The Kolbach index is the relation of the soluble protein percentage on the total nitrogen percentage. The Kolbach index permits to encode the chemical disintegration of the malt.
The scale of values is between 29 and 45%:
- > 45 excessive disintegration and it can cause disturbances in the beer
- > 41 very good disintegration
- between 35 and 41 good disintegration
- < 35 insufficient disintegration
The brewer designates in the specification the fork of tolerance of the Kolbach index.