A mash barrel is a big, open-top container utilized in brewing to carry the mashed grains and water. The mashing course of is step one in brewing, and it entails mixing the crushed grains with sizzling water to permit the enzymes within the grains to transform the starches into sugars. The ensuing liquid, referred to as wort, is then drained from the mash barrel and boiled with hops to provide beer.
Mash barrels are usually product of wooden or chrome steel, and so they vary in dimension from small homebrew barrels to massive business barrels. The scale of the mash barrel will depend upon the dimensions of the batch of beer being brewed. Mash barrels are an essential a part of the brewing course of, and so they play an important position in producing high-quality beer.