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Grist refers to grain or a batch of grain intended for grinding. In the context of brewing and distilling, grist is the milled malt mixed with water to convert starches into fermentable sugars. This process, known as mashing, is crucial for producing alcoholic beverages like beer and whiskey. Malt itself is germinated cereal grain, primarily barley, which develops enzymes that break down starches into sugars. The resulting sugary liquid is called wort, which is then fermented by yeast.1234

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