What does malt mean?
Malt is a processed grain, most often barley, that has been allowed to germinate and then dried. During this process, enzymes convert much of the grain's starch into sugar, making it particularly useful for brewing beer and distilling whisky. Malt also appears in foods and beverages as a sweetener, and malt syrup or malt extract can be used when a recipe calls for a concentrated form. The word is common in discussions of brewing, where terms such as pale malt, caramel malt, and malted barley describe different kinds of malt or its processing. It can also refer to a sweet malt-based drink, especially in British English. Understanding malt is useful because it connects the raw grain in agricultural production with some of the world's most familiar manufactured beverages.
Dried, germinated grain, especially barley, used in brewing and distilling; also a sweet syrup or extract made from malted grain.
"The beer was brewed with malt and several varieties of hops."
In British English, the word can also refer to a malt-flavored soft drink.
To convert grain into malt or to treat something with malt.
"The maltster malts the barley in a controlled process before drying it."
This is a specialist verb, used chiefly in brewing, malting, and food production.
The plural is used when referring to separate quantities or varieties of malt.
"The brewery blended several malts to adjust the color and flavor of the beer."
Before beer begins as beer, it begins as malt: a transformation of grain that turns stored starch into fermentable sugar.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does malt come from?
The English word malt comes from Old English malt, referring to germinated grain used for making beer. It belongs to a Germanic word family with relatives such as Old Norse malt, Dutch mout, and German Malz. The related English words malting, maltster, maltose, and maltodextrin all reflect the same long-standing process of germinating grain and converting its starch into sugars.
Related word forms
How malt is actually used
In brewing and distilling, malt commonly refers to malted barley or a malt-based ingredient. In British English, malt can also mean a malt-flavored soft drink; this usage is less common in American English.
Easily confused with malt
Malt is a noun referring to germinated and dried grain, whereas melt is generally a verb meaning to liquefy or to become liquid under heat.
Moisture is general wetness or liquid, while malt is specifically a processed grain product used in brewing and food.