Malt Beer: Where To Buy And What To Know

There are many online retailers that sell malt beer, including Amazon, RiteBrew, MoreBeer, Midwest Supplies, and Williams Brewing. These retailers offer a wide range of malt beer products, such as liquid malt extract, dry malt extract, and brewing grains. Some retailers also provide home brewing kits, which include the necessary ingredients and equipment for making your own malt beer at home. Prices vary depending on the type and amount of malt beer being purchased, with some retailers offering discounts on bulk orders.

Malt beer online

There are many online retailers where you can buy malt beer.

MoreBeer

MoreBeer offers a wide variety of brewing grains, malts, and barley, including standard 2-row base malts and crystal malts, as well as more exotic options like cherrywood smoked malt. They also offer free shipping on orders over $59 to addresses in the contiguous US.

Midwest Supplies

Midwest Supplies offers a range of premium-quality brewing grains, including domestic and imported, base malts, and specialty malts, at competitive prices.

Northern Brewer

Northern Brewer carries a range of domestic and imported, base, and specialty malts. They also provide a video course on malt as part of their Ingredient Series, which may be helpful for those new to brewing.

Homebrew Finds

Homebrew Finds is an online resource that curates deals on homebrewing supplies, including malt. They offer tips and tricks for finding the best prices on malt and other brewing grains, and feature deals from various retailers, such as Label Peelers, William's Brewing, and MoreBeer.

Drizly

Drizly is an online liquor store that offers a range of malt liquors, which are drinks that undergo a similar production process as beer and typically have a higher alcohol content. They offer delivery in under 60 minutes to select cities.

When purchasing malt beer or liquor online, it is important to consider the shipping costs, as these can add up significantly for heavy items like sacks of grain. Some retailers offer free shipping for orders over a certain amount, so it may be worth comparing prices and shipping policies before placing an order.

Malt beer in-store

If you're looking to buy malt beer in-store, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, you can try your local homebrew store, which will likely have a variety of malt beers available. You can also check with local craft breweries, as they may be able to sell you malt beer directly or point you in the right direction.

In terms of specific retailers, there are several options to choose from:

• Northern Brewer: They offer a wide range of malted beer grains, including domestic and imported varieties, and provide satisfaction guaranteed.
• MoreBeer: They carry a large selection of brewing grains, malt, and barley to accommodate almost any homebrew recipe, including exotic options like cherrywood smoked malt.
• Atlantic Brew Supply: Recommended by a homebrewing enthusiast, they offer competitive prices and sell grains by the ounce, so you only pay for what you need.
• RiteBrew: Known for their wholesale prices, they carry a wide range of brewing malts, including Briess, Thomas Fawcett, and Best Malz brands, among others.
• Amazon: With a variety of options available, Amazon offers a convenient way to purchase malt beer online and have it delivered to your doorstep.
• Midwest Supplies: Offering a range of premium-quality grains at affordable prices, you can find various types of malt beers, including Pilsen Malt, English Pale Ale Malt, and Weyermann Floor Malted Bohemian Pilsner Malt.

When purchasing malt beer in-store, it's always a good idea to call ahead and check if the store has the specific type of malt beer you're looking for in stock. Additionally, don't be afraid to ask for recommendations from staff or fellow homebrew enthusiasts—they may be able to point you in the direction of a hidden gem!

Types of malt beer

Malt is a grain that has been converted into sugar, which is then consumed by yeast to create alcohol through a process called fermentation. There are two broad categories of malt: malts that can be steeped, and malts that need to be mashed.

Base Malts

Base malts make up the majority of the grist in all-grain beer. They include barley malts, such as pale malt, Pilsner malt, Vienna malt, Munich malt, mild ale malt, and more. There are also non-barley base malts like wheat malt and rye malt.

High-Kilned Malts

High-kilned malts are responsible for the dark, malty lagers of Europe and are also used in some ales due to their unique character. Munich and Vienna malts are prime examples of this type of malt.

Caramel & Crystal Malts

Crystal malts are steep-able and are generally used to add sweetness and colour to both extract and all-grain brews. They are usually named based on colour—the lighter-coloured crystal malts are sweeter, while darker crystal malts add roastiness or nuttiness in addition to sweetness.

Kilned & Toasted Malts

Kilned and toasted malts include malts such as biscuit, amber, special roast, and aromatic malts. They are typically used in low quantities to contribute a unique flavour. For example, biscuit malt contributes a light, salty flavour, while aromatic malt is deeper and maltier.

Roasted Malts

Roasted malts are any malts or grains that are roasted to a very high degree. They can be steeped for extract brewing or mashed for all-grain brewing, and they add complexity and colour to beer in very low quantities. Common varieties include black malt, chocolate malt, and roasted barley.

Malt beer ingredients

Malt beer is made from grains that have been specially prepared for brewing. The brewing process involves using water to extract sugar and other compounds from the grains. This sugar feeds the yeast that is used to ferment the beer, creating carbonation, alcohol, and additional flavours.

Types of Grains

Malt is typically made from barley or wheat, but other grains such as spelt, rye, and oats can also be used. The malting process involves multiple steps: steeping, germinating, kilning, and sometimes extended kilning or roasting. This process makes it easier for brewers to extract nutrients from the grain and adds flavour to the grain or beer through roasting.

Types of Malt

There are several categories of malt, including base malt, crystal malt, caramel malt, and chocolate/roasted malts. Base malt is usually gently kilned for a pale colour, while specialty malts like crystal, caramel, and chocolate malts are added in smaller amounts to add colour, flavour, aroma, and texture to the beer. For example, chocolate malts are heavily roasted, giving the beer a dark colour, a roasty aroma, and flavour notes similar to cocoa or coffee.

Malted Barley

Malted barley is unique in that it contains enzymes that, at certain temperature, moisture, and pH levels during brewing, initiate the process of converting starch to sugar. This helps brewers extract the most nutrients and sugar from the barley and any other grains used in the brewing process.

Malt beer brewing equipment

Brewing malt beer at home is a fun and rewarding hobby that can be started with very little equipment. As your passion and skill grow, you can start investing in more professional equipment to improve your brewing process. Here is a list of some essential and advanced equipment you can use for malt beer brewing:

Essential Equipment:

• Fermentation and bottling starter sets: These are perfect for beginners and typically include all the basic equipment needed for your first brew.
• Kettles: You will need a large pot or kettle to boil your wort (sugary liquid from mashing grains).
• Mash tuns: A container to steep your grains in hot water and create the wort.
• Fermenters: A fermenter is a vessel where the wort is transferred and yeast is added to begin the fermentation process.
• Long-handled spoons and paddles: For stirring and mixing your ingredients.

Advanced Equipment:

• Electric brewhouses and all-in-one brewing systems: These systems combine multiple brewing functions into one compact unit, making the brewing process more efficient and convenient.
• Glycol chillers: Used to control the temperature of your wort during the brewing process.
• Beer canning equipment: If you want to can your homemade beer, you will need canning equipment.
• Reverse osmosis water filters: To ensure the water used in your brewing process is pure and free of contaminants.
• Beer, hop, and grain filters: Used to filter out solids and clarify your beer.
• Stainless steel valves and fittings: High-quality valves and fittings for your brewing equipment.
• Testing and measuring equipment: To monitor and control various parameters during brewing, such as temperature, pH, and specific gravity.
• Electric heating controllers and elements: For precise control of your brewing temperatures.

You can find these equipment and more at home brewing supply stores, both online and physical locations. Some popular suppliers include The Malt Miller, Northern Brewer, Missouri Malt Supply, and Blichmann Engineering.

Frequently asked questions