This sugar-rich solution is created when hot water activates enzymes in crushed malt, converting the grain starches into fermentable sugars. It contains maltose, amino acids, proteins, and minerals necessary for yeast growth. In brewing, it is boiled with hops before fermentation, while in distilling, the unboiled liquid is fermented directly into a wash for the still.
Heard on the job
The gravity on the first runnings of the wort is a bit high, so we'll need to sparge a little longer to hit our target.
Also heard as
- sweet wort
- hopped wort
Do not mix it up with
- Mash: The mash is the solid mixture of grain and water, while the wort is the liquid drained away from those solids.