Light German Dextrin Malt for Body and Foam Stability
Improve body, mouthfeel and head retention without significantly changing beer colour or flavour with Weyermann CARAPILS®. Produced in Bamberg, Germany, this premium light dextrin malt contains a high proportion of dextrins and high-molecular-weight proteins that support fuller body and long-lasting foam.
With an exceptionally pale colour of 2.5–6.5 EBC, CARAPILS can be used across virtually every beer style—from delicate Pilsners and pale lagers to IPAs, wheat beers and dark ales.
Its restrained malty sweetness and light caramel character allow the base malt, hops and yeast to remain the focus while improving the texture, foam and presentation of the finished beer.
Why You’ll Love Weyermann CARAPILS®
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Premium German dextrin brewing malt
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Produced by Weyermann® in Bamberg, Germany
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Improves body and mouthfeel
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Promotes better foam formation and head retention
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Contains a high proportion of dextrins and proteins
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Very pale 2.5–6.5 EBC colour
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Adds minimal colour to the finished beer
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Gentle malty sweetness with light caramel notes
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Suitable for pale, amber and dark beer styles
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Particularly useful in lower-alcohol beers
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Freshly packed to order by Border Brewing Supplies
Flavour Profile
Weyermann CARAPILS provides gentle malty sweetness with restrained light caramel notes. Its contribution is subtle, allowing brewers to improve body and foam stability without introducing the stronger caramel flavours associated with darker crystal malts.
Colour: Very pale straw to light gold
Flavour: Malty-sweet with light caramel notes
Aroma: Delicate malt and light caramel
Body Contribution: Medium
Foam Contribution: Improves foam formation and stability
Enzyme Activity: Low
Typical Beer Styles
Weyermann CARAPILS is ideal for brewing:
| Lager and Pilsner Styles | Ale and Specialty Styles |
|---|---|
| German Pilsner | Cream Ale |
| American Pilsner | British Golden Ale |
| International Pale Lager | Australian Sparkling Ale |
| American Light Lager | Blonde Ale |
| Bavarian Helles | Session Pale Ale |
| Kölsch-style Beer | American IPA |
| German Leichtbier | Session IPA |
| India Pale Lager | Double IPA |
| Pre-Prohibition Lager | Belgian Golden Strong Ale |
| Imperial Pilsner | Gose |
| Alcohol-Reduced Lager | Alcohol-Free Beer |
Because CARAPILS adds very little colour, it can also be used to improve body and foam stability in amber and dark beer styles.
Product Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Maltster | Weyermann® |
| Country of Origin | Germany |
| Malt Type | Light Dextrin / Caramel Malt |
| Grain | German brewing barley |
| Colour | 2.5–6.5 EBC |
| Lovibond | 1.4–2.9°L |
| Flavour | Malty-sweet with light caramel notes |
| Enzyme Activity | Low |
| Recommended Usage | 5–10% of the grain bill |
| Special Formulations | Up to 40% |
Brewing Tips
For most beer styles, use Weyermann CARAPILS at 5–10% of the total grain bill to improve body, mouthfeel and foam stability without noticeably changing the beer’s flavour or colour.
Use the lower end of this range in delicate lagers and Pilsners where subtlety is important. Higher additions within the recommended range work well in Session IPA, Pale Ale and lower-alcohol beers that require additional body.
Weyermann advises that additions of up to 40% may be used in specialised formulations, including alcohol-reduced and alcohol-free beers.
CARAPILS has low enzymatic activity and should normally be mashed alongside an enzymatic base malt such as Pilsner, Pale Ale, Vienna or Munich malt.
CARAPILS can improve foam stability, but good head retention also depends on proper mash technique, fermentation health, clean glassware and avoiding excessive oils or fats in the finished beer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Weyermann CARAPILS?
Weyermann CARAPILS is a very light German dextrin malt used to improve body, mouthfeel, foam formation and head retention while adding minimal colour and flavour.
What flavour does CARAPILS add to beer?
It contributes subtle malty sweetness and delicate light caramel notes. Its flavour impact is much lower than darker caramel or crystal malts.
Does CARAPILS make beer sweeter?
CARAPILS can increase the perception of body and fullness, but it does not necessarily make the finished beer noticeably sweet. Its main contribution is improved texture, foam stability and mouthfeel.
Does CARAPILS improve head retention?
Yes. CARAPILS contains dextrins and high-molecular-weight proteins that help support foam formation and stability.
How much CARAPILS should I use?
Weyermann recommends using CARAPILS at 5–10% of the grain bill for standard beer recipes. Higher additions of up to 40% may be used in specialised formulations such as alcohol-reduced beer.
What is the difference between CARAPILS and CARAHELL?
CARAPILS is much paler and is primarily used to improve body and foam stability with minimal flavour contribution. CARAHELL is darker and adds more noticeable malty sweetness, caramel flavour and golden-to-amber colour.
Can CARAPILS be used in dark beer?
Yes. Its very pale colour and restrained flavour allow it to improve body and foam stability in pale, amber and dark beer styles.
Does CARAPILS need to be mashed?
Yes. CARAPILS is intended for use in an all-grain mash and should normally be combined with an enzymatic base malt.
What can I substitute for CARAPILS?
Gladfield Gladiator Malt can be used as an alternative when CARAPILS is unavailable, although its exact colour and brewing contribution may differ.
Buy Weyermann CARAPILS brewing malt online from Border Brewing Supplies. Available in freshly packed quantities for home brewers throughout Australia, with local collection from our Tweed Heads South home brew shop, conveniently located for customers from the Gold Coast, Northern Rivers and QLD–NSW border region.
