Barley is the main raw material for beer production. Its use depends on the fact that barley has a high starch content and the husk still adheres to the grain, even after threshing and processing to malt. Consequently it is able to from the wort filtration layer required in a later production stage. Before use in the brewery the barley must first be converted into malt.
Barley (Hordeumvulgare) supplies the starch required for beer production. This starch is converted to fermentable extract in the brewhouse. It is necessary to produce, by cultivation of suitable varieties,barleys which provide extract rich malts.