Each quarter, we round up notable mentions of our malthouse members, Craft Malt Certified™ producers, and craft malt in the media in general. With each new season comes more content about the craft malt movement in the press, and beyond that a greater depth of coverage. When All About Beer adds a ‘malt culture’ topic tag on its Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl podcast, we take that as a win for our community at large.
All about the malt
In episode 232 of All About Beer’s Drink Beer, Think Beer podcast, recorded during the Little Beer IV festival hosted by Good Word Brewing, John Holl and co-host Don Tse wax about the importance of malt— specialty malt specifically— in dictating the flavor in beer recipes. This conversation with ingredient-focused breweries Odd Colony Brewing, The Seed: A Living Beer Project, and Seeds Brewery is well worth a listen!
Another podcaster and friend of the Craft Maltsters Guild, Jimmy Carbone of Beer Sessions, interviewed Northwoods Brewing Co. and Blue Ox Malthouse in episode 710 about why beer brewed with craft malt just tastes better. Tune in here.
Completing the loop
John Holl also interviewed our Executive Director Steve Kurowski about the craft side of the malting industry in episode 54 of the BYO Nano Podcast. They discuss why relationships are at the heart of craft brewery and maltster transactions: when they work together, the quality of the malt and resulting beers improves. Here’s Steve: “The whole mantra of supporting your brewery, that’s great. But to support your local brewery that’s supporting their local malthouse and supports their independently owned family farms is completing the loop.”
Malt as added value
Here’s a must-listen for craft maltsters: our Board of Directors President Hillary Barile of Rabbit Hill Malt goes deep on the value add of craft malt to beers and spirits with Beth Demmon on episode 407 of the Good Beer Hunting podcast.
Craft brewers support craft malt
In support of the Brewers Association’s primary purpose of promoting and protecting American craft brewers, their beers, and the community of brewing enthusiasts, the BA’s Technical Brewing Projects Team works to ensure brewers continue to have access to high-quality raw materials— like craft malt produced at Craft Maltsters Guild member malthouses. A recent article from the association gives a MaltCon2024 and Malt Cup 2024 recap, and introduces our Executive Director Steve Kurowski. Read more about the BA’s agricultural partnerships.
A mixed bag for small growers
The ‘support your local farmer’ sentiment has never been more important. David Nielsen talked to small hop and grain farmers from across the country in his latest PorchDrinking.com article about what the changing beer climate means for family farms. He interviewed Hillary Barile, and also cited malthouses that have reported growth during the recent industry lull: Grouse Malt House, Rustic Brew Farm, Sugar Creek Malt Co. Keep reading.
Eco-certifications for maltsters
Craft maltsters are getting certified for their sustainability initiatives nationwide, including the cultivation, processing, and malting of grains grown regeneratively; as well as reducing waste and wastewater, and implementing safer cleaning practices, to name a few.
In Asheville, North Carolina, Riverbend Malt House became the first malt house to become third-party certified for its supply chain processing and manufacturing, ensuring the segregation and processing of Certified Regenified grains, as covered by AVL Today.
In Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lamplighter Brewing Co. was recognized as a “green beverage producer” via the BetterBev Recognition program. The designation covers criteria ranging from water use to energy efficiency and conservation to waste reduction and even environmental culture. Craft Brewing Business reported this news, adding, “Lamplighter has long been a leader in sourcing local ingredients, with a significant amount of its hops coming from Four Star Farms in Northfield, MA and nearly half of its malt from Valley Malt in Holyoke, MA or Blue Ox Malthouse in Maine.”