Biscuit malt does need to be mashed in order to fully extract its flavor and potential. Biscuit malt is a specialty malt that adds a toasty, bread-like flavor to beer. It is made by kilning malted barley at a higher temperature, which creates the unique characteristics of this malt.
When biscuit malt is mashed, the enzymes present in the malt convert the starches into fermentable sugars. This allows the flavors and aromas of the malt to be fully extracted and utilized in the brewing process. Mashing also helps to ensure that the beer is clear and free from any hazy or cloudy appearance that could result from unconverted starches.
If biscuit malt is simply steeped without mashing, you may still get some flavor and aroma from the malt, but the full potential of the malt will not be realized. The unconverted starches can lead to haze in the final beer, which may not be desirable depending on the style you are brewing.
To properly mash biscuit malt, you would typically mix it with base malts such as pale malt or Pilsner malt, as well as other specialty malts, in the appropriate proportions for your recipe. The mixture is then heated with water to specific temperatures to activate the enzymes and allow them to convert the starches into sugars. This process typically takes around 60-90 minutes.
After the mash is complete, the liquid portion of the mash, known as wort, is separated from the solid grains through a process called lautering. The wort is then boiled, hops are added for bitterness and flavor, and the beer is fermented with yeast.
In my personal experience as a homebrewer, I have found that properly mashing biscuit malt yields the best results in terms of flavor and clarity in the final beer. While it may require a bit more time and effort compared to simply steeping the malt, the extra step is well worth it to achieve the desired characteristics in the beer.
Biscuit malt should be mashed in order to fully extract its flavor and potential. Mashing allows the starches in the malt to be converted into fermentable sugars, resulting in a clearer beer with enhanced flavor and aroma.