boiling the wort

400d · Sep 28, 2009

while I read about all grain, I figured out the chemical effect of a mash (conversion of starch to sugars), but I just don't get the chemical effect of boiling the wort for one hour or more....

what is actually going on in there while boiling, and why is it important for fermentation?

is it only because of hops flavours and bitterness, or something more?

Yooper · Sep 28, 2009

400d said:
while I read about all grain, I figured out the chemical effect of a mash (conversion of starch to sugars), but I just don't get the chemical effect of boiling the wort for one hour or more....

what is actually going on in there while boiling, and why is it important for fermentation?

is it only because of hops flavours and bitterness, or something more?

There are several things going on. First, the volatiles that give bad flavor (like precursors to DMS) are being boiled away. The "hot break" causes proteins to coagulate and drop out. The hops oils isomerize, and usually are added at 90 or 60 minutes so that they can give up all of their bitterness into the wort.

boiling the wort

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400d

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Yooper

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boiling the wort

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

400d

Well-Known Member

Yooper

Ale's What Cures You!

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