Grain bill
Term from the Brauwerkstatt brewing glossary, category “Brewing and equipment”.
Explanation
The total amount of malt in a batch, all malts together. It is often given in percent, for example 90% Pilsner malt and 10% wheat malt. The calculators use the grain bill to work out water volumes, gravity and beer colour.
Test your knowledge
What is base malt?
- A hop product
- Pale malt that supplies most of the sugar and enzymes
- Roasted malt for dark colour
Show answer
Correct: Pale malt that supplies most of the sugar and enzymes. Pilsner, Vienna or Munich malt make up most of the grain bill. Specialty malts are only added in small amounts.
What are adjuncts (unmalted grain)?
- Unfermented wort
- Unmalted grain such as maize, rice or raw wheat
- Unprocessed hops
Show answer
Correct: Unmalted grain such as maize, rice or raw wheat. Adjuncts provide starch but hardly any enzymes, so the grain bill needs enough malt.
What is acidulated malt used for?
- To give the beer a red colour
- To lower the mash pH without liquid acid
- To speed up fermentation
Show answer
Correct: To lower the mash pH without liquid acid. Acidulated malt contains lactic acid. As a rule of thumb, 1% in the grain bill lowers the mash pH by about 0.1.