Malting

Question 1

What is the main type of malt used in brewing?

Answer 1

Barley malt

Question 2

How is barley malt formed?

Answer 2

Barley malt is formed by sprouting the barley kernels to a desired length, then stripping off the rootless and kilning the kernels to a specific color.

Question 3

What does “germ” refer to with regards to barley kernels?

Answer 3

The germinating portion of the kernel.

Question 4

What is the endosperm of the barley kernel?

Answer 4

The starch or reserve food source for the germinating embryo.

Question 5

What surrounds the germ and the endosperm of a barley kernel?

Answer 5

The husk

Question 6

What is the husk of a barley kernel primarily composed of?

Answer 6

Cellulose

Question 7

What is the acrospire of a barley kernel?

Answer 7

The portion of the developing plant that will become the above ground shoot.

Question 8

What does the length of the acrospire indicate?

Answer 8

The progress of the malting process.

Question 9

What does modification mean when in reference to malted grains?

Answer 9

The degree to which the protein/gum matrix of the endosperm has been broken down, and the degree to which proteins have become soluble in water.

Question 10

What is the purpose of malting grains?

Answer 10

To initiate enzyme development that will be used to catalyze mashing reactions.

Question 11

What do undermodified malta have more of than well-modified malts?

Answer 11

Proteins

Question 12

What is chill haze?

Answer 12

Cloudiness in beer at cold temperatures.

Question 13

What causes chill haze?

Answer 13

Insufficient enzymatic breakdown of undermodified malts with high protein content, resulting in protein-polyphenols in the finished beer.

Question 14

What is the goal of the maltster?

Answer 14

To accomplish the appropriate degree of protein degradation and starch availability, while not allowing too much carbohydrate substrate to be used up in plant development.

Question 15

Undermodified malts require what mashing technique to fully convert?

Answer 15

A protein rest in the temperature range of 120F-130F.

Question 16

What is the difference between 2-row and 6-row barley?

Answer 16

The number of fertile flowers along the central stem. 2-row only has two flowers able to produce kernels.

Question 17

What are the benefits of 2-row barley of 6-row barley?

Answer 17

2-row has larger kernels, and thus a higher yield. It usually has lower nitrogen and protein content as well as a lower husk content, which makes 2-row beers taste less grainy.

Question 18

When should 6-row barley be used?

Answer 18

When brewing with a large amount of adjuncts.

Question 19

Why are grains malted?

Answer 19

To convert the large, insoluble chains of endosperm to water-soluble starches, and to activate both the proteolytic and diastatic enzymes that will reduce the proteins and starches into desirable components in the mash.