Dextrine malt for head retention

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

My beers seem a weak in terms of head retention - especially the bitters which I prefer to carb only very lightly.
I'm wondering whether a bit of dextrine malt might be an idea to help with this. The Simpsons stuff says "use sparingly (up to 5%) to add body and foam stability" but I'm wondering if anyone has experience of using this type of malt

Ta

 

[Clint]

Not used it but find wheat or torrified wheat helps..but then,my latest pilsner which is just 5kg of pilsner malt has a great head.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Thanks @Clint I guess getting a proper head on a low carbed bitter maybe demands a hand pump

 

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

My beers seem a weak in terms of head retention - especially the bitters which I prefer to carb only very lightly.
I'm wondering whether a bit of dextrine malt might be an idea to help with this. The Simpsons stuff says "use sparingly (up to 5%) to add body and foam stability" but I'm wondering if anyone has experience of using this type of malt

Ta

Hi TETB

Are you bottling, plastic or corny kegging?

 

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

 

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

Above the Munton's description of Dextrin - I believe that it will have no impact on head retention

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Hi TETB

Are you bottling, plastic or corny kegging?

Corny, sir :-)

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

I have a feeling the head issue may have more to do with my preference for low carbonation… I’m going to try cranking it up a little

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Above the Munton's description of Dextrin - I believe that it will have no impact on head retention

Thanks !
Conversely however, Crisp definitely suggest it as a ”foam and body enhancer”. Who’s a poor brewer to believe…??

 

[Scrattajack]

I put 10% Dextrine malt in what would otherwise have been an MO/EKG smash. The body seemed to be improved, but head retention was non-existent.

 

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

Corny, sir :-)

I use cornies - 12psi and head retention is usually just right

 

[foxy]

Dextrine malt is for head retention body and mouthfeel, shouldn't matter whose you use, I use Gladfields Gladiator malt as it is unfermentable just add it at mash out along with other unfermentables.

 

[Clint]

My latest wheat beer which is about 50/50 pilsner/wheat malt has carbed up nicely but the couple I've tried seem to have virtually zero head retention. I wonder why?

 

[little_wings]

I agree dextrin has little impact on head, even though some of the malters will tell you otherwise.
Wheat, chit malt or flaked barley are what you should be looking at.
cheers.

 

[foxbat]

Dextrin malt doesn't work for me though I still seem to buy it and use it for some inexplicable reason . Wheat malt or torrified is much better, producing a meringue like effect in the head.

 

[foxy]

Thanks !
Conversely however, Crisp definitely suggest it as a ”foam and body enhancer”. Who’s a poor brewer to believe…??

View attachment 50804

Believe your own Charlie Bamforth.
https://www.drtanknstein.com/2018/08/16/finding-foam/This is taken from Charlies paper on Wiley online
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jsfa.6117

 

[little_wings]

That's interesting so effectively the dextrin's require to be combined with the proteins from wheat etc... in theory!...

 

[crescent city Mike]

Take it easy with the Dextrin malt; it will sweeten your beer. Do you skim your wort when it's coming up to the boil? That foam contains most of the stuff needed for head formation and retention.

 

[foxy]

What your English bitter should look like, low carbonation, good head retention and good lacing. 4% dextrin malt, dough in with crystal malt at mash out.

 

[dwhite60]

White wheat malt does it for me. I like the flavor it adds too. I do twelve liter batches. Everything gets at least a half kilo.

Does not help your clarity. I get more chill haze when using it. I don't care though.