Pale malt and extra pale malt are both types of malt commonly used in brewing bitters, pale ales, IPAs, and other ales. They are produced by British maltsters like Muntons and vary slightly in color and flavor profile.
Pale malt typically has a color range of 2-3L, which refers to the Lovibond scale used to measure malt color. This means it has a light golden to amber hue. On the other hand, extra pale malt is slightly lighter, ranging from 1.5-2.0L, giving it a very pale straw to light golden color.
The difference in color between pale malt and extra pale malt is due to the barley varieties used in their production. Muntons, for example, offers different pale and extra pale malts made from barley varieties like Propino and Maris Otter. These varieties have distinct characteristics that contribute to the color and flavor of the malt.
In terms of flavor, both pale malt and extra pale malt contribute a malty sweetness to the beer. They provide a solid base for the other ingredients and flavors to shine. However, the lighter color of extra pale malt can result in a slightly more delicate and subtle malt flavor compared to pale malt.
When it comes to brewing, both pale malt and extra pale malt can be used as the base malt for a wide range of beer styles. They provide the necessary fermentable sugars for yeast to convert into alcohol, as well as contribute to the beer's color and flavor. The choice between pale malt and extra pale malt depends on the desired color and flavor profile of the beer being brewed.
Using pale malt will result in a beer with a slightly deeper color and a more pronounced malt flavor. This can be desirable for bitters, brown ales, or other styles where a richer malt character is desired. Extra pale malt, on the other hand, is often preferred for beers where a lighter color and a more subtle malt presence is desired, such as pale ales, IPAs, or other hop-forward styles.
In my personal brewing experience, I have found that using pale malt in a pale ale recipe resulted in a beer with a nice balance between malt and hop flavors. The slightly deeper color of the pale malt added a touch of complexity to the beer, while still allowing the hop character to shine through. On the other hand, using extra pale malt in an IPA recipe resulted in a beer with a lighter color and a clean, crisp malt background that allowed the hop flavors to take center stage.
To summarize, the main difference between pale malt and extra pale malt lies in their color and slightly different flavor profiles. Pale malt has a slightly deeper color and a more pronounced malt flavor, while extra pale malt is lighter in color and has a more subtle malt presence. Both malts can be used as the base malt for a variety of beer styles, with the choice depending on the desired color and flavor profile of the beer being brewed.