How To Brew Dark Beer with Beer Equipment?

Today, as craft beer culture prevails around the world, dark beer has won the favor of more and more consumers with its rich malt aroma, rich taste and unique caramel color. Different from traditional light beer, dark beer has more sophisticated requirements on raw materials, processes and equipment during the brewing process, and especially requires a set of high-performance and intelligent beer equipment system to accurately control each process link.

Basic characteristics and brewing concept of dark beer

What is dark beer?

Dark beer generally refers to dark malt beer, common categories include German Schwarzbier, Porter, Stout, etc. Its common characteristics are the use of caramel malt, chocolate malt or black malt, dark brown or even black, and the taste often has complex flavors such as coffee, chocolate, caramel, etc.

Challenges of dark beer to brewing technology

Compared with light beer, dark beer has higher requirements for saccharification temperature curve, boiling intensity, fermentation control and storage conditions. Excessive heating or oxidation will make the taste astringent and the aroma dissipate. Therefore, professional brewing equipment must be relied on for precise control.

Core raw material formula for brewing dark beer

Malt selection

The main flavor of dark beer comes from malt, and the commonly used combinations include:

Base malt (Pilsner Malt or Pale Ale Malt) is used to provide the main material for saccharification;

Caramel malt (Caramel/Crystal Malt) increases sweetness and caramel aroma;

Chocolate malt and black malt (Chocolate, Black Malt) are used for color matching and baking aroma;

Munich malt and Vienna malt (Munich/Vienna) enhance the thickness of the body and the level of malt aroma.

Hop pairing

The use of hops in dark beer is relatively restrained, and low-bitterness varieties such as Saaz, Hallertau, Fuggle, etc. are often used, emphasizing balance rather than highlighting bitterness.

Yeast selection

Ale-type dark beer: use top fermentation yeast (such as US-05, Wyeast 1084);

Lager-type dark beer: use bottom fermentation yeast (such as W34/70, S-189);

Dark beer has low requirements for yeast ester aroma, and focuses on the expression of malt aroma and roasted flavor.

Water quality control

Dark malt contains natural acidic components, so the pH of brewing water should be adjusted to between 5.2-5.4, and the ratio of calcium, magnesium and carbonate ions should be controlled to prevent dry or unbalanced taste.

Technical points of key beer equipment in dark beer brewing

Precise temperature control system

High-quality dark beer requires precise temperature control at every stage, especially in saccharification, fermentation and storage. Modern brewing equipment is generally equipped with PLC intelligent control system to ensure that the temperature difference does not exceed ±0.5℃.

Stirring and heat exchange efficiency

The saccharification pot stirring system needs to be able to form a good circulation flow field to avoid sticking or local temperature retention. The boiling pot and heat exchanger should ensure high heat exchange efficiency and low energy consumption to adapt to the production intensity of different batches.

CIP automatic cleaning system

Due to the complex malt varieties, dark beer is prone to residual sugar and grease. If it is not thoroughly cleaned, it is easy to cause secondary pollution. High-end beer equipment is equipped with a CIP automatic cleaning system, which can perform acid washing, alkali washing, and hot water washing procedures to ensure the hygiene and safety of the equipment.

The charm of dark beer lies in its thickness but not dullness, complexity but harmony, and all of this is inseparable from the support of high-quality equipment. From crushing to saccharification, from boiling to cooling, to fermentation and storage, each step requires the perfect collaboration between the brewer and the equipment to brew a deep, delicate and layered dark beer. As a professional beer equipment manufacturer, we are committed to providing customers with a full-process, one-stop dark beer brewing solution. Whether you are a pub starter or a large-scale factory, we can tailor a suitable brewing system for you to help your dark beer products conquer the market and win word of mouth.