In the context of malt, what does a higher s/t ratio indicate?

A higher s/t ratio, which refers to the ratio of soluble extract (s) to the total extract (t) in malt, indicates a greater level of modification. During the malting process, grains undergo enzymatic changes that convert starches into fermentable sugars and solubilize proteins. A greater s/t ratio means that more of the starch has been converted into soluble sugars during mashing, reflecting effective enzymatic activity and modification of the grain. This increased modification is beneficial for brewing, as it leads to better fermentability and overall brewing efficiency.

While other aspects like protein levels or sweetness may be influenced by the malting process, these are not directly correlated with the s/t ratio as clearly as the level of modification is. Therefore, a higher s/t ratio is an indication of malt that has been well-modified, making it more suitable for producing high-quality beer.