Carafa II

Smooth Mild Roast • Deep Color Without Harshness • Lager-Smooth Darkness

Carafa II is a German roasted malt prized for delivering deep, dark color with a remarkably smooth, mild roast character. Where conventional black malts bring bite and astringency, Carafa II keeps its roast gentle and rounded — the secret behind dark lagers that drink as cleanly as pale ones.

With a color rating of 415 °Lovibond, Carafa II provides serious darkening power in very small doses, and its 32 PPG of extract is unusually generous for a roasted malt. A little goes a long way toward black.

Flavor & Aroma Profile

• Smooth, mild roasted character
• Soft coffee and cocoa hints
• Clean, rounded finish — no harsh bite
• Deep brown-to-black color contribution
• Low astringency at typical rates

At minimal rates, Carafa II works almost purely as a coloring malt, leaving flavor nearly untouched. Increase the dose and a soft, elegant roast emerges — present but never aggressive, true to its German dark-lager heritage.

Brewing Applications

Carafa II is a staple ingredient in many smooth dark styles, including:

• Schwarzbier
• Munich Dunkel
• Black IPA
• Baltic Porter
• Dunkles Bock
• Dark Lager
• Smooth Porter

It is also the go-to malt for darkening any recipe — even a pale one — without dragging roast flavor along.

Usage Recommendations

Due to its strong coloring power, Carafa II is typically used at 1–5% of the total grain bill. The low end adjusts color with minimal flavor impact, while the upper end adds the smooth, gentle roast that defines schwarzbier and dunkel.

For black IPAs, Carafa II lets hop character stay front and center; for even softer results, add it late in the mash or cap the sparge with it.

Specifications

• PPG (Points Per Pound Per Gallon): 32
• Color: 415 °Lovibond
• Flavor Notes: Smooth roast, mild, color-forward
• Usage Rate: 1–5% of grain bill
• Beer Styles: Schwarzbiers, dunkels, black IPAs, dark lagers

Whether you're brewing a silky schwarzbier, a hop-forward black IPA, or simply darkening a recipe without roughness, Carafa II provides deep color and smooth roast with none of the harsh edges.