Roasting pale chocolate b/c I forgot roasted barley

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by GeeL, Jan 11, 2020.

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  1. GeeL

    GeeL Initiate (0) Aug 27, 2008 Massachusetts

    I forgot to add roasted barley to a recipe. I didn't need a lot, it's not a stout or porter; however, I did want some.

    I have a bag of pale chocolate malt. Can I toast that in the oven to get some roastiness? I was thinking 8 oz on a baking sheet in a 350 degree oven until it smells like I want it to taste.

    Alternatively, sometimes coffee can give that flavor, so I thought a little bit of used coffee grounds.

    Thoughts?

    Thanks.
     
    #1 GeeL, Jan 11, 2020
  2. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Are you looking for color or just flavor? Coffee doesn't add much of the former.

    I haven't done this myself, but others have roasted base malts. I don't see why it couldn't work. I doubt it will be exactly like commercial roasted barley (I mean, you're starting with something that's already been roasted to a degree, and it's a malt, whereas Roasted Barley is not), but who knows?

    FWIW, I believe Roasted Barley is roasted at 400F or a bit higher. Also, if it were I, I think I'd probably judge more by color than aroma. It might "smell like you want it to taste" fairly quickly, due to heating aromatics, but that's out of context of the final beer, where it will be colder, diluted, and masked by other things. However, I'll admit I haven't given this a whole lot of thought.
     
    #2 VikeMan, Jan 11, 2020
  3. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm a fan of pale chocolate, and suspect I would like it in your recipe as a replacement for roasted barley. I think the oven roasting could be interesting. I think used coffee grounds sounds unbecoming.
     
    #3 pweis909, Jan 11, 2020
    algebeeric_topology likes this.
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