Meaning
A person who prepared barley by the malting process for use in brewing beer or distilling whisky.
Description
Maltsters converted barley into malt by soaking the grain until it germinated, then drying it in a kiln to halt the process. The resulting malt provided the sugars needed for fermentation in brewing and distilling. The malting process required considerable skill and careful temperature control. Maltsters operated malthouses that were a feature of every brewing town and many agricultural communities where barley was grown. The trade was closely linked to the brewing industry and many maltsters were also brewers.
Also Known As
Malter, Malt Maker
Commonly Found In
- Census Returns
- Trade Directories
- Parish Registers
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