Briess Black Malt 50 lb Crushed

Briess Black Malt 50 lb Crushed is a highly roasted specialty malt designed to provide intense color and bold roasted character to dark beer styles. Produced from premium barley and roasted to a deep black color, this malt contributes robust flavors of coffee, dark chocolate, burnt toast, and roasted grain. It is commonly used to create the dark appearance and signature roast profile found in stouts, porters, Schwarzbiers, and other dark ales and lagers.

In the brewing process, Black Malt is primarily used for color and flavor contribution rather than fermentable extract. It imparts deep brown to jet black color while adding dry roasted notes that can range from subtle coffee complexity at low usage rates to pronounced roast and charred character at higher percentages. Its bold flavor profile helps define many classic dark beer styles and can add depth and balance to malt-forward recipes.

What makes Briess Black Malt unique compared to dehusked roasted malts such as Blackprinz Malt is its more assertive roast character. Because the barley husk remains intact during roasting, Black Malt develops stronger notes of coffee, burnt toast, and roasted grain along with a degree of roast bitterness that many brewers seek in traditional stouts and porters. Compared to Midnight Wheat Malt, which is often used for color with minimal flavor impact, Black Malt contributes significantly more roasted flavor and aroma. Brewers often choose Black Malt when they want authentic roast intensity rather than simply dark color.

Due to its potent flavor contribution, Black Malt is typically used in moderation to avoid excessive bitterness or astringency while still achieving the desired color and roast profile.

Usage Rate: Typically 1 - 8% of the grist

• 1 - 2%: Color adjustment with subtle roast character
• 2 - 5%: Noticeable coffee and dark chocolate notes
• 5 - 8%: Pronounced roast, char, and dark malt complexity

Color (Lovibond): 500°L

Diastatic Power: 0° Lintner

Flavor Notes: Coffee, dark chocolate, burnt toast, roasted grain, char, dry roast

Briess Black Malt is an excellent choice for brewers seeking deep color and traditional roasted malt character. Its bold coffee and dark chocolate notes make it a foundational ingredient in many classic dark beer styles, providing the roast complexity and visual appeal that define stouts, porters, and other dark ales.