Lesson 8 - Malt Final SAQ
This lesson allows you to test yourself on the material covered in all previous malt lessons and determine the level to which you have attained the outcomes.
Suggested Response - Q4
**There is a sharp increase in dust collection levels whilst you are off-loading a new batch of malt.
(a) What could be the cause of this problem?
(b) How would this affect brewhouse processes?
Response:
(a)
The increase could be due to high levels of dust dispatched from the malting plant. Therefore, the malt loading process may be causing damage to the malt. Although the husk protects the barley kernel from damage, growing conditions and varieties can cause loose husk, or husk that is easily damaged. Every time the barley and malt are transferred, they will lose more husk.
(b)
Damaged malt is more prone to fungal infections and extract loss. Little or no husk will negatively impact the lautering process. The husk is used as a filter bed to produce clear wort. Without the husk, the wort can be hazy and the run-off can be slow, due to the fine material compacting the false bottom.