Which of the following is NOT a part of the malting process?

In the malting process, the primary goal is to prepare cereal grains, typically barley, for fermentation in the production of spirits and beer. The process involves several key steps, including soaking the grains in water to allow them to absorb moisture, which triggers germination. The grains then sprout, and this is crucial as it activates enzymes that convert starches into sugars.

Heating the grains is also an essential part of the process. This step, known as kilning, halts the germination and dries the grains in preparation for mashing, ensuring the desired characteristics in the final product.

The option regarding directly fermenting the grains is not part of the malting process itself. Fermentation occurs later in the production process, after the malted grains have been mashed to extract the sugars and prepare the liquid for yeast fermentation. Therefore, this step is distinctly separate from malting, which solely focuses on preparing the grains for subsequent brewing or distilling processes.