British Maris Otter Malt for Rich, Full-Bodied Ales
Brew characterful British ales with the rich malt depth of Simpsons Finest Pale Ale Maris Otter. Made exclusively from the renowned Maris Otter heritage barley variety, this premium British base malt delivers a full-bodied malt backbone with biscuit, fresh bread and lightly toasted flavours.
Simpsons Finest Pale Ale Maris Otter offers greater malt intensity and a rounder mouthfeel than a neutral pale malt. Its warm golden colour, excellent extract and reliable enzymatic performance make it suitable for up to 100% of the grain bill.
It is an outstanding base malt for English Bitter, Extra Special Bitter, Pale Ale, Porter, Stout, traditional IPA, Barleywine and other malt-forward beer styles.
Why You’ll Love Simpsons Maris Otter
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Premium British heritage base malt
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Made from 100% Maris Otter barley
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Rich, malty and biscuity flavour
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Fresh bread and lightly toasted notes
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Creates a full, rounded mouthfeel
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Excellent brewhouse performance
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Supports good wort clarity
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Strong extract and enzymatic performance
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Warm golden 4.5–6.5 EBC colour
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Suitable for up to 100% of the grain bill
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Ideal for authentic British ale
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Freshly packed to order by Border Brewing Supplies
Flavour Profile
Simpsons Finest Pale Ale Maris Otter produces a rich and distinctly malty wort with biscuit, fresh bread and lightly toasted flavours. Its rounded sweetness creates a fuller malt profile than standard pale ale malt while maintaining a balanced, relatively dry finish.
The strong malt backbone works particularly well with traditional English hops and expressive British ale yeast. It can also provide sufficient depth to balance modern American and New Zealand hop varieties.
Colour: Warm golden
Flavour: Rich malt, biscuit, fresh bread and light toast
Aroma: Fresh grain, bread crust and biscuit
Body Contribution: Medium to full
Mouthfeel: Smooth, rounded and substantial
Enzyme Activity: High
Typical Beer Styles
Simpsons Finest Pale Ale Maris Otter is ideal for brewing:
| British and Traditional Styles | Modern and Strong Styles |
|---|---|
| Ordinary Bitter | American Pale Ale |
| Best Bitter | American IPA |
| Extra Special Bitter | Session IPA |
| English Pale Ale | Red IPA |
| English IPA | Barleywine |
| British Golden Ale | Old Ale |
| English Brown Ale | Wee Heavy |
| Mild Ale | Strong Scotch Ale |
| Brown Porter | Imperial Stout |
| Robust Porter | American Brown Ale |
| Dry Stout | Malt-Forward Specialty Ale |
| Oatmeal Stout | Barrel-Aged Ale |
These styles benefit from Maris Otter’s rich biscuit flavour, full mouthfeel and strong malt presence.
Product Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Maltster | Simpsons Malt |
| Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
| Malt Type | Heritage Pale Ale Base Malt |
| Barley Variety | 100% Maris Otter |
| Colour | 4.5–6.5 EBC |
| Lovibond | Approximately 2.2–3.0°L |
| Extract, Dry Basis | Minimum 81% |
| Moisture | Maximum 3.7% |
| Total Protein | 8.13–9.69% |
| Kolbach Index | 40–44 |
| Beta Glucan in Wort | Maximum 150 ppm |
| Diastatic Power | 140–228°WK |
| Recommended Usage | Up to 100% of the grain bill |
Specifications can vary slightly between harvests and individual malt batches.
Brewing Tips
Simpsons Finest Pale Ale Maris Otter can comprise up to 100% of the grain bill and has sufficient enzymatic power to function as the sole base malt in an all-grain recipe.
Use it at 80–100% in English Bitter, Pale Ale, Porter and traditional IPA when you want its rich biscuit and bread character to form the foundation of the beer.
Use it at 50–80% alongside specialty malts in Brown Ale, Porter, Stout, Barleywine and Scotch Ale to retain a strong malt backbone beneath darker or sweeter grains.
A single-infusion mash at approximately 65–67°C works well for most British ale styles. Mash near the lower end for a drier, more attenuated beer or toward the upper end for greater body and malt fullness.
Pair Maris Otter with traditional English hops such as East Kent Goldings, Fuggle, Challenger, Target or Bramling Cross for classic British character.
It can also support modern hop-forward recipes. Its rich malt flavour works particularly well when an American Pale Ale or IPA needs more depth than a neutral pale base malt provides.
Maris Otter is a base malt and must be mashed. Steeping alone will not provide proper starch conversion for extract brewers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Simpsons Finest Pale Ale Maris Otter?
It is a premium British base malt made exclusively from the Maris Otter heritage barley variety. It produces rich biscuit, bread and lightly toasted flavours with a full, rounded mouthfeel.
What flavour does Maris Otter Malt add to beer?
Maris Otter contributes rich malt, biscuit, fresh bread and light toast. It has greater flavour intensity and body than a clean, neutral pale malt.
What beer styles use Maris Otter?
It is especially suited to English Bitter, Extra Special Bitter, Pale Ale, English IPA, Mild, Brown Ale, Porter, Stout, Barleywine and Scotch Ale.
Can Maris Otter make up the entire grain bill?
Yes. Simpsons recommends additions of up to 100%. It has sufficient enzymatic activity to convert itself and function as the sole base malt.
What is the difference between Maris Otter and regular Pale Ale Malt?
Maris Otter generally provides a richer, more biscuity flavour, fuller mouthfeel and stronger malt aroma. Standard pale ale malt is often cleaner and more neutral.
What is the difference between Maris Otter and Golden Promise?
Maris Otter is more biscuity, bready and lightly toasted, with a fuller mouthfeel and slightly drier finish. Golden Promise is generally softer, sweeter and more delicate, with subtle honey and nutty notes.
What is the difference between Finest Maris Otter and Low Colour Maris Otter?
Both provide the characteristic Maris Otter malt flavour. Low Colour Maris Otter is kilned to a paler colour and is better suited to Golden Ale, Hazy IPA and other beers where Maris Otter flavour is wanted without additional colour.
Is Maris Otter suitable for American Pale Ale and IPA?
Yes. Its rich malt backbone can balance assertive American or New Zealand hops. Use it when you want more biscuit and bread character than a neutral pale malt would provide.
Does Maris Otter need to be mashed?
Yes. Maris Otter is a base malt containing starch and enzymes. It must be mashed to convert its starches into fermentable sugars.
Does Maris Otter improve beer clarity?
Simpsons describes Maris Otter as providing excellent brewhouse performance and beer clarity. Final clarity will also depend on the complete grain bill, yeast, brewing process and conditioning.
What can I substitute for Simpsons Maris Otter?
Another maltster’s Maris Otter can be used as the closest substitute. Simpsons Best Pale Ale Malt, Golden Promise or a quality British pale ale malt can also be used, although the flavour and mouthfeel will differ.
Buy Simpsons Finest Pale Ale Maris Otter 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 for customers from the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Northern Rivers and QLD–NSW border region.
