After harvest and storage to overcome dormancy, the barley is malted. Barley Barley is a grain that very much resembles wheat. It can grow from the Arctic Circle to the Equator. More important to the maltster and brewer is the division into malting barley and feed barley. Steeping In steeping, which typically takes about one day, the grain is placed in a tank which is then filled with water.
Air is bubbled through from the bottom.
At various times the water is drained out and replaced. This serves to raise the moisture content of the grain. The steeped barley is then transferred to a flat bed where germination occurs, typically over 4-5 days. The bed has slots in the bottom through which air is passed to allow the grain to respire. Water sprays are used to maintain high moisture and the grain is turned from time to time.