Malting Variety Flashcards
What is the main goal of barley breeding and development?
To continually improve the barley that is grown and malted
This includes enhancing performance on the farm, in the malt plant, and in the brewery.
What do governing authorities ensure before a barley variety is approved for malting?
Tests are conducted
These tests assess the suitability of the barley for brewing or distilling.
What type of information can be found on the websites of malting authorities?
Lists of approved malting varieties
Some lists may also show future available varieties.
What are the two main categories of barley varieties based on planting time?
Spring and winter
This choice is based on agricultural risk management.
What is the significance of germination in the malting process?
A grain must germinate for it to be malted
Dormancy may prevent germination under unsuitable conditions.
Fill in the blank: Malting authorities in some countries publish lists of _______.
approved malting varieties
What are the key agronomic attributes required from new barley varieties?
- Yield
- Plant height
- Days to maturity
- Grain protein
- Kernel size
- Disease resistance
These attributes are critical for successful farming.
What are the malting/brewing attributes required from new barley varieties?
- Germination vigour and dormancy
- Grain starch content
- Grain protein (malt vs feed)
- Enzyme potential
- Extract potential
- β-glucan content
These attributes impact the quality of the malt produced.
True or False: Higher protein grains yield more sugar.
False
Higher protein grains have less starch, resulting in lower sugar yield.
What two forms of starch are found in barley?
- Amylopectin
- Amylose
What is the extract potential of barley?
The expected amount of sugar that can be extracted from the grain
It depends on low protein content, high starch content, and good enzyme potential.
What is β-glucan and why is it important in malting?
A component of cell walls that can cause filtration problems if not broken down during malting
New barley varieties should have low β-glucan content.
Fill in the blank: New varieties of barley need to have high _______ content for optimal malting.
starch
What is the relationship between protein content and malt quality?
Higher protein content can negatively affect malt quality
It can lead to less efficient malting and brewing processes.
What is the purpose of developing barley varieties with specific enzyme potential?
To ensure even malting and good yields
Low enzyme potential can create issues in the brewhouse.
What agricultural strategy do farmers use when selecting barley varieties?
Varieties are chosen based on farming needs rather than the needs of the maltster or brewer
This approach helps manage agricultural risk.
