Australian Chit Malt for Body, Foam and Head Retention
Improve body, mouthfeel and foam stability without adding significant colour or sweetness with Voyager Chit Malt. Produced in the Riverina region of New South Wales, this lightly modified Australian barley malt is kilned immediately after a cool Pilsner-style steeping and short germination process.
This specialised production method preserves proteins and beta-glucans that encourage foam formation, head retention and fuller mouthfeel. With an exceptionally pale colour of 1.5–3 EBC and minimal flavour contribution, Voyager Chit Malt is ideal for Pilsner, Helles, Pale Ale, Hazy IPA, NEIPA and lower-alcohol beer.
Its high diastatic power also provides useful enzymatic activity, while larger additions can support body and haze stability in modern hazy beer.
Why You’ll Love Voyager Chit Malt
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Premium Australian chit malt
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Produced by Voyager Craft Malt in the Riverina region of NSW
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Made from Australian Planet barley
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Lightly modified using a short, cool malting process
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Improves foam formation and head retention
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Adds body and mouthfeel
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Supports haze stability at higher usage rates
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Exceptionally pale 1.5–3 EBC colour
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Minimal sweetness and flavour contribution
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High diastatic power
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Ideal for Pilsner, Helles and hop-forward beer
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Useful in lower-alcohol and session beer
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Australian alternative to imported chit and dextrin malts
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Freshly packed to order by Border Brewing Supplies
Flavour Profile
Voyager Chit Malt contributes a restrained grainy, cereal-like flavour similar to a delicate Pilsner malt. Its flavour impact is intentionally low, allowing base malt, hops and yeast character to remain prominent.
Its primary contribution is structural rather than flavour-driven. The elevated protein and beta-glucan content helps build body, persistent foam and a fuller mouthfeel without introducing the noticeable caramel sweetness of crystal malt.
Colour: Very pale straw
Flavour: Gentle grain and mild Pilsner-like malt
Aroma: Fresh barley and subtle cereal
Body Contribution: Medium
Foam Contribution: Improves foam formation and retention
Haze Contribution: Moderate at higher usage rates
Enzyme Activity: High
Typical Beer Styles
Voyager Chit Malt is ideal for brewing:
| Lager and Traditional Styles | Pale Ale and Modern Styles |
|---|---|
| German Pilsner | American Pale Ale |
| Bohemian Pilsner | Australian Pale Ale |
| Munich Helles | Session Pale Ale |
| International Pale Lager | West Coast IPA |
| American Light Lager | Session IPA |
| German Leichtbier | Hazy Pale Ale |
| Kölsch-style Beer | Hazy IPA |
| Pale Kellerbier | New England IPA |
| India Pale Lager | Oat Cream IPA |
| Festbier | White IPA |
| Wheat Beer | Low-Alcohol Beer |
These styles benefit from Chit Malt’s ability to improve body and foam while adding very little colour, sweetness or competing malt flavour.
Product Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Maltster | Voyager Craft Malt |
| Country of Origin | Australia |
| Region | Riverina, New South Wales |
| Malt Type | Lightly Modified Chit Malt |
| Barley Variety | Planet |
| Colour | 1.5–3 EBC |
| Extract, Fine Dry | Greater than 70% |
| Diastatic Power | Greater than 250°WK |
| Protein | 10–12% |
| Flavour | Mild grain and gentle Pilsner-like malt |
| Typical Usage | Approximately 3–10% of the grain bill |
| Higher Usage | Approximately 10–20% for greater body and haze support |
Specifications may vary slightly between harvests and individual malt batches.
Brewing Tips
Use approximately 3–5% of the total grain bill to improve foam formation and head retention with minimal effect on flavour, colour or clarity.
Use approximately 5–10% in Pilsner, Helles, Pale Ale, IPA and lower-alcohol beer when additional body and a more persistent head are required.
Use approximately 10–20% in Hazy Pale Ale, Hazy IPA and NEIPA for a more noticeable contribution to body, mouthfeel and haze stability.
Chit Malt is lightly modified and contains more beta-glucans than fully modified base malt. Large additions can increase wort viscosity and slow lautering, particularly in recirculating or three-vessel brewing systems. Rice hulls may help when using a substantial percentage.
Despite its high diastatic power, Chit Malt has lower extract potential than a standard base malt. It is normally used alongside Pilsner, Pale Ale or another fully modified base malt rather than as the entire grain bill.
For clear lager, keep the addition moderate and use suitable clarification and cold-conditioning practices. Higher additions are more appropriate when stable haze is desirable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Voyager Chit Malt?
Voyager Chit Malt is a very lightly modified Australian barley malt designed to improve body, foam formation and head retention while contributing minimal colour and flavour.
What does “chit malt” mean?
Chit malt is barley that receives only a short germination period before kilning. This limited modification preserves proteins and beta-glucans that support body, foam and mouthfeel.
What flavour does Voyager Chit Malt add?
It contributes a gentle grainy and cereal-like flavour similar to a very mild Pilsner malt. Its flavour impact is generally restrained.
How much Voyager Chit Malt should I use?
Use approximately 3–5% for improved foam, 5–10% for additional body and head retention, or around 10–20% when greater mouthfeel and haze stability are required.
Does Chit Malt improve head retention?
Yes. Chit Malt contains proteins and beta-glucans that help encourage foam formation and support a longer-lasting head.
Does Chit Malt make beer hazy?
Small additions do not necessarily create visible haze. Higher percentages can support turbidity and haze stability, making Chit Malt useful in Hazy IPA and NEIPA.
Is Chit Malt the same as CARAPILS?
No. Both can improve body and foam, but they are produced differently. Chit Malt is lightly modified and relies largely on proteins and beta-glucans, while Weyermann CARAPILS is a dextrin-style caramel malt designed to add body and foam stability with minimal colour.
What is the difference between Chit Malt and flaked barley?
Chit Malt is lightly malted, has active enzymes and contributes a restrained Pilsner-like flavour. Flaked barley is unmalted, contains no active enzymes and generally provides a firmer, grainier body.
What is the difference between Chit Malt and wheat malt?
Both can improve foam stability. Wheat malt may add more noticeable wheat flavour and haze, while Chit Malt offers a more neutral barley character that is particularly suitable for pale lager.
Can Chit Malt be used in clear Pilsner?
Yes. Use approximately 3–5% for improved foam and mouthfeel while retaining a bright, pale appearance. Excessive use may make brilliant clarity more difficult to achieve.
Does Chit Malt need to be mashed?
Yes. It is a brewing malt and should be crushed and mashed with the rest of the grain bill.
Can Chit Malt make up the entire grain bill?
It is not normally recommended as the sole malt because it is intentionally under-modified and has lower extract potential than standard base malt. Use it alongside a fully modified base malt.
What can I substitute for Voyager Chit Malt?
Weyermann CARAPILS, Weyermann CARAFOAM or Voyager Dexter can be used when the goal is additional body and foam stability. Flaked barley may also be used, although it contains no enzymes and contributes a different grain character.
Buy Voyager Chit Malt online from Border Brewing Supplies. Available freshly packed and milled or unmilled for home brewers throughout Australia, with local collection from our Tweed Heads South home brew shop, conveniently located for customers from the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Northern Rivers and QLD–NSW border region.
