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Circular pile of BESTMALZ Red-X Malt

BestMalz Red X® Malt

by BestMalz
$0.18 - $82.72
$0.18
$0.18 - $82.72
$0.18

We sell grain in one-ounce increments (16 oz = 1 lb) and by bulk bag. When adding grain, select the Recipe # (1, 2, or 3) using the radio buttons to assign it to a specific recipe. We’ll accurately weigh your order and combine all grains assigned to the same recipe into one labeled bag. If you’d like any grain kept separate, choose “Keep Separate” or note it in Cart Notes. Milling is available on request, simply check the appropriate checkbox below. View our Grain Ordering Guide here to learn more.
Grain Specifications:

  • Maltster: BestMalz

  • Grain Type: Caramel & Crystal Malts

  • Lovibond: 13

  • Category:

  • Notes:

BestMalz Red X Malt for Red Beer Color and Malt Depth

BestMalz Red X Malt is a German specialty malt built for brewers who want reliable red color without building an entire grist around darker crystal or roasted malts. BestMalz lists Red X for reddish beers, ales, Altbier, Dunkel, and wheat beers, with a use rate of up to 100% of the grain bill.

The malt is useful when you want the beer to read clearly red rather than just amber or brown. In lower- to moderate-strength recipes it can carry the full grist. In stronger beers, BestMalz recommends blending in a portion of Pilsner malt to help preserve the red hue as original gravity rises.

Flavor and color

  • Color: BestMalz specification guidance lists Red X at about 28-32 EBC, roughly 11-13 Lovibond.
  • Flavor: expect a full malt profile with subtle dried-fruit depth; BestMalz lists notes such as passion fruit and sherry in its product specification.
  • Best fit: red ale, Altbier, Dunkel, red wheat beer, amber ale, and other beers where red color is part of the recipe goal.

How to use Red X malt

Use Red X as a specialty color-and-flavor malt or as the foundation of an all-Red-X grist when the recipe is designed around its red color. For bigger beers, blend with a lighter base malt so the wort does not drift too dark.

For more recipe options, browse all brewing grains, compare specialty grains, or build out the rest of the recipe from brewing ingredients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer grain milling services?

Yes, we provide grain milling services free of charge before shipping. To have your grain milled, please select the "Yes, please mill my grain" option on each grain product before adding it to your cart. We use a high-end, 3-roller mill from Spike, set to a standard gap of 4.5, which achieves optimal cracking while minimizing excessive flour. If you prefer a coarser or finer mill, leave a note in the shopping cart, and we’ll adjust it to your preference.

If we notice that most grains were selected for milling but a few were not, we will assume it was an oversight and mill all of them. If your intention is different, please clarify in the shopping cart notes section.

How do you ensure accuracy when weighing grains?

We take great care to ensure that you receive the correct grains in the exact quantities needed for your recipe. Our multi-step process ensures precision, starting with weighing each grain type individually to an accuracy of 0.08 ounces. After that, we perform a final check by weighing the combined total to confirm accuracy. Your total grain weight will always be slightly over the ordered amount, never under, and always within an acceptable range for even the most detail-oriented brewers (like ourselves).

How are grains packaged before shipment?

We provide a convenient recipe-building tool to streamline the process for you, our team, and the environment. We encourage you to use this tool to build your recipes, ensuring you get exactly what you’ve ordered in the correct quantities. By combining all the grains for a single recipe into one bag, we help speed up your brew day, reduce packaging waste, and save time during order fulfillment. Rest assured, we prioritize accuracy when measuring and packing your grains.