DEI in Action: The Community Malt initiative aims to bring Black farmers into the brewery supply chain

By Louis Livingston-Garcia, Photos courtesy Harlem Brewing Co. Calypso barley has nothing to do with Calypso Afro-Caribbean music originating from Trinidad and Tobago, but Harlem Brewing Co. Founder Celeste Beatty can’t help but tie the two together. She sees the textures of the music and the textures of the grain as complementary rhythms. Calypso barley…

BA Collab Hour: Exploring Regional Grain Sourcing

Beer is an agricultural product with many traditions and styles born out of the availability of locally grown ingredients. Today’s brewing supply chains operate at a much different scale, but developments in craft malting infrastructure, and the need for diversified and resilient cropland, offers an opportunity for reconnecting regional grain farmers, maltsters, and brewers. This…

From Seed to Sip: Colorado report examines challenges and opportunities of sourcing grain and malt locally

By Gabe Toth, Mad Agriculture Fellow and Lead Distiller at The Family Jones Colorado is home to a rich agricultural community and maintains a prominent position in the heavily grain-dependent craft beer and spirits industries. However, there is a profound disconnect. The vast majority of the state’s craft-scale beverage alcohol producers rely on raw grain…