What is the purpose of mashing in the brewing process?

Mashing is a crucial step in the brewing process where milled grains, specifically malted barley, are combined with hot water. The primary purpose of mashing is to activate enzymes present in the malt, which convert the starches in the grain into fermentable sugars. This transformation is essential as it prepares the sugars needed for fermentation in the subsequent steps of brewing.

During mashing, the heat allows these enzymes to work effectively, breaking down complex carbohydrates into simpler sugars that yeast can later ferment into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The result of this process is a sweet liquid known as wort, which is the foundation for making beer.

The other options do not accurately describe the primary function of mashing. While cooking ingredients is a part of the overall beer production process, it is not the specific goal of mashing. Clarifying beer and carbonating beer occur later in the brewing process, after fermentation has taken place, making them unrelated to the purpose of mashing.