pilsner malt, boil time, dms?

gurtpint · Dec 19, 2011

Right then, I'm starting to run low on base malt. The friendly head brewer of a local micro offered to sell me 20kg sacks, but they don't have pale ale at the moment. He told me they use pilsner malt for nearly everything they brew (and many good beers they have too). Never used it before, but I presume I could happily use pils for my ales, especially when combined with some amber/biscuit. However, it seems like the production of dms might be an issue worth considering. My boils are quite rapid (whenever my boiler does NOT fail me, which hasn't been that often as of late...) - the last full boil I did went from close to 32 liters to 22 in 75 mins. Could I assume this would be enough not to worry about that cooked veg taste in my beer even if I boiled the wort for just 60 mins? Still ok to lid partially on until the last 15 mins? Safe to steep post-boil hops for 20-30 mins before cooling to pitching temp? Pils malt users, please step forward and put me out of my misery!

RobWalker · Dec 19, 2011

I havnt used it but i do know that 1) dms is common with pilsner malt and 2) boiling with the lid on and for not long enough cause it. Any recipe i have seen uses a 90 min boil so i would stick with that, but hey, just what ive read :-P

Dunfie · Dec 20, 2011

As you say, most of the pilsner and lager malt has been modified appropriately so you will be able to employ your normal brewing practices without worry.

gurtpint · Dec 20, 2011

Thanks for the input, lads. I did some more interweb hopping on the subject and even though some brewers had had issues with dms, there were also many who made good brews with less than 90 min boils. I'll try my usual 70-75 mins and see. Whereas both today's pale ale and pilsner malts are well modified compared to what was used in the days of yore, if I've understood correctly it's the lower kilning temps of pilsner malts that can lead to problems with dms.

Christmas came early this year. I went to pick up my 20 kg pils malt sack at the local brewpub and when I asked the head brewer how much I should cough up, he just told me to forget about it provided that I promised to to come and drink at the pub every now and then! Yes sir, I will. What a star, nice one. :thumb: