Malt Extract

Shop malt extract for home brewing, including dried malt extract (DME or spraymalt) and liquid malt extract (LME). Both provide concentrated malt sugars, colour and flavour without having to mash grain. Choose from light, medium, dark, wheat and specialist extracts for beer kit upgrades or extract brewing recipes.

Use malt extract as the main fermentable ingredient in an extract beer recipe, or add it to a beer kit in place of some or all of the brewing sugar for more malt character and a fuller body. You can brew with extract alongside hops, beer yeast and optional steeping grains; the right variety depends on your beer style.

We stock liquid and dried malt extract from Muntons and Mangrove Jack's, in a full range of colours from Extra Light through to Extra Dark, plus Wheat and Maris Otter variants.

Malt Extract Buying Guide

Liquid malt extract (LME) or dried malt extract (DME)?

Both produce excellent beer — the choice usually comes down to convenience and how you're using it.

Liquid malt extract (LME) is a concentrated syrup and works well as the fermentable base for extract brewing or as a beer kit addition. It is sticky, so pour it into warm water or wort away from direct heat and stir thoroughly to prevent scorching. We stock Muntons Light LME in 1.5kg tins, Mangrove Jack's Light LME in 1.2kg pouches and selected 25kg bulk packs. Because LME contains water, compare quantities and recipe gravity rather than assuming a kilogram of LME equals a kilogram of DME.

Dried malt extract (DME or spraymalt) is a powdered extract that is convenient to weigh out for small recipe additions, beer kit improvements and full extract brewing. Add it gradually to warm water, stirring to avoid lumps, and protect unused powder from moisture. Our Muntons range includes 500g Light Spraymalt and 1kg Light Dried Malt Extract, with other colour grades and bulk sizes listed in this collection subject to current availability.

Which colour should I choose?

Malt extract colour directly affects the colour and flavour of your finished beer. As a general guide:

• Extra Light — Extra Light DME is a pale, versatile base for lagers, wheat beers and pale ales. For a liquid alternative, consider a suitable Light LME; note that Light and Extra Light are separate product labels.
• Light — DME | LME — a slight step up in colour and malt character. Good for pale ales, golden ales, and most kit upgrades.
• Medium — DME | LME — adds a warm amber colour and fuller malt flavour. Suits bitters, amber ales, and Irish red ales.
• Amber — LME — deeper colour and a more pronounced malt character. Good for ESBs, brown ales, and darker bitters.
• Dark — DME | LME — rich, roasty character. Used in stouts, porters, and dark milds, often blended with a lighter base extract.
• Extra Dark — DME — the darkest option, with strong roast and coffee notes. Use sparingly or blend — a little goes a long way.
• Wheat — Wheat LME is suitable for wheat beer styles and can add a soft grain character. Wheat extracts may also contain barley malt, so check the specific ingredients and allergen information. Wheat spraymalt is also listed when available.
• Maris Otter — LME — made from Maris Otter, the classic English ale malt. Adds a biscuity, bready character that's particularly good in traditional British ales and bitters.

One thing we'd always recommend: if you're upgrading a kit, match the extract colour to the style. Using dark extract in a lager kit will muddy the colour and flavour. Light or Extra Light is the safest choice for most kit upgrades if you're not sure.

How much malt extract should I use to upgrade a beer kit?

For a typical beer kit, a useful starting point is around 1kg of dried malt extract or approximately 1.2kg of liquid malt extract in place of 1kg of brewing sugar. These are rough substitution guides, not exact equivalents: different products have different solids and fermentability, so the beer's final gravity, body and flavour may change. Follow your kit or recipe instructions and take a hydrometer reading if you want to hit a particular original gravity.

You can also use a partial replacement — half malt extract, half brewing sugar — which gives a noticeable improvement in body without as much impact on fermentation time or attenuation. This is a good starting point if you've never tried it before.

Can I use malt extract for full extract brewing?

Yes — extract brewing uses malt extract as the primary fermentable base, combined with hops, yeast, and optionally some specialty malts and grains steeped for colour and flavour. It's a genuinely capable brewing method that produces excellent beer without the need for a mash tun or full all-grain setup. Our Extract Brewing Methodology guide covers the process in detail.

What's the hopped malt extract for?

Our Muntons Hopped Light LME and Hopped Light Spraymalt already contain hop-derived bitterness or character. Whether you need additional hops depends on the recipe and the bitterness and aroma you want. For precise hop control in a new recipe, unhopped extract is generally the more flexible choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Guides

• Extract Brewing Methodology — a full guide to brewing with malt extract
• Making Beer: Essential Steps, Ingredients & Equipment

Related Categories

• Brewing Hops — for extract brewing recipes
• Brewing Yeast
• Malts & Grains — specialty grains for steeping alongside extract
• Beer Kits — if you'd prefer a complete kit
• Beer Starter Kits
• Brewing Equipment — fermenters, kettles and measuring equipment

Why Buy From The Hop Shop?

The Hop Shop is a homebrew specialist based in Plymouth, Devon. We stock brewing malt extract from Muntons and Mangrove Jack's for kit upgrades, traditional ales and extract beer recipes. Order online for UK delivery, with free standard delivery on eligible UK mainland orders over £70, or contact us if you need help choosing the right extract.