Home of the BrewNosers

I think I made that word up.

Is anyone really in to malt and prefers the hops to take a back seat?

And ...What do you have to say to Hopheads?

I am a malthead. I only like hops in an AIPA. My usual brews, ( Pilsners, ESB's ) have to have that nice malt taste. There is nothing better than a nice Helles. Some Pilsners are quite hoppy, but not mine. What do I say to Hopheads? If that is what you like, go for it, but just not for me.

I am trying to come up with a way to say I swing both ways!

S

GAM wrote:I am trying to come up with a way to say I swing both ways!

S

Not allowed Sandy. No fence sitting

McGruff wrote:I am a malthead. I only like hops in an AIPA. My usual brews, ( Pilsners, ESB's ) have to have that nice malt taste. There is nothing better than a nice Helles. Some Pilsners are quite hoppy, but not mine. What do I say to Hopheads? If that is what you like, go for it, but just not for me.

That's interesting. Do you enjoy the entire colour spectrum of malts, or just a certain range? That "nice malt taste"? also is it "more is better" like a hophead might say, or is malt appreciation more subtle. When you talk about "hoppy" is that bitterness or late hopping flavours you are talking about, or both.

Beers are said to need the bitterness of hops to cancel the sweetness that would otherwise be present. A malt forward beer then needs low bitterness, but what about late hopping/dry hopping flavours? They should take a back seat as well presumably?

I've had some wonderful bocks and doppelbocks that have converted me partly onto the malthead bandwagon. I do enjoy hoppy beers but with these styles it's all about the complex rich malt character. They've got to have a low bitterness and a low hop flavour. I find rich malty beers suit colder weather.

CartoonCod wrote:I've had some wonderful bocks and doppelbocks that have converted me partly onto the malthead bandwagon. I do enjoy hoppy beers but with these styles it's all about the complex rich malt character. They've got to have a low bitterness and a low hop flavour. I find rich malty beers suit colder weather.

Adam, I'm really interested in this kind of comment. You mention two beer styles. For we brewers ( Liam), can you identify the malt or malts in those beer styles that turn you on (so to speak). Thanks.

Does anyone have specific malt/malts that they crave?

I tend to like the darker versions with lots of munich with some vienna and pils malt, and maybe a bit of caramel/crystal malt. I think another key to good malty beers is the yeast strain. Having one to complement the malt is the key to good malty beers.

Thanks.