Unmasking the Malt: A Deep Dive with Jeff Bloem of Murphy & Rude Malting
For all craft beer enthusiasts and homebrewers, understanding the backbone of your favorite brews—malt—can transform your brewing experience. Jeff Bloem, the innovative mind behind Murphy & Rude Malting, is here to help you navigate the often cluttered world of malt marketing. Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, Murphy & Rude Malting has been a pioneer since 2018 as the state’s first dedicated commercial specialty malt house, offering a delightful array of base, high kiln, and specialty malts. They also cater to homebrewers with products available directly from their online store.
In discussing malt, Jeff highlights how the approach to branding and labeling can vary vastly, making it a challenge for brewers to truly understand what they’re buying. Diving deep into the specifics, Jeff elaborates on the nuances between Pilsner malts from Europe versus those in the U.S., even drawing parallels with pale malts. This exploration into the world of malt details the subtle and significant differences in the brewing properties and flavor profiles.
Breaking Down Malt Varieties: From Pale to Roasted
The conversation with Jeff turns to famous varieties like Vienna and Munich malts, revealing the common characteristics shared by many lighter malts, while emphasizing the role of barley type used in production. As the discussion shifts to darker kilned malts, Jeff illuminates the method of their creation and the rich, robust flavors they introduce to the brewing process. Moreover, he delves into the chemistry of Caramel/Crystal malts, explaining how their sugary crystallization within the malt husk alters their flavor profile.
Even for seasoned brewers, understanding the specific uses for harsh zone malts and roasted malts offers a fascinating layer to craft your next brew. Jeff provides insight into how thoughtful application of these intense ingredients can elevate a beer’s character.
Navigating the Market: Choosing the Right Malt
Jeff demystifies the often-confusing malt names in the marketplace, offering clarity with examples of what these malts are named versus what they truly are. His expertise reveals how marketing can sometimes obscure the real attributes of a malt, emphasizing the importance for brewers to dig deeper into the malt’s origins and characteristics.
For homebrewers eager to experiment with these specialty malts, Jeff shares how you can acquire them directly from Murphy & Rude’s online store, opening avenues for creative brewing adventures right in your home kitchen.
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