2 ROW / 6 ROW

OAE Iceman · Mar 22, 2015

Is there a noticeable difference when substituting 6 row malt for 2 row? There is a malster located in Skajit Valley Washington that is just starting out thats using local grown grain and malting it. I have already went though a bag of their 2 row "Copland" malt and made some really good beer with it. I did just purchase a bag of their 6 row (Alba) brand and made a loose variation of the New Albion beer was was posted in one of the brew magazines. I used the 6 row, wyeast 1028, and cascade hops. It tastes really nice, not super heavy, thick creamy bright white head still a little cloudy after 3 weeks in the keg but starting to get clearer. I do know that this malster sizes its grains. I compared the Skajit grains to others at the brew shop and the Skajit grains are larger.
Does anybody here not use 6 row and if so why? I plan on doing a heavy hitting Imperial IPA next weekend with the 6 row and will also try some Giga yeast. My first time using 6 row malt. Thanks!

Brian

Ozarks Mountain Brewery · Mar 22, 2015

not a huge difference but its a slightly grainer taste and it has more protein in it, bud is made with 6-row and rice

Nosybear · Mar 23, 2015

Six-row has more protein, you're more likely to get haze from it. Where it shines is when you're using adjuncts like (as with most mass-market beers) corn or rice - six-row also has a higher diastatic power than 2-row. Flavor's not that much different. Six-row is an American strain so if you're looking to recreate some classic American recipes, it's the base malt to use but I'd recommend a protein rest (30 mins at 122°F) to cut some of the haze-producers out of it.

Hogarthe · Mar 24, 2015

I've really only used it for American lager style beers. That's what it really specializes in, the high diastatic power to convert a lot of adjuncts. Most other beers don't have so much adjuncts that you would need the extra enzymes. As mentioned above the high protein levels turn a lot of people off, since they want the clearest possible beer. But if you like it, it's perfectly good to use.