Developing a Palate for Malty Beers?

I like that chart's differentiation between sweet and malty. To me, malty conveys a certain ready character that is more than simple sweetness.
Lots of pale lagers are sweet, but not too many are truly bready and malty.

 

Well said. Whilst drinking a Six Point Sweet Action a few years back my buddy and I wondered allowed how to describe what we were tasting. It was sweet, but malty. We said it had a biscuity sweetness and I think that hints at the breadiness you speak of.

 

Malty beers were never an acquired taste for me, and I loved them right away. But I prefer milk chocolate over dark, didn't really care for bitter things, etc., so my palate had to develop for the hoppy and more bitter beers. But at the same time I can't have too many sweet things at one time either, though.

Nothing beats a good Scotch Ale in my opinion when you want to see what maltiness is all about.

 

While not required, I've often heard that decoction mashing is one of those things that really boosts a beer's bready/malty character.
While it's old hat for most of us, one easy drinking classic malty beer is New Belgium's Fat Tire. With them using a milder yeast (at least supposedly), that carries through even more.

 

Cool chart but I'm confused why Barleywine is depicted as being "fruitier" than fruit beers.

 

Barley wines can be very eatery, do to stress on the yeast, and fusels that have oxidized into esters. Esters are associated with fruity aromas.

 

Funny, because I was opposite! It took me forever to get into hoppy beers, but I appreciated malty beers right away. Maybe it's because I'm unskinny...

 

Due to stress on the yeast, dummy.

 

Obviously, you can get yourself to like anything, the trick is to find something approachable. I would suggest a can of Surly Furious (as fresh as possible, obviously), because that will show you how malt can be combined effectively with flavors that you already enjoy. Don't just jump right in with Dirty Bastard, ease into it with beers with hybrid flavors.

 

And "eatery" should be estery.

Still getting the hang of that iPad thingy!?!

Cheers

 

Yes.