Briess | Extra Special Malt | per lb

Briess Extra Special Malt is a unique drum-roasted specialty malt that combines caramel-like richness with dry roasted complexity. Its distinctive flavor profile includes toasted marshmallow, toast, mild coffee, prune, raisin, and woody notes, making it an excellent choice for adding the kind of deep malt complexity often associated with much darker or higher-gravity beers.

At approximately 130° Lovibond, Extra Special Malt contributes rich red-to-brown color along with an unusual combination of toffee, dark fruit, toast, and restrained roast. Unlike a traditional crystal malt or roasted malt, Briess uses a proprietary roasting process that develops characteristics of both, giving brewers a particularly complex specialty grain.

One of the strengths of Extra Special Malt is its ability to add big-beer malt complexity to lighter-colored or lower-gravity beers. A relatively small addition can introduce subtle toasted marshmallow, prune, coffee, and woody notes without requiring the beer to become heavily sweet or roasted.

As the percentage increases, Extra Special Malt becomes progressively richer. Its dark-fruit and toffee character becomes more pronounced, the beer develops deeper reddish-brown color, and the malt contribution becomes fuller and more complex.

It is particularly well suited to Belgian Ale, English Ale, Porter, Doppelbock, Irish Stout, and other malt-forward beers where layers of toast, dark fruit, caramelized malt, and restrained roast can add depth to the finished beer.

How Much Briess Extra Special Malt Should You Use?

• Up to 5% – Adds background notes of toasted marshmallow, toast, mild coffee, prune, and woody complexity
• 5–10% – Produces deeper red-to-amber color with pleasant toffee character; excellent for Belgian and English ales and Porters
• 10–15% – Creates deeper reddish-brown color, fuller malt character, and more pronounced raisin, dark-fruit, and toasted flavors; particularly useful in Doppelbock, Porter, and Stout

Why Brew With Briess Extra Special Malt?

• Approximately 130°L
• Unique hybrid-style drum-roasted specialty malt
• Combines caramel and dry roasted characteristics
• Distinctive toasted marshmallow flavor
• Toast and mild coffee notes
• Prune, raisin, and dark-fruit complexity
• Subtle woody character
• Adds toffee-like malt richness
• Produces deep red-to-brown color
• Adds complex dark-beer flavors to lighter or lower-gravity recipes
• Excellent for Belgian Ale, English Ale, Porter, Doppelbock, Irish Stout, and other malt-forward beers
• Recommended at approximately up to 15% of the grain bill, depending on the desired intensity

For brewers looking to add toasted marshmallow, toffee, dark fruit, mild coffee, and roasted complexity in a single specialty malt, Briess Extra Special Malt offers an unusually broad flavor profile. Use a small amount for background complexity or increase the percentage when you want its rich reddish color, dark-fruit character, and toasted malt flavors to become a prominent part of the finished beer.