Crystal 40 vs Carastan

[CryoEng]

Is there any real difference in Carastan and the average crystal 40?

In general, do the "Cara...." malts have something that the general similar crystals don't?

They always cost just a bit more....

Thanks

Cheers!

 

[GuldTuborg]

The only difference is what company makes them, and what they choose to call the malt. Each maltster is different, so a 40L crystal from each will be different. Sometimes it's a subtle difference, sometimes it can be quite pronounced.

Try some of each from various maltsters and see what you like. I did this a few years back (got 3 different crystal malts from 5 different maltsters, so 15 malts), and did a taste test. One stood out to me, so I've stuck with the brand ever since. You might similarly find one you like.

 

[dannypo]

Carastan is a Simpson's product I believe. And I assume the C40 you are talking about is either Breiss or Great Western. In that case they are completely different. I don't know what is done differently in the UK but their crystals have a very unique flavor. If you are looking for that "English" character you should her the Carastan.

 

[GuldTuborg]

Carastan is a Simpson's product I believe.

Close! It's a Hugh Baird malt.

 

[CryoEng]

The only difference is what company makes them, and what they choose to call the malt. Each maltster is different, so a 40L crystal from each will be different. Sometimes it's a subtle difference, sometimes it can be quite pronounced.

Try some of each from various maltsters and see what you like. I did this a few years back (got 3 different crystal malts from 5 different maltsters, so 15 malts), and did a taste test. One stood out to me, so I've stuck with the brand ever since. You might similarly find one you like.

Wow. That's a great parametric study!

I'll likely never be able to brew enough, with enough control, to detect the differences.

Would you recommend going with the "cara" malts as a default?

Cheers!

 

[CryoEng]

Carastan is a Simpson's product I believe. And I assume the C40 you are talking about is either Breiss or Great Western. In that case they are completely different. I don't know what is done differently in the UK but their crystals have a very unique flavor. If you are looking for that "English" character you should her the Carastan.

I honestly don't know who malts most of the grains I buy. I buy from Austins mostly, because of their shipping rates. They list a standard set of crystals and the "cara" malts in the specialty group.

Is the English character due to the grains or the technique? Maybe a bit of both?

I'm happy to settle on the "cara" malts as a standard, if they provide a better overall quality. I have found myself with a bunch of crystals and nearly the same "cara" malts and figure I can simplify the inventory.

Thanks much!

Cheers!

 

[dannypo]

I honestly don't know who malts most of the grains I buy. I buy from Austins mostly, because of their shipping rates. They list a standard set of crystals and the "cara" malts in the specialty group.

Is the English character due to the grains or the technique? Maybe a bit of both?

I'm happy to settle on the "cara" malts as a standard, if they provide a better overall quality. I have found myself with a bunch of crystals and nearly the same "cara" malts and figure I can simplify the inventory.

Thanks much!

Cheers!

Not necessarily better, just different. The english cara malts have a very english character. I know that doesn't help much but I'm not sure I can describe it better than that. I would say that English malts work in American styles but American malts don't work as well in English styles.

 

[GuldTuborg]

Honestly, when I did my little "experiment," I found just as much variance among the English maltsters as I did between the English and non-English. I'm going from memory here, but I think I got Baird, Crisp, Fawcett, Briess, and Franco Belges. All were quite different in taste.

 

[dannypo]

Honestly, when I did my little "experiment," I found just as much variance among the English maltsters as I did between the English and non-English. I'm going from memory here, but I think I got Baird, Crisp, Fawcett, Briess, and Franco Belges. All were quite different in taste.

I agree. They are all different. But IMO the English malts are more similar to each other than they are to the American malts. Now I haven't used them all but among Simpsons, Crisp and the couple Hugh Baird malts I've used I seem to prefer Simpsons most of the time.