Variety Selection and Nitrogen Application for Oat Malting
- Research Date
- 2021
- Priorities
- New Varieties
- Crop Categories
- Grain, Malt
- Beverage Categories
- Beer
Oats continue to gain in popularity among Craft Beverage producers. Traditionally used in oatmeal stouts (Great Britain) and Triples (Belgium), where they provide interesting and unique flavors and lend a soft, silky mouthfeel, oats today are used as flavor and texture contributors to many different Craft beer styles, and also to create a sensation of creaminess to Craft distilled beverages. Oat malts are among the most expensive brewing raw materials. Although a common crop in Michigan and the U.S., the majority of oats used in brewing are imported from Europe and Canada, where varieties are bred and grown specifically for their superior brewing characteristics. There are currently no oat varieties grown in the U.S. specifically for malting and brewing.