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Hey all!
Making a pilsner, looking at malts. Any thoughts on Avanguard versus the Weyermann BoPils?
Posted 34 days ago.
I haven't triedAvangard, but I've never been disappointed byWeyermann. I seem to recall seeing some discussion that folks thoughAvangard was rather plain.
Posted 34 days ago.
If you believe the hype, they are pretty different.
The Weyermann should be less modified, but the Kolbach doesn't really support that. My very general and biased opinion is that the Weyermann is slightly maltier, with a little more earthiness and graininess. It doesn't need decoction, but lots of folk love this for decoction mashes. The Avangarde is far cleaner and grainier, with a lighter paler color.
If this is your first run into a pils... pick one and brew with the other the second time round taking notes.
Posted 34 days ago.
>If this is your first run into a pils...
Posted 34 days ago.
Definitely not my first run at a Pils, and up until now I've pretty exclusively used Weyermann. Always good results. My LHBS recently switched to Avangarde though after stocking Weyermann for years, and so now I'm trying to decide if it is worth ordering grains versus just going to the shop and picking up the Avangarde.
Might need to do a side-by-side, but from your guys comments it sounds like my leaning towards ordering the weyermann is a good choice.
KidMoxie: Ha nice, I published that today because it got lost in my site transition, and I needed to reference it for the current article I'm working on "In Pursuit of Czech Pilsner: Take Two" or "Why you shouldn't even bother submitting your Czech Pilsner to NHC"
Posted 34 days ago.
Edited 34 days ago by Matt
I hated Avangard. It was really really tasty for 2 weeks and then it fell off a cliff and tasted like import macro lager. Lost all complexity and malt flavor. Happened in every beer I brewed with it. Saison, pils, and session IPA. I won't ever be using it again.
Weyermann floor BoPils is legit. malty, crackery, nice. Not sure if it's worth it over the normal stuff. Going for Barke pils this time.Posted 34 days ago.
I think Avangard is like 50% the price of Weyermann, if they changed maltsters and kept the price/lb the same you're getting rekt.
Posted 34 days ago.
That's what I told the LHBS guy.
Weyermann it is.
Posted 34 days ago.
I have some of the Weyermann Barke on order... looking forward to it.
Yeah Matt. Guess I should have remembered it was you. :)
I keep Avangard around for saisons. It's mild flavor is perfect for classic pale saisons. I have a bag right now because it was very cheap - and plan to brew through it quickly. I might try it in a BoPils, hoping the hops add in some spicy character.
Posted 34 days ago.
Yeah, I bought a sack of the Avangard because it was dirt cheap. not worth it.
Rahr Pils isn't that much more expensive than Avangard and it's a better malt, IMO.Posted 34 days ago.
I need to try a Pils with the Gambrinus Pils (used in Vienna last night) - It preceded the Rahr malt, they kind of Pioneered using that particular Barley variety and making a european-style pilsner malt with it, and then were kicking themselves about being so public about the varietal when Rahr's Pilsner showed up a season or two later. Hence, they wouldn't tell me fuck-all about honey malt.
I've used lots of the Gambrinus Pils, but never in a pils-heavy beer, (kolsch, pils, helles, etc...).
Posted 34 days ago.
I am a big fan of Castle's floor malted pils. It's got this awesome water cracker flavor that I really dig.
edit: maybe it's not floor malted. I can't remember offhand, but I really like it.
Posted 34 days ago.
Edited 34 days ago by kellanstec
Castle has floor malted pils? Got a link?
> water cracker flavorPosted 34 days ago.
It may not be floor malted. I think I had wires crossed somewhere, as I also have a bag of floor malted wheat sitting at home I've been thinking about using.
I think it's just their plain pils malt. http://www.northernbrewer.com/belgian-pilsner-malt
Posted 34 days ago.
Castle is good, but it's more cracker and less grain. That may be good or bad depending on what you're going for. I'm still a huge fan of Weyermann Floor Malted BoPils. Nothing seems to be as consistent or as flavorful ... well, as much flavor as you're going to get out of a pils at any rate. Could anyone compare it to Best Malz? I haven't tried it or at least if I have, I've completely forgotten about it. Best seems to have much looser tolerances, but it can be less modified than Weyermann according to their sheets.
Posted 34 days ago.