'''麦芽'''（{{lang-en|Malt}}）為禾本科植物大麥 Hordeum vulgare L.的成熟果實，經發芽乾燥而得。將[[ 谷物麥粒]]用[[ 水]] 浸泡後，保持適宜溫、濕度，待幼芽長至約0.5cm時，曬乾或低溫乾燥。穀物浸泡在水中，促使其[[发芽]]，利用其发芽产生的[[酶]]，将谷粒中的[[淀粉]]转化为[[麦芽糖]]，<ref>[http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter3.html "How to brew manually'' by John Palmer]</ref>然后再迅速地加热干燥，所产生的产品。<ref name='oregon'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Quality Factors for Malting, Brewing and other End-uses | date= | publisher=Oregon State University | url =http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/css/330/five/BarleyOverview.htm#BarleyMaltingQuality | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2007-04-13 | language = }}</ref><ref>[http://www.howtobrew.com/section2/chapter12.html What is malting?]</ref>，工业中一般多用[[大麦]]，也有用其他谷物的。