It's a couple of years earlier than the last one, from 1888.
This tells us that candied malt was patented in 1885. Useful to know, even if it tells us little about the nature of the malt itself.
But I was surprised at just how many odd malts they were offering for sale. Two types of amber brown malt. Roasted maize - I wonder what on earth that was used for? Golden finish malt - great name, but what the hell was it?
More questions. Many more than the answers so far.
If candied malt was patented then everything you need to know about it will be in the patent.
ReplyDeleteWould candied malt not be a roasted/dark crystal malt?
ReplyDeleteInteresting about roasted maize, I have never seen that before. Personally, I prefer roast malt in porter as opposed to roasted barley. It gives a more natural taste in my view, and avoids the harshness you sometimes find in porter or stout.
ReplyDeleteRoasted corn (maize) is a taste many North Americans are familiar with, kind of scorched-oily. I would think it is not suitable for beer, but maybe I am wrong. Perhaps it was an experiment Plunkett tried which did not take off, but I don't know. Corn's membrane or envelope, albeit lessened by hydrolysis would I think make it difficult to use in the mash tun or even the copper. But even if that was overcome, I wonder still about the flavour.
Gary
Thus, one kind called "candied malt" can only be made from the finest quality of barley, and it is used by brewers to mix with pale malt in the manufacture of what are known as "mild ales." - Charles Dickens "All about Town" (1890) I'm wondering if it's what today is called crystal malt. of course, the next paragraph relates the Harwood origin of Porter
ReplyDeleteI wonder if candied malt was used to make beer - could it have been the basis for a soft drink? Horlicks (or similar drinks) I think used to be called candied malt drinks.
ReplyDeleteWas it possible that roasted maize was actually some sort of torrified, puffed or otherwise pre-cooked product?
ReplyDeleteOblivious, there must be some significant difference. Both crystal malt and candied malt were awarded patents.
ReplyDeleteThinking further on candied malt, I'd guess that either it is maltodextrin, or, a barley malt blended with candi sugar.
ReplyDeleteGary