The Influence of Barley Storage on Respiration and Glucose‐6‐Phosphate Dehydrogenase During Malting

Malt is produced by the controlled, but limited germination of barley. To produce good quality malt, the barley employed must be able to germinate rapidly and synchronously. Dormancy is a seed characteristic that can interfere with the rapid and uniform germination of barley, thereby reducing the resultant malt quality. Various studies have shown that post harvest storage can be used to remove dormancy and enhance barley germination characteristics and malt quality. Because of its complexity, the fundamental basis of dormancy induction, maintenance and termination remain unknown. Glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) is the rate limiting enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway and has been associated with dormancy decay and increased seed vigor of a variety of different seeds. The aim of this study was to determine if changes in barley germination vigour were associated with respiration and/or G6PDH changes during malting. Commercially grown barley (cv. Gairdner) was obtained from various states of Australia and stored at room temperature for up to 7 months. At 1, 3 and 7 months, samples were taken and stored at ?18°C. The germinative energy (GE) and germinative index (GI) of these samples were measured. Samples were micro‐malted and the α‐amylase activity, respiration rate, and G6PDH activity of the germinating grains were measured at various stages of malting. It was found that storage of barley for up to seven months significantly improved the germination characteristics and increased the α‐amylase activity during malting. However, these improvements were not associated with concomitant changes in respiration rate or G6PDH activity during malting.     

Malting Performance of Normal Huskless and Acid‐Dehusked Barley Samples

Sulphuric acid dehusked barley had a higher germinative energy and lower microbial infection than normal huskless (naked) barley, suggesting that the pericarp layer harboured microbial infection which may have limited the germination rate. Dehusking the normal huskless barley using sulphuric acid resulted in lower microbial infection, and increased germinative energy. The normal huskless barley sample had a higher β‐glucan content than the acid‐dehusked barley and had slower β‐glucan breakdown during malting. This resulted in the release of seven times more β‐glucan during mashing, and the production of wort of higher viscosity. The normal huskless barley sample had a higher total nitrogen content than the acid‐dehusked barley but both samples produced similar levels of amylolytic (α‐ and β‐amylase) activity over the same malting period. No direct correlation was found between barley total nitrogen level and the amylolytic activity of the malt. When barley loses its husk at harvest, the embryo is exposed and may be damaged. This may result in uneven germination which can reduce malting performance and hence malt quality.     

A New Germinative Classification Model of Barley for Prediction of Malt Quality Amplified by a Near Infrared Transmission Spectroscopy Calibration for Vigour “On Line” Both Implemented by Multivariate Data Analysis

A new germinative two‐dimensional classification plot fully compatible to the current EBC analyses (EBC methods 3.5–3.7) is proposed for malting barley based on separate estimates for “vigour” (24 h germination) as abscissa with limits at 70% and 30% and for “viability” (72 h germination) as ordinate with limits at 98% and 92%. Early detection of germination by image analysis was improved by utilising the auto fluorescence of the root cap. The seven hierarchical germinative classes visualise the quality differences in a consistent way, ordering classes according to falling extract % and increasing wort β‐glucan (mg/L). It was surprising to discover that significant barley Near Infrared Transmission (NIT) spectroscopy based Partial Least Squares Regression prediction models for “vigour” and “viability” were obtained after removing the PLSR outliers. The majority of these were found to be low in vigour. It was concluded after experimental validation that the physical‐chemical structure of the seed, reflected by the correlation of the barley NIT spectral fingerprints to germination speed, is connected to the availability of substrate for germ growth. This is another aspect of the speed of malt modification. An automated combination instrument for measuring physical‐chemical and seed germination parameters is suggested for quality control and to establish an on‐line NIT calibration network for integrated germinative and malting quality classification.     

Effect of electron-beam irradiation on the safety and quality of Fusarium-infected malting barley

Utilization of Fusarium-infected barley for malting may lead to mycotoxin production during malting and decreased malt quality. Electron-beam irradiation may prevent safety and quality defects and allow use of otherwise good quality barley. We evaluated electron-beam irradiation for preventing Fusarium growth and mycotoxin production while maintaining barley-malt quality characteristics. Four barley lots with varying deoxynivalenol (DON) concentrations were irradiated at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 kGy. Treated barley was malted in a pilot-scale malting unit. Barley and malt were analyzed for Fusarium infection (FI), germinative energy (GE), aerobic plate counts (APC), mold and yeast counts (MYC), and DON. Malt quality parameters included malt extract, soluble protein, wort color, wort viscosity, free amino nitrogen, alpha-amylase, and diastatic power. FI, APC, and MYC decreased in barley with an increase in dosage. The APC and MYC for malts from barley exposed to 8–10 kGy were slightly higher than in other malted samples indicating that irradiation-resistant microflora could flourish during malting. Barley GE significantly decreased (3–15%) at 8–10 kGy. Although irradiation had no effect on DON in raw barley, DON decreased significantly (60–100%) in finished malts prepared from treated barley (6–10 kGy). Malt quality parameters were slightly affected by electron-beam radiation. The results suggest 6–8 kGy may be effective for reducing FI in barley and DON in malt with minimal effects on malt quality.     

Performance of Husked,Acid Dehusked and Hull‐less Barley and Malt in Relation to Alcohol Production

Studies carried out on normal husked barley, normal hull‐less (naked) barley, acid dehusked barley and acid dehusked hull‐less barley, as well as the malts derived from them, showed that when acid dehusked barley samples (obtained from either husked or hull‐less barley), were processed using commercial enzyme preparations, they produced more alcohol when compared with the alcohol yield obtained from the barley samples from which the acid dehusked samples were derived. When the husked (Optic) control, acid dehusked and hull‐less barley samples were malted, Optic control barley produced malt that gave higher dextrinising units (DU) and diastatic power (DP), whilst acid dehusked Optic and hull‐less barley produced malts that gave similar DU results on day 5 of the germination time. When mashed, acid dehusked (Optic) barley malt produced wort that filtered faster than the wort obtained from the malt made from hull‐less barley. This observation is very important because it shows that the husk of the barley is not the only factor that determines the filtration performance of the malted barley, since both the malt samples made from husked and acid dehusked barley had similar filtration rates on day 5 of the germination time. The slow filtration rate observed for the wort made from hull‐less barley suggests that other factors play some role during the filtration of the mash made from hull‐less barley malt. Although hull‐less malt appeared to develop lower DU and DP enzyme activities, when compared with the values obtained for the Optic control, hull‐less barley malted faster and produced optimum predicted spirit yield (PSY) at day 4 of the germination time. In contrast, the control husked Optic barley malt that had higher DU and DP produced equivalent (optimum) predicted spirit yield one day later at 5 days germination time. This is an advantage for hull‐less barley, both in terms of time and energy saving during the malting of barley. Although the acid dehusked Optic barley produced more alcohol than the husked control when commercial enzyme preparation was used to process barley, it was surprising that when the derived malt was assessed, it gave a lower predicted spirit yield than the husked control, even though it produced a higher amount of hot water extract (HWE). The higher extract yield and lower predicted spirit yield obtained from the malt made from acid dehusked malt confirmed that high extract yield is not necessarily associated with high fermentable extract.     

Effect of Different Steeping Conditions on Endosperm Modification and Quality of Distilling Malt

This study showed that when barley was steeped in water for either 8 h or 16 h, hydration of endosperm materials was suboptimal and modification of endosperm materials of barley malt was inadequate. The malt produced under these steeping regimes gave poor friability scores and produced a large number of whole grains. When barley was steeped for 24 h on a continuous basis, or when a regimented standard steeping method was used, the malt produced gave higher friability scores and a much lower number of whole grains. An important relationship was found between friability scores and whole grain results for the malt samples produced under these conditions. Optic barley, whose endosperm was more difficult to hydrate, gave a strong negative correlation between friability scores and number of whole grains at R² = 0.8689. Oxbridge, whose endosperm was more easily hydrated, gave a much stronger negative correlation between friability scores and number of whole grains at R² = 0.9769. Rapid visco‐analysis (RVA) results also confirmed that steeping the barley samples for only 8 h or 16 h produced malt that modified poorly as the RVA peak viscosities were very high. RVA pasting results further confirmed that when barley was steeped for 24 h on a continuous basis, or when a standard regimented steeping method was used, good quality malt was produced and no differences were found in the RVA peak viscosities of the barley malt samples produced under the two different steeping conditions. The results of protein breakdown (proteolysis) during these experiments, measured in terms of total soluble nitrogen (TSN) production, or soluble nitrogen ratio (SNR) further confirmed that optimal proteolysis was achieved when barley was steeped for either 24 h on a continuous basis, or with a standard steep. Optimal results were also found for hot water ex‐tractable materials such as hot water extract (HWE) and free amino nitrogen (FAN) when barley was steeped for 24 h or the standard steep. The 24 h continuous steep for barley produced quality malt comparable to that obtained when the standard regimented steep was used for steeping barley. For both Optic and Oxbridge barley, with a 24 h continuous steep, produced malt that gave significantly higher fermentabilities and PSY values, regardless of germination time, than those obtained using a standard regimented steep. Therefore steeping barley for 24 h on a continuous basis prior to malting will produce good quality malt for some barley samples/varieties. This will help to reduce water usage during steeping, will save steeping time thereby reducing malting time and will reduce the amount of water for effluent treatment. All of these factors result in an overall cost saving for the malting industry.     

Effect of hot water treatments on the safety and quality of Fusarium-infected malting barley

Utilization of Fusarium-infected barley for malting may lead to mycotoxin contamination of malt and decreased malt quality. Hot water treatments may prevent or reduce safety and quality defects and allow use of otherwise good quality barley. We evaluated hot water treatments for preventing Fusarium growth and mycotoxin production while maintaining barley-malt characteristics. Four barley lots with varying deoxynivalenol (DON) concentrations were hot water-treated at 45 or 50 degrees C for 0, 1, 5, 12, and 20 min. Treated barley was malted in a pilot-scale malting unit. Barley and malt were analyzed for Fusarium infection (FI), germinative energy (GE), aerobic plate count (APC), mold and yeast count (MYC), and DON. Malt quality parameters included malt extract, soluble protein, wort color, wort viscosity, free amino nitrogen, alpha-amylase, and diastatic power. Significant decreases in FI occurred within 1 min at both 45 degrees C (41-66%) and 50 degrees C (51-69%) in all barley samples. Significant reductions in APC (1.0-1.8 log) and MYC (1.7-1.8 log) in barley were observed after 5 min at both temperatures. The largest reductions for DON were observed in malts prepared from barley treated with hot water at 45 degrees C (79-93%) and 50 degrees C (84-88%) for 20 min. GE and most of the malt quality parameters were only affected when barley was treated at 50 degrees C for 12 and 20 min. The results suggest that hot water treatments may offer the potential for treating mildly FHB infected malting barley.     

Effect of malting on antioxidant capacity and vitamin E content in different barley genotypes

Unprocessed barley is known to contain relatively high levels of antioxidants, which play a critical role in human health and the preservation of food and drink products. However, there are limited data on how the antioxidant levels in barley are affected by malting, and whether the level of antioxidants in the processed malt differs between barley varieties. This study aimed to determine the levels of individual vitamin E isomers, total vitamin E content and total antioxidant capacity before, during and after malting in 12 covered and two hulless barley genotypes. Vitamin E content and antioxidant capacity were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ability to scavenge DPPH radicals, respectively. The vitamin E content of most genotypes was reduced after steeping, germination and kilning compared with the unprocessed samples. However, the antioxidant capacity in the malt was higher than in the unprocessed samples for the majority of the genotypes. While there was variation in the percentage change in antioxidant capacity between varieties, the antioxidant capacity of samples after malting was directly correlated with their antioxidant capacity before processing (r = 0.9, n = 14, p < 0.05). These results indicate that barley varieties that have higher antioxidant capacity at harvest retain their antioxidants after malting. Thus, these varieties are likely to be the most suitable for producing malts with the added health benefits and anti‐spoiling properties associated with greater antioxidant content. Copyright © 2015 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Relationship of ergosterol content and fungal contamination and assessment of technological quality of malting barley preserved in a metal silo using the near-ambient method

Environmental microbiologists frequently use ergosterol, a fungal-specific membrane lipid, as an indicator of fungal infection in grain and other plant materials. Microbiological loading and technological quality of barley was determined directly after harvest, after post-harvest drying, and during storage. The conventional plate count method was used to measure fungal contamination (CFU). Ergosterol concentration (ERG) was determined by extraction, saponification and quantification using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection. The laboratory malting method was used to determine technological quality of the malt. Results showed a significant correlation between ERG and CFU (the coefficient of correlation was 0.92). Analyses also indicated that the high germinative energy and technological quality of the malt produced from dried barley was retained.     

Barley and Malt Proteins and Proteinases: II. The Purification and Characterisation of Five Malt Endoproteases,Using the Highly Degradable Barley Protein Fraction (HDBPF) Substrate

Five barley‐malt endoproteases have been purified using the highly degradable barley protein fraction (HDBPF) as the substrate for activity detection and measurement. The five purified endoproteases were identified as the most active and, hence, we believe the most important proteolytic enzymes during barley germination and malting. This was demonstrated by showing that the component of HDBPF, degraded in test tubes during the reaction to determine their activity, cannot be recovered from malt by extraction, indicating that this component has been degraded during germination and malting. These endoproteases differ in their specificities, pH and temperature optima, thermostability and ionic‐cationic behaviour. The gel filtration chromatographic‐profiles of the peptide products of these enzymes versus parallel profiles of beer peptides exhibit very close similarities.     

Optimization of Malting Conditions for Two Black Rice Varieties,Black Non‐Waxy Rice and Black Waxy Rice (Oryza sativa L. Indica)

Two black rice varieties, “black non‐waxy” and “black waxy”, were investigated as possible raw materials for the production of malt. The malting conditions were optimised using response surface methodology. The three process parameters were steeping, germination time and temperature. Each parameter was tested at three levels: adjustment degrees of steeping were 38, 41, and 44%, germination times were 6, 7, and 8 days, and the temperatures were 20, 25 and 30°C. At the end of the germination process, all samples were kilned at 50°C for 24 h, and shoot/rootlets were removed before a detailed quality assessment was performed. Data analysis was performed using the Design Expert Statistic Program. The optimal conditions found for both rice varieties were as follows: germination time of 8 days at 30°C and 44% grain moisture. Although the extract yield, and a‐amylase and β‐amylase activities of both rice malts were lower than barley malt, the higher activity of limit‐dextrinase enzyme and apparent attenuation limit (AAL), which was higher than 80%, suggests that rice malt has potential for use in brewing.     

Fundamental study on the influence of Fusarium infection on quality and ultrastructure of barley malt

Barley infection with Fusarium species has been a long standing problem for the malting and brewing industries. In this study, we evaluate the impact of Fusarium culmorum infected raw barley on the final malt quality. Barley grains were infected for 5 days at optimum fungal growth conditions. Grains were fully characterized and compared to standard barley grains. Due to fungal infection, germinative energy of infected barley grains decreased by 45%; its water sensitivity increased dramatically, and grains accumulated 199 μg/kg of deoxynivalenol (DON). Barley grains were subsequently malted for 8 days, fully characterized and compared to standard malt grains. Fungal growth behavior was evaluated during malting using a PCR-based assay and mycotoxins were measured using HPLC. Fungal biomass increased in grains, during all stages of malting. Infected malt accumulated 8-times its DON concentration during malting. Kernel ultrastructure was evaluated using scanning electron and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Infected malt grains were characterized by extreme structural proteolytic, (hemi)-cellulolytic and starch deterioration with increased friability and fragmentation. Infected grains had higher protease and β-glucanase activities, lower amylase activity, a greater proportion of free amino and soluble nitrogen, and a lower β-glucan content. Malt loss was over 27% higher in infected malt in comparison to the control. The results of this study revealed that 20% F. culmorum infected barley kernels lead to a significant reduction in malt quality as well as mycotoxin formation.     

Indigenous Microbial Community of Barley Greatly Influences Grain Germination and Malt Quality

The present study was carried out to investigate the impacts of bacterial and fungal communities on grain germination and on the malting properties of good‐quality two‐row barley. In order to suppress the growth of bacterial and/or fungal communities, various antibiotics were added to the first steeping water of barley. This study was also designed to explore the dynamics of the bacterial community in the malting process after antimicrobial treatments by polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE). The diverse microbial community played an active role in the malting ecosystem. Even previously undescribed bacterial species were found in the malting ecosystem. Suppression of the bacterial community mainly consisting of Gram‐negative bacteria was advantageous with respect to grain germination and wort separation. In addition, more extract was obtained after antibacterial treatments. The fungal community significantly contributed to the production of microbial β‐glucanases and xylanases, and was also involved in proteolysis. An improved understanding of the complex microbial community and its role in malting enables a more controlled process management and the production of high quality malt with tailored properties.     

Potential of Hull‐less Barley Malt for Use in Malt and Grain Whisky Production

Hull‐less (or husk‐less) barley is possibly one of the most important developments in barley in recent years. This study looked at the potential of hull‐less barley for use by the Scotch whisky industry. By modifying the malting conditions for hull‐less barley, it was possible to provide good alcohol yield as well as significant improvements in processing characteristics. The biochemistry controlling the germination of hull‐less barley was consistent with established knowledge about ‘normal’ hulled barley except that care is needed to ensure the consistency of feedstock, particularly since hull‐less barley may be prone to embryo damage during harvesting in the field. Our results indicated that the new batches of hull‐less barley studied, produced malt that gave much improved mash filtration rates in comparison with previous batches of material. These experiments demonstrated that by changing the malting conditions, to give a much shorter steeping cycle (8 h), it is possible to reduce water usage substantially in the malting industry, since only one ‘wet’ cycle was used, and also reduce germination times since optimum alcohol yield was achieved on day 4 germination rather than day 5 for conventional husked barley. This could save costs in terms of water, energy and time for the malting industry. The study also confirmed the potential of hull‐less barley for providing significant benefits for Scotch whisky distillers, both in terms of higher alcohol yields, and increased throughput, by showing that it is possible to overcome some of the filtration issues that have been previously associated with hull‐less barley. This study indicated that the new material was better suited than previous batches to both malt and grain distilling, both in terms of enzyme development and potential distillery performance, and further showed that viscosity problems associated with grain distillery co‐products can be significantly reduced when using hull‐less barley malt in the grain distillery. These would be substantial potential benefits for the Scotch whisky distilling industry.     

An accelerated malting procedure – influences on malt quality and cost savings by reduced energy consumption and malting losses

In times of rapidly increasing energy costs and rising importance of economic efficiency, the malting industry is searching for possibilities to reduce malting time to lower their production costs and to increase production capacities. The aim of this study was to compare a step‐wise optimized accelerated malting procedure, combining optimal parameters found in previous individual investigations about steeping, germination and withering with two reference malting programmes: a standard laboratory malting programme according to MEBAK and a programme applied in an industrial malting plant. For five investigated spring barley cultivars, sufficient malt qualities according to the MEBAK specifications could be achieved in a malting process that was about 2 days shorter. Despite slightly lower extract contents, resulting from slightly higher pH values and activities of the starch degrading α‐ and β‐amylases, a reduced and thus improved proteolytic modification, improved malt homogeneities, a reduced thermal impact resulting in lower malt colours, in turn implying an increased oxidative flavour stability, and an improved behaviour of premature yeast flocculation could be observed when malting was accelerated. The lautering properties, cytolytic modifications, deoxynivalenol content and gushing potential were not influenced in a significant positive or negative way. Next to the notable production time reduction, decreased dimethyl sulphide precursor contents imply advantages for the brewing and malting industry with regard to a shorter necessary boiling and kilning time. Further significant cost savings of €1.27–4.87/t malt could be calculated owing to a reduction in the amount of electrical energy used for aerating and cooling during germination and lower malting losses, depending on the cultivar. Copyright © 2015 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

A study on malt modification,used as a tool to reduce levels of beer hordeins

Storage proteins from barley, wheat and rye are toxic to gluten sensitive consumers. These consumers include those suffering from coeliac disease, which account for up to 1% of the global population, and non‐coeliac gluten sensitivity that may affect even greater numbers of the population. Codex Alimentarius has published guidelines and limits of gluten in gluten‐free foods, which are applied in Europe, and similar guidelines apply in the rest of the world. The storage proteins present in barley are hordeins. These proteins are broken down and used by the plant as a source of amino acids during germination and growth of the barley embryo. The objective of this study was to extend the germination stage of the malting process and look at the effect on beer hordeins. Standard MEBAK methods were used to develop an extended malting process and produce three different malts, germinated for 3, 5 or 7 days. The quality of malt was assessed and model beers were produced from each malt to test the effect of modification on levels of beer hordeins. Malt germinated for 7 days produced beer 18 mg/kg hordeins corresponding to a reduction of 44% compared with the beer made from malt germinated for 3 days characterized by a hordein content equal to 32 mg/kg. The malting loss was increased during the 7 days of germination but otherwise all malts were of high quality. The results showed that malting conditions have a significant impact on beer hordeins. Copyright © 2018 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Multi-step ozone treatments of malting barley: Effect on the incidence of Fusarium graminearum and grain germination parameters

The effect of multi-step ozone treatments at 20 ± 1 °C in aqueous phase on the reduction of the incidence of Fusarium graminearum in artificially contaminated malting barley (10⁴ CFU/g) was studied. Samples (50 g of infected barley) were ozonated in a bubble column that contained 500 mL water. Percentage of infected grains was assessed at three incubation temperatures (15, 20, and 25 °C). Ozonation in three steps of 45 min each (9.0 g ozone/L water per step) led to a significant reduction of the mould's incidence in barley, from 100% to 47%, 81%, and 78% at the three incubation temperatures, respectively. Germination parameters were tested separately in non-infected samples to evaluate the effect of ozone treatments on the grains' suitability for malting: germinative capacity and germinative energy were not significantly affected by the treatments (100% and 98%, respectively), whereas water sensitivity (related to the excessive absorption of water by grains, which impairs germination) was reduced from 19 to 11%. Grains treated in three steps achieved the moisture content (42%, wet basis) needed to start the germination stage in a steeping period (2.25 h) shorter than the traditional ones (36–52 h).Industrial relevance: The reduction of the incidence of F. graminearum in barley by the multi-step application of ozone in the steeping stage of the malting process is proposed as a strategy for improving the quality of malt and beer, without significant impact on barley germinative capacity and germinative energy, and reduction of water sensitivity. Shorter steeping periods are feasible, as well as the possibility of water reutilization, by these residue-free treatments.     

Effect of Germination Moisture and Time on Pearl Millet Malt Quality — With Respect to Its Opaque and Lager Beer Brewing Potential

The effect of germination moisture and time on pearl millet malt quality was investigated. Two pearl millet varieties SDMV 89004 and 91018 were germinated at 25°C under three different watering regimes for 5 days. As with sorghum malting, diastatic power, beta‐amylase activity, free α‐amino nitrogen (FAN), hot water extract and malting loss all increased with level of watering. However, pearl millet malt had a much higher level of beta‐amylase and higher FAN than sorghum malt and a similar level of extract. Malting losses were similar or lower than with sorghum. Thus, it appears that pearl millet malt has perhaps even better potential than sorghum malt in lager beer brewing, at least as a barley malt extender, especially in areas where these grains are cultivated and barley cannot be economically cultivated. Also, its increased use in commercial opaque beer brewing, where sorghum malt is currently used, could be beneficial.     

A Reappraisal of the Differences Between Scandinavian and Spanish Barleys: Effect of β‐Glucan Content and Degradation on Malt Extract Yield in the cv. Scarlett

Forty one samples of the malting barley cultivar Scarlett were collected from both Scandinavia (15 from Finland and 10 from Denmark) and the Iberian Peninsula (15 from Spain and 1 from Portugal), during the harvest years of 1998 and 1999. These samples were subjected to grain analyses, comprising protein content, hordein fractions by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and β‐glucan content. The samples were micro‐malted and the malts were analysed to determine different patterns in the influence of grain composition on malt extract development linked to the two contrasting environments. The most obvious difference found between the Scandinavian and Iberian barleys was the effect of the total and insoluble barley β‐glucans. They were an effective barrier of malt extract in the North, but appeared to increase extract in the South. A conclusion was that the positive effect of β‐glucans in the Iberian barleys was a consequence of their greater capacity to synthesise and release β‐glucan hydrolases during germination.     

Variation in Malting Quality and Heat Resistance in the Malting Barley Variety “Alexis”

In earlier studies concerning vigour, where subsamples are heat‐treated before germination there was found heat‐sensitive as well as heat‐resistant barley samples. The vigour model developed by Ellis and Roberts and further developed at Carlsberg, could only describe the heat‐sensitive barleys. Seventeen samples of the “Alexis” variety grown widely in Europe were collected from the EBC trials in 1994 in order to see if heat resistance in barley was influenced by different growing conditions. We found both heat‐sensitive samples following the vigour model as well as pronounced heat‐resistant samples, but these were not divided according to growing conditions. The germination curves dependent on heat treatment and germination time were evaluated by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Heat‐resistant barley samples could be differentiated from heat‐sensitive samples already after ½ h of heat treatment at 68°C (12% moisture) and after 3 days of germination. The barley samples were analysed with regard to malting quality. The PCA evaluation of the data divided the samples according to growing location, mainly due to differences in protein and β‐glucan. However, the malting analyses could not describe the differences in heat resistance and sensitivity of the barleys. The biochemical background of the heat resistance found is discussed on the basis of literature. Our findings should give an experimental basis for exploiting a biochemical principle for heat resistance, which is formed during grain filling and consumed during storage and germination.