Caramel/Crystal 90L (Patagonia)

Patagonia Caramel 90L is a Chilean, medium-dark crystal malt. It has a toasted caramel flavor with hints of toffee and raisins, and provides rich, reddish-amber hues to wort. Crystal malts also add body and improve head retention. Add Caramel 90L wherever its characteristic affect is desired. It is suitable for use in all styles of beer, but should be used sparingly in lighter beers.

Crystal malts are gently cooked during the malting process. Cooking initiates the enzymatic conversion of starches into fermentable sugars, and caramelizes some of the sugars as the malt reaches its final color. This eliminates the need to mash crystal malt, and ensures that some of the sugars will survive fermentation to sweeten the beer.