Intensely Peated Malt for Smoky Whisky and Beer

Create deeply smoky whisky-style spirit washes and bold experimental beers with Simpsons Heavy Peated Malt. Produced at Simpsons Malt’s Tweed Valley Maltings in Berwick-upon-Tweed, England, this pale distilling malt delivers powerful peat smoke with distinctive tar, woodsmoke, earthy and medicinal phenolic character.

With a typical phenol level of approximately 50–70 ppm, Simpsons Heavy Peated Malt provides the unmistakable smoke intensity associated with heavily peated and Islay-inspired whisky styles.

Despite its powerful aroma, this is a pale, high-extract malt with excellent conversion potential. It can form up to 100% of the grain bill in a heavily peated whisky wash or be used at lower percentages to add controlled smoke character to Porter, Stout, Scottish Ale and other experimental beer styles.

Why You’ll Love Simpsons Heavy Peated Malt

• Intensely smoky British peated malt

• Approximately 50–70 ppm phenol

• Powerful tar, woodsmoke and earthy character

• Distinctive medicinal and phenolic complexity

• Designed for heavily peated whisky production

• Excellent extract and conversion potential

• Pale 2–3 EBC colour

• Suitable for up to 100% of a whisky grain bill

• Can add controlled peat smoke to beer

• Produced using peat sourced from Scotland

• Freshly packed to order by Border Brewing Supplies

Flavour Profile

Simpsons Heavy Peated Malt delivers an assertive combination of peat smoke, woodsmoke, tar and earthy phenolic character. Medicinal, iodine-like and slightly sweet malt notes may also be present, depending on usage rate, fermentation and maturation.

The smoke is powerful and persistent. Even a small addition can be noticeable in beer, while higher percentages create a strongly peated spirit wash with an intense, lingering finish.

Colour: Very pale straw
Flavour: Peat smoke, tar, woodsmoke, earth and medicinal phenols
Aroma: Intense smoke with a robust malt background
Smoke Intensity: Very high
Phenol Level: Approximately 50–70 ppm
Enzyme Activity: High

Typical Applications

Simpsons Heavy Peated Malt is suitable for:

Peat smoke is extremely distinctive. It is best used where earthy, phenolic smoke is deliberately intended rather than as a general replacement for wood-smoked malt.

Product Specifications

Agricultural ingredients and peating intensity can vary between production batches. Always consider the analysis supplied with the current malt batch when precise phenol levels are required.

Brewing and Distilling Tips

For a heavily peated whisky-style wash, Simpsons Heavy Peated Malt can make up a substantial portion or up to 100% of the grain bill. It provides the extract and enzymatic performance required to function as a base distilling malt.

For a more balanced spirit, blend it with an unpeated distilling, lager or pale malt. This allows the peat intensity to be adjusted without losing fermentable extract.

When brewing beer, begin conservatively:

• Use approximately 1–3% for a background hint of earthy peat smoke

• Use approximately 3–10% for clearly noticeable peated character

• Use approximately 10–20% for an intense, dominant smoke profile

Peat smoke can become medicinal and overpowering in beer, particularly at higher rates. Trialling the malt at a low percentage is recommended before committing to a heavily peated beer recipe.

For distilling washes, a mash temperature around 63–65°C can promote good fermentability and spirit yield. A slightly higher mash temperature may retain more body but can reduce overall fermentability.

Fermentation and maturation can change the way peat presents. Some sharp smoke character may soften over time, but the finished spirit will not retain exactly the same phenol measurement as the original malt.

Traditional German Rauchbier is normally brewed with beechwood-smoked malt rather than peat-smoked malt. Use Heavy Peated Malt only when a distinctly earthy, medicinal peat character is desired.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Simpsons Heavy Peated Malt?

Simpsons Heavy Peated Malt is a pale British distilling malt treated with peat smoke to create intense tar, woodsmoke, earthy and medicinal flavours. It is primarily intended for heavily peated whisky production.

How smoky is Simpsons Heavy Peated Malt?

It is extremely smoky, with a typical phenol level of approximately 50–70 ppm. This is strong enough to produce a distinctly peated wash or add powerful smoke character to beer at relatively low usage rates.

What does ppm mean in peated malt?

PPM means parts per million and describes the measured concentration of phenolic compounds in the malt. A higher number generally indicates more intense peat smoke, although fermentation, distillation and maturation affect how much smoke is perceived in the finished spirit.

Can Heavy Peated Malt make up the entire grain bill?

Yes. It is a high-extract distilling malt with good conversion potential and can make up to 100% of a heavily peated whisky grain bill.

How much Heavy Peated Malt should I use in beer?

Start at approximately 1–3% for subtle background smoke. Use 3–10% for a pronounced peated character or 10–20% only when intense peat smoke is intended to dominate the beer.

Can I use Heavy Peated Malt in Porter or Stout?

Yes. Its smoke can complement the coffee, chocolate and roasted flavours found in Porter and Stout. Use it carefully because excessive peat can overwhelm the other malt flavours.

Is peated malt the same as smoked malt?

Peated malt is a type of smoked malt, but its flavour differs significantly from beechwood or oak-smoked malt. Peat produces earthier, more medicinal and tar-like phenolic flavours.

Is Heavy Peated Malt suitable for Rauchbier?

It can create an experimental peated beer, but it is not the traditional malt for German Rauchbier. Authentic Rauchbier generally uses beechwood-smoked barley malt, which has a softer, ham-like woodsmoke character.

Does the finished spirit remain at 50–70 ppm?

Not necessarily. The stated ppm measures phenols in the malt before fermentation and distillation. Process efficiency, spirit cuts, dilution and maturation all influence the perceived smoke and phenol level of the finished spirit.

What can I substitute for Simpsons Heavy Peated Malt?

Another heavily peated distilling malt can be used, but compare the phenol rating before substituting. Medium peated malt will produce a softer smoke character and may require a higher usage rate.

Buy Simpsons Heavy Peated Malt online from Border Brewing Supplies. Available in freshly packed quantities for brewers and distillers throughout Australia, with local collection from our Tweed Heads South home brew shop for customers from the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Northern Rivers and QLD–NSW border region.