Crack the Code: What a Malt COA Is, Why It Matters, and When to Use It

Do you actually know what’s in your malt? In this episode of The Beer Craft Podcast, Ben and Andrew crack open the mysterious (and often ignored) Certificate of Analysis—the COA—and show you how to use it to level up your brew day.

Whether you’re designing a recipe, troubleshooting a stuck mash, or just trying to brew the same great beer twice in a row, understanding your malt’s COA can save you time, money, and stress. We break down:

• What a COA is—and what it's not

• When you should actually look at it

• What those weird acronyms mean (FAN, DP, SRM, Kolbach…)

• Real-world ways to use it in your brewing software and process

• How to troubleshoot fermentation and mash issues with confidence
  
  

Plus, we’ve got some killer extras for you:

✅ Download the COA Glossary for Brewers – Plain English definitions of the most important COA metrics
📊 Grab the COA Style Tip Sheet – Key COA numbers matched to each BJCP beer category
🍻 Be the First to Know About Our New All-Grain Brewing Class – launching soon at Northwest Brewers Supply! Sign up here → https://mailchi.mp/nwbrewers/all-grain-class-pre-registration

No spreadsheets required—just useful tips, real experience, and a better understanding of the ingredients you already use. Let’s turn that wall of numbers into your brewing advantage.

"Twisted" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

 

RetroFuture Dirty 

 "RetroFuture Dirty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/