Malt
Carafa Special
A dehusked roasted malt giving colour and roast flavour without the astringency of husk tannins.
Dehusking is the whole point. A normal black malt brings colour, roast and a sharp husk astringency together; Carafa Special separates them, which is how a schwarzbier can be nearly black and still taste smooth.
It is the standard route to a dark German lager, and increasingly to black IPAs that want colour without acridity.
What it does
Roasted malt or grain. Taken to high temperature in a roasting drum for coffee, chocolate and burnt character. No enzyme activity; used in small proportions.
The husk is removed before roasting, so the roast character develops without the tannin the husk would contribute.
Specification
| Colour | 300–500 EBC |
|---|---|
| Grain | barley |
| Enzyme activity | none — needs a base malt to convert it. |
| Fermentability | largely unfermentable |
| Flavour | smooth roast, cocoa |