Abbey Malt - Castle Malting
Château Abbey® is a distinctive Belgian brown malt, toasted to perfection for complex, intense flavours. Created through careful germination and kilning, it imparts deep hues and bold flavours, including notes of baked bread, nuts, and subtle fruitiness. The malt is favoured for its ability to add both richness and bitterness, which can mellow over time, making it a versatile ingredient for ales and darker beer styles.
- Wort Colour: 41.0–49.0 EBC
- Usage: Up to 25% of the malt bill
- Beer Styles: Pale ales, Abbey beers, brown porter, and various British and Belgian beers
Description
What is Château Abbey®?
Château Abbey® malt, also marketed as Château Monastique in the U.S., is a specialty malt designed to enhance depth and complexity in beer. Toasted at up to 110°C, it undergoes a unique malting process that highlights rich and complex flavour profiles.
How to Use Château Abbey®
Typically used sparingly—up to 25% of the total grain bill—this malt adds nuanced depth to a range of beer styles, from traditional pale ales and Abbey beers to rich, dark porters. It shines in brews that call for a deep amber or brown hue with robust character.
Flavour Profile
Château Abbey® delivers an intense flavour blend: baked bread, nutty overtones, and hints of fruit. The malt’s initial bitterness softens with ageing, making it suitable for balanced, mature flavours in both light and dark beers.
Enzymatic Activity
As a more toasted malt, Château Abbey® has limited enzymatic activity, so it’s best used in conjunction with malts higher in diastatic power for effective starch conversion.
Mashing
For best results, use Château Abbey® alongside base malts with stronger enzymatic potential, such as pale or pilsner malts, ensuring the proper conversion of sugars.
Combining with Other Malts
This malt pairs beautifully with light base malts to add dimension without overpowering. Its robust character and colour make it a favourite addition in mixed grists, complementing both specialty and base malts.
Benefits of Château Abbey®
- Enhances colour and flavour
- Adds nuanced bitterness and aroma
- Suitable for both ageing and fresh brews
- Offers authentic Belgian malt character
History
Inspired by traditional monastic brewing practices, Château Abbey® brings a rich cultural heritage to brewing. Its name and character pay homage to Belgium’s long-standing craft and history in malt production.
Key Features:
- Moisture Content: Max 4.5%
- Extract (Dry Basis): Min 78.0%
- Wort Colour: 41.0–49.0 EBC
- Roasting Temperature: Up to 110°C
- Usage: Up to 25% of the malt bill
- Flavour Profile: Baked bread, nuts, fruity notes
- Applications: Ideal for Abbey beers, pale ales, brown porters
- Beer Styles: Pale ales, Abbey beers, brown porter, and various British and Belgian beers
Additional Parameters:
- pH: 6.0