The Craft Maltsters Guild will offer the four-day Advanced Class in Craft Malt Production March 13-16 at the Holiday Inn By the Bay in Portland, ME. Held during the days leading up to the 2023 Craft Malt Conference, the course is ideal for both beginner and experienced maltsters, as well as others working in the malt supply chain.
“While malting educational opportunities are becoming more available, only the Advanced Class offers the craft malting perspective unique to small, independent producers,” says Jesse Bussard, Guild Executive Director. “Our 2022 class featured a mix of existing craft malthouse employees, startup maltsters, a distiller, and an agricultural researcher. Our 2023 class is shaping up to be more of the same crowd, plus some new faces.”
Industry veterans Hugh Alexander, owner and operator of Scotland’s Balnamoon Maltings & Brewery, and Hannah Turner, Director of the Montana State University Barley, Malt & Brewing Quality Lab, bring real-world experience, research, and data, and deep passion as the course instructors. Together they do an excellent job of relating malting topics both forward to the relevance of fermentation and back to the basic science, providing a balance of theoretical and practical knowledge about malting technology and production.
“Hugh and I annually hone course content to ensure the most relevant malting information is being provided to students,” notes Turner. “Our goal is to give them a balance of both technical and practical education, setting them up for success in the malthouse when they get home.”
Class participants will develop their knowledge of malting barley and its characteristics, including learning and controlling the different steps of the malting process; determining the defining characteristics of malt quality and the influence of processing parameters, and learning the techniques and methods used to produce craft malt. At the course’s end, each student receives a certificate of completion.
Craft Maltsters Guild members benefit from the discounted class fee of $1600, while non-members pay $2000. Only 20 seats are available. Learn more about the course and register here.
Join the Craft Maltsters Guild or renew here to get the member rate.