The maltster is the person responsible for controlling the process of converting barley into barley malt.
The malting process has always been closely linked to brewing and in past times part of the brewer's training included time in a maltings
![The logo of the European Brewery Convention since 1950.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/EBC_logo.jpg/220px-EBC_logo.jpg)
The medieval brewer's sign included the maltster's shovel as can be seen on the logo of the European Brewery Convention
Types of Maltsters
editBrewer-Maltster[1] is a maltster working for a brewing company - or a maltings company that is owned by a brewery.
Distiller-Maltster a maltster working for a distillery or a distillery owned maltings.
Sales Maltster an independant maltster who sells his product on the open market.
Craft Maltster as with a craft brewer, this maltster specialises in less common malt types, normally operating a very small maltings and a roaster.
Training of Maltsters
editMost of the training of a maltster is done at the maltings plant through exposure to the process under the guidance of a maltster. Exams may be sat to achieve one of the MAGB exams but there are requirements that the candidate has practical experience in the field.
Some of training to become a maltster include are:[2]
- General Certificate of Malting - and IBD qualification
- Maltings Diploma - MAGB qaulification
- Master Maltster- MAGB qaulification
Normal Activities of a Maltster
editThe selection and purchase of barley for malting, in larger plants this is dealt with by procurement departments and buyers[3] .
Receipt of barley at the maltings, including the quality testing to prevent the intake of barley unsuitable for malting. The maltster then takes the barley into the storage silos and normally on intake the grain is cleaned and graded. Steep
See Also
editReferences
edit- ^ http://www.ukmalt.com/uk-malting-industry
- ^ "Exams". Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- ^ "Maltster Career". Retrieved 1 June 2014.