Over the years I have noticed that, when malted barley is mentioned in connection with brewing, it is usually Maris Otter that is specified. I acknowledge that Maris Otter produces very fine beers and is probably the variety that the beer drinking public have most likely heard of, but I would like to speak up for other varieties. Halcyon, Pipkin, Alexis, Chariot, Optic, Puffin and Golden Promise, to name but a few, can also give brewers equally good results.
To give an example, in the autumn edition of CAMRA’s Beer magazine, we are told that Harvey’s use, ‘62.5% pale ale malt and 37.5% coloured malts’ in producing Imperial Extra Double Stout and that Hogs Back A over T, ‘is made from English malted barley’. Unless, of course, it is a trade secret, it would be informative if the varieties of malt used could be mentioned as well, even if they are not Maris Otter. Brewers are usually happy for us to know which hops they have used, so why not the malt varieties?
My recollection (and I will be happy to be corrected) is that Maris Otter is quite difficult to grow and does not produce particularly high yields. Given our problems with both the weather and the rise in commodity prices, brewers may well be looking for alternative varieties. Consequently, I would like to see the malt variety included in future articles which feature particular beers. It is, after all, ‘all grist to the mill’ in educating the drinker.
Jerry Scanlon
(Jerry was the owner and brewer at Scanlon’s Fine Ales in Yiewsley in the mid-1990s)