the grain bill
  • Pale Malt pairs well with other specialty malts
  • Delightful notes of malt, nuts, and warm biscuit
  • Adds a gorgeous golden color to beer
  • Ideal for homebrewers of all levels
  • Accessible
  • Well-Priced

Cons

  • Pale Malt may be the perfect malt, and therefore I cannot find a suitable con at this time!

The Taste

Pale Malt is a remarkable base malt responsible for numerous beers and beer styles throughout the world. 

It provides an excellent foundation for any beer and delivers a sustaining malt flavor with gentle and welcoming notes of nuts and warm biscuits. 

Pale Malts can pair alongside specialty malts in the brew. This combination enhances additional malt flavors, aromas, and characteristics.

The History of Pale Malt

Authentic Pale Malt was first created in the early 1700s and achieved by exposing the grains to Coke-Fired Malting. At the time, Coke-Fired Malting was a revelation as it eliminated smoke from the malting process. The Coke-Fire Malting is a process whereby exposing grains to low ash, asphalt-like coal that does not produce smoke when toasting and roasting delicate grains.

The smokeless malted barley was an instant hit, and towards the end of the century, Pale Malt was in general use throughout Britain. Brewers could now produce light golden-colored beers and experiment with various styles and flavors. The popular Pale Ale beer style is a result of malting evolution and experimentation.

The Kilning Process

pale malt Kilning Process

Kilning is the third stage of malting, and it is a delicate process that gently removes unwanted moisture from the now germinated barley grains. 

The desired roast is achieved by slowly toasting the grains over low heat for extended periods. Patiently roasting barley grains over low heat safeguards the integrity of the enzymes, resulting in the warm biscuit and nutty flavors that beer enthusiasts love so much. 

Pale Malt is a light-roasted base malt and expertly kilned until reaching around 2 and 2 ½ Lovibond, which gives rise to the wholesome tastes, aromas, and gorgeous golden hue.

Why You Need It

Pale Malt is the most commonly used base malt, and this excellent variety features in many beers and beer styles throughout the world. It is that good. 

Pale Malt has a full-bodied flavor delivering wonderful malty aromas and tastes. Pale Malt is versatile and can be used to make just about beer style in your brew cave.

Pale Malt is an ideal malt for beginner and novice homebrewers and can make up 100% of the grain bill. Once mastered, it can feature for the entirety of your brewing career.

How Much To Use

how much pale malt to use

Pale Malt and other varieties of base malts can make up 100% of the grain bill, so there is no red line as to how much you can put in. For this reason, it is a great base malt for beginner and novice homebrewers as they cannot spoil the brew. Depending on the type of beer, Pale Malt can make up anywhere from 10% -100% of the grain bill. 

Where To Get It

Pale Malt is readily available and is obtainable regardless of your location. As always, try to support your local brew supply stores where possible, or you can order your Pale Malt online from Great Western Malting, Briess Malting, and Northern Brewer. Pale Malt is also available from Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. 

Pale Malt Substitutes

Below are three quality substitutes for Pale Malt:

Maris Otter

Maris Otter

Maris Otter Pale Malt is 2-Row barley created by Dr. G.Bell at the British Plant breeding Institute (BPI) in 1965. Maris Otter is an all-British and the result of an ambitious cross between a Spring Barley variety and a winter barley variety. Maris Otter is an Autumn Barley variety that is considered the mainspring malt for authentic British styles, flavors, and aromas. 

Maris Otter Malt is forgiving, easy to mash, and has outstanding malting capabilities. It has significant enzymatic strength and low nitrogen levels resulting in an excellent malt for all home brewers. Maris Otter is kilned for longer and slightly darker than typical Pale Male, imparting bold malty aromas and flavors.

Golden Promise

Golden Promise

Few Pale Malts compare to Golden Promise Pale Malt. A remarkable and authentic Scottish Pale Malt, first malted from traditional Heritage Barley in the 1960s. 

Golden Promise Pale malt is well-modified and easy to mash. In some cases, Golden Promise can make 100% of the grain bill. 

It brings a rich malty complexity to the beer, with a sweet clean taste. 

Golden Promise Pale Malt is versatile and features an assortment of beer styles. Golden Promise Malt is becoming increasingly popular amongst craft and IPA-style brewers.

Halcyon

Halcyon malt

Halcyon is a less popular British Pale Ale Malting barley, but this variety exhibits excellent genealogy and pedigree. Halcyon Pale Ale Malt is the result of a cross between Sargeant and Maris Otter Malts.

Considered 2-Row Winter barley, this variety gained popularity in the United Kingdom in the 1980s. Today this variety is believed to be the last remaining authentic British pale ale malt.

Halcyon Pale Ale Malt is ideal for producing authentic Ales and imparts rich malty notes with a hint of biscuit. Slighter sweeter when compared to Maris Otter, it is well-balanced with wholesome flavor. 

Popular Beer Styles That Feature Pale Malt

Below are three popular beer styles that feature Pale Malt in the brewing process:

Smash Beers

Smash (SMaSH) beer

Smash (SMaSH) is a unique beer style starting to feature in numerous craft, nano, and microbreweries. Smash is an acronym for Single Malt and Single Hop, with beer only featuring two ingredients.

This style is an ideal way for homebrewers to explore the profile of an individual hop variety or a specific type of base malt.

Due to the limited ingredients, Smash-style beer may appear simple, but surprisingly, it can be relatively complex. The base malt sets an excellent foundation, allowing the brewer to experiment with the hop flavor, taste, and bitterness.

I encourage all beginner and novice homebrewers to explore this style, as it simplifies the brewing process and is a great way to learn. Smash Beers offer an ABV of 4% and 12%.

India Pale Ale (IPA)

India Pale Ale (IPA)

From humble beginnings, India Pale Ale has evolved into a popular beer style made famous for obscene amounts of hops and ridiculous ABVs. There are no rules when producing modern IPAs, with brewers taking brewing creativity to a new level.

Modern IPAs have brought light into what was once a dark, formal, and bland industry, incorporating ludicrous beer recipes with colorful artwork and fresh creative branding.

Although India pale Ale features a base malt for a solid foundation, it is over-shadowed by hop aromas, flavors, and bitterness. India Pale Ale delivers intense fruity and herbal notes, accompanied by tastes of spice and citrus.

India Pale Ale is full-flavored, refreshing, and offers an ABV of between 4.5% and 20%.

Scottish Style Ale

Scottish Style Ale

First brewed in Edinburgh, Scottish Style Ale (Scotch Ale) is a traditional beer style quenching the thirst of hard-working Scotsmen and Scotswoman since the 1800s.

The damp Scottish climate is not suited for hop cultivation, so Scottish Ale (and other Scottish beer styles) are traditionally malts orientated. 

Scotch Ale is a delightful beer style that is easy to drink and refreshing, with gorgeous notes of malts, rich toffee, and creamy caramel. The mouthfeel is soft, and the finish is long and lingering. 

Scotch Ale beer style pairs well with food, particularly roasted meats and casseroles. Scottish Style Ale offers an ABV of between 3% and 6%.

Popular Commercial Beer Brands That Feature Pale Malt

Below are five quality commercial brands that feature Pale and other quality malts when producing their beloved brew:

Night Shift Whirlpool Hazy New England Pale Ale

whirlpool hazy

Whirlpool Hazy New England Pale Ale is the signature beer from the Night Shift Brewing Company in Somerville, MA. Night Shift Brewing has been producing authentic beer since 2012 are famed for its juicy IPAs and infamous Nite Lite Lager.

Whirlpool Hazy New England Pale Ale is an exceptional example of a traditional British Pale Ale with American influence. It looks incredible and pours hazy blonde. 

The haziness in the Pale Ale is a result of dry-hopping. Dry-hopping is where this Ale gets its juicy aromas of clementine and fresh peach. Intense tastes of citrus are well-balanced by mild hop bitterness.

Whirlpool Hazy New England Pale Ale is an exceptional beer offering an ABV of 4.5%.

Duvel Belgian Pale Ale

Duvel Belgian Pale Ale

World-renowned Duvel Pale Ale is an expertly brewed Pale Ale by the Duvel Moortgat Brewery in Antwerp, Belgium. The family-owned brewery has been operating since 1871, producing an array of all-natural world-class beers.

Duvel Pale Ale is a beer unlike no other and was recently awarded the World’s Best Pale Ale at the prestigious World Beer Awards in London. The second time (2018) that Duvel Pale Ale has won this award.

Duvel features a complex profile imparting wheat, savory, and earthy aromas with a slight sharp bitterness on the smooth and refreshing finish.

Exposure to an extended maturation period results in a crisp, pure, and natural taste. Duvel Pale Ale offers an impressive ABV of 8.5%. 

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Founded by Paul Camusi and Ken Grossman in 1980, California-based Sierra Nevada Brewing Company produces exceptional craft beer for thirsty locals while picking up numerous awards and accolades. Today, the brewery is the 10th largest craft brewery in the United States.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is an outstanding Pale Ale and is currently the second best-selling craft beer in the United States. Initially, you encounter delightful and juicy hop characters expertly balanced by gentle malts. Notes of floral, fruits, and citrus zest linger throughout the bitter and rewarding finish. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale offers an ABV of 5.6%.

Mill Street Tankhouse Organic Ale

Mill Street Tankhouse Organic Ale

The Mill Street Brewing Company is a multiple award-winning Canadian institution producing exceptional beer since 2002. Awards include Best Toronto Microbrewery, Canadian Brewery of the Year (x3), and Best Beer in Toronto for their excellent Tankhouse Organic Ale.

Tankhouse Organic Pale Ale is a masterpiece, made with an abundance of hops and five different malt variations. The profile is complex, rich, spicy, and well-balanced.

Often styles featuring large amounts of hops are dominated by the hop characteristics. However, Tankhouse Ale stays true to tradition with five excellent malt varieties, resulting in a perfectly balanced Pale Ale. Mill Street Tankhouse Organic Ale offers an ABV of 5.2%. 

Summit Extra Pale Ale (EPA)

Summit Extra Pale Ale (EPA)

Summit Extra Pale Ale is a thirst-quenching and refreshing authentic Extra Pale Ale from Summit Brewing in St. Paul, Minnesota. Summit Brewing opened its doors in 1986, producing an extensive range of beer styles.

Today, the brewery is the 25th largest craft brewery in the United States, with an impressive annual capacity of 240 000 Barrels.

The Extra Pale Ale is the firstborn of an extensive beer family and essentially is the beer that started it all back in 1986. A multiple-award-winning beer, Extra Pale Ale delivers traditional Pale Ale notes of warm biscuit and creamy caramel infused with juicy citrus hops.

Malts dominate in this beer, but the finish is remarkable with a moderate trace of hop bitterness. Summit Extra Pale Ale offers an ABV of 5.1%. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: How does Pale Malt taste?

Answer: Pale Malt is a lovely malt that positively contributes to all beer styles. Pale Malts are often used with specialty crystal malts, imparting a bold malt flavor with wholesome undertones of nuts and biscuits. 

Question: Does Pale Malt help with head retention?

Answer: Pale Malt is a specialty base malt and does not contribute to good head retention. Crystal Malts such as Caramel, Carafoam, Carapils, and Dark Malts offer excellent head retention capabilities and are often used to bulk up the head.

Question: Does Pale Malt need to be mashed?

Answer: Yes, Pale Malt does need to be mashed. Most specialty malts allow for steeping, but Pale Malt (and other base malts) must experience mashing. Mashing in-essence is a necessary perpetuation of the malting process, where reactivated enzymes are allowed time to internalize nitrogen and starches.  

Question: What is a good substitute for Pale Malt?

Question: How does Pale Malt taste?
Answer: Pale Malt is a lovely malt that positively contributes to all beer styles. Pale Malts are often used with specialty crystal malts, imparting a bold malt flavor with wholesome undertones of nuts and biscuits. 

Question: Does Pale Malt help with head retention?

Answer: Pale Malt is a specialty base malt and does not contribute to good head retention. Crystal Malts such as Caramel, Carafoam, Carapils, and Dark Malts offer excellent head retention capabilities and are often used to bulk up the head.

Question: Does Pale Malt need to be mashed?

Answer: Yes, Pale Malt does need to be mashed. Most specialty malts allow for steeping, but Pale Malt (and other base malts) must experience mashing. Mashing in-essence is a necessary perpetuation of the malting process, where reactivated enzymes are allowed time to internalize nitrogen and starches.  

Final Thoughts: Pale Malt Guide

Pale Malt is one of the most popular base malts in the industry, featuring in most beers and beer styles imaginable. It is a versatile base malt that can be used by all and is a result of being gently kilned at low temperatures.

Pale Malt is responsible for the enticing golden hue while imparting delightful tastes and aromas of malt, nuts, and biscuits. It offers an excellent foundation for any beer style, and this variety pairs well with specialty malts for additional malt characteristics and complexity.

Pale Malt can make up 100% of the grain bill and is ideal for beginner and novice homebrewers to learn the craft. It is accessible and affordable and should feature in all homebrewing arsenals.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top