The CaraAroma Experiment – What This Malt Really Does to Your Beer
The CaraAroma Experiment – What This Malt Really Does to Your Beer
If you’ve ever wanted a straight answer to what CaraAroma malt actually does in a beer, this is the brew session for you. No mysticism, no magic crystals — just a proper side-by-side experiment showing exactly how this dark caramel malt changes color, aroma, flavor, and body. And let me tell you, my sweet followers… CaraAroma is potent.
👉 Big thanks to Angel Yeast, who kindly sponsored the video this blog is based on. Don’t forget to check out their brewing products ->
Brewing the Base Beer — Wet Hops & Fresh Wort
Before CaraAroma entered the chat, I brewed a big all-grain batch using fresh hops from my garden. That base wort was then split into several versions so I could compare malts properly. And yes — the CaraAroma version was one of them.
(Image: Close-up of hops being harvested. Alt: “Fresh hops picked from backyard hop bines.”)
From that same wort, I made:
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a lager BF27
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a CaraMünich version A01
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a Saison CS31
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an A01 control beer used for both CaraMünich and CaraAroma comparisons
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and today’s star… the CaraAroma version A01
All 3 Versus batches (A01 control, CaraMünich & CaraAroma) were fermented under identical conditions using Angel Yeast A01, a solid American ale workhorse that lets the ingredients shine.
How I Added the CaraAroma
A normal brewer would just mash the CaraAroma along with everything else.
But since this whole project was about comparing multiple variations of the same base wort, I had to add it differently.
Here’s what I did:
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Pulled off a portion of wort during brew day
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Ground up some CaraAroma
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Mixed the two into a thick malt slurry
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Steeped it in a hot oven (yes, in olive jars… don’t judge)
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Reduced it on the stovetop until it looked like molten caramelized malt
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Poured the reduction into the fermenter
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Added the base wort on top
This method boosts unfermentable sugars and intensifies flavor — meaning higher final gravity and a sweeter, fuller beer.
Fermentation — Slow Temperature Ramp to Glory
Every batch in this experiment — including the control, the CaraMünich beer, and the CaraAroma version — was fermented under identical conditions using Angel Yeast A01 American Ale, a reliable workhorse that makes comparisons clean and honest.
Here’s the exact schedule:
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2 days @ 22°C (71.6°F)
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3 days @ 23°C (73.4°F)
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5 days @ 25°C (77°F)
Yes, it’s a bit overkill.
But it gives the yeast a steady temperature ramp and really lets those malt flavors express themselves without muddying the experiment.
Fermentation Numbers
Control Beer:
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OG: 1.053
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FG: 1.014
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ABV: ~5.1%
CaraAroma Version:
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Estimated OG: 1.056
(The CaraAroma reduction absolutely concentrated sugars, so the starting gravity would be higher than the base wort.) -
FG: 1.018
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ABV: ~5.0%
The higher FG here is exactly what you’d expect when adding a concentrated caramelized wort reduction — more unfermentable sugars, fuller body, richer sweetness, and a noticeably different flavor profile compared to the control.
The Pour — Behold the Red Glow
Pouring the CaraAroma version next to the control beer was… dramatic.
The color:
Deep amber → ruby → glowing red gemstone depending on how the light hits it.
The aroma:
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Toffee
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Caramel
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Candy shop vibes
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A hint of cocoa
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A wall of malt character
The flavor:
Imagine Irish Red meets English malt bomb, wrapped in caramel sweetness.
It stops being American real fast — even with A01 doing the fermenting.
Balance & Bitterness — A Sweet Boi Needs Bite
The reduction technique leaves behind more unfermentable sugars, so the beer comes out sweeter and richer. It tastes fantastic — honestly gorgeous — but it could use a bit more bitterness to balance the depth of the malt.
If you’re brewing something British, Irish, or you simply want malt to take center stage…
CaraAroma is your malt.
Want to Brew This?
You don’t need to mess around with olive jars and stovetop reductions.
Just brew normally and add your CaraAroma directly into the mash.
The recipe is available on my Buy Me A Beer page.
Link to the recipe->
Conclusion — CaraAroma: The Potent One
CaraAroma doesn’t whisper.
It doesn’t suggest.
It shouts caramel, dried fruit, depth, warmth, and stunning ruby color straight into your beer.
If you want a brew with real malt presence — this is your playground.
I do these experiments so you don’t have to.
Now get out there and brew something that glows.
DrHans Out! 🍺
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