Continuous method of producing a mash extract

Abstract

The present invention relates to a continuous method of producing a mash extract by decoction mashing, said method comprising: a. mixing a first malt enzyme source with an aqueous liquid to obtain an aqueous malt enzyme suspension; b. separately, mixing a second enzyme source with one or more starch-containing adjuncts to obtain a decoction suspension while maintaining temperature conditions that do not cause significant gelatinization of the starch; c. subjecting the decoction suspension to a first heat treatment at 60-85° C. to simultaneously partially gelatinize and enzymatically degrade the starch; d. subjecting the decoction suspension to a second heat treatment at a higher temperature than the first heat treatment to gelatinize the starch at an increased rate and to a higher extent; e. combining the heated decoction suspension obtained from the second heat treatment with the aqueous malt enzyme suspension from step a. to obtain a mash; f. maintaining the mash at 35-85° C. for at least minutes; and g. removing spent grain from the heated mash to produce a mash extract. The present method is very robust and easy to control. Furthermore, the method yields a mash extract of constant quality.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.