Malted oats/wheat vs flaked oats/wheat

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by HorseheadsHophead, Jun 30, 2017.

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  1. HorseheadsHophead

    HorseheadsHophead Grand Pooh-Bah (3,732) Sep 15, 2014 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Despite being a craft beer drinker for almost four years, I only recently learned that wheat and even oats can and are malted sometimes in certain beer styles. I thought they were only added unmalted, like roasted barley is to stouts and porters for a burnt and roasted flavor. Is there a perceptible difference flavor-wise between malted and unmalted oats or wheat? Or is it more of a texture thing? Is one or the other of them more perceptibly creamy/velvety?
     
    #1 HorseheadsHophead, Jun 30, 2017
  2. Squire

    Squire Grand Pooh-Bah (4,385) Jul 16, 2015 Mississippi
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I suppose any grain that sprouts can be malted. I know corn can though I'm told the result is not worth the effort. Adding wheat or oats to a beer's grain bill obviously makes a difference in the final product but I don't know if a malted version makes for a perceptible difference over an unmalted one.
     
    #2 Squire, Jun 30, 2017
  3. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    It's a mouthfeel and texture issue. Proteins will contribute fullness and heft to the palate.

    In general, malting will break down some proteins (some of which will be insoluble) and make the starches easier to convert to sugars. Compared to the unmalted versions, any difference will depend on how much is used in a particular recipe.

    With wheat, it's a high percentage of a hefeweizen so the malted one is used. Oats are not usually featured as much in most beers, so can be used in the unmalted form.
     
    #3 TongoRad, Jun 30, 2017
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  4. bbtkd

    bbtkd Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,790) Sep 20, 2015 South Dakota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Oats seem to impart a smoothness that I like, perhaps to the point of a chewy feel.
     
    #4 bbtkd, Jun 30, 2017
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  5. StoutElk_92

    StoutElk_92 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,045) Oct 30, 2015 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Looks like there was a short discussion about this a while back on here. (wheat anyway)
    https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/malted-vs-unmalted-wheat.7263/

    Seems like most people agree the unmalted wheat is more wheaty and sharp in taste, almost raw, and malted wheat tastes more malty and bready. Same for the oats. Sometimes I get a creamy almost vanilla taste when a lot of oats are used in a beer, and if it's malted usually a more malty and sweet, almost caramelized grainy flavor.
     
    #5 StoutElk_92, Jun 30, 2017
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