Women Defining the Craft Malt Industry

This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy is highlighting the powerful women defining the craft malt industry. On the show is Jesse Bussard from the North American Craft Maltsters Guild in Bozeman, MT; Kether Scharff-Gray from Mainstem Malt in Walla Walla, WA; and Hilary Barile from Rabbit Hill Farms & Malt House in Shiloh, NJ.

To kick things off, Jesse introduces us to her role at the Craft Maltsters Guild. Then, Hilary walks us through Rabbit Hill Farms and Malthouse, where they grow and malt all their grains themselves. The agriculture side of growing barley is very important, and Hilary discusses the challenges of weather, seasons, and supplying locally. Kether also reflects on the climate out in Washington and the complications of growing dry land grain.

Jesse then highlights the quality control process, which takes place in labs across the country. This work helps develop regionally adapted barley varieties, matching the crop to the environment where it would have the best chance of growing.

Speaking of grains, the gang then names an iconic beer with flavor dependent on its malt, and reflects on reeducating the brewing community about the agriculture side of beer. To wrap things up, Jesse, Kether, and Hilary explain the strong role women have played in the development of the craft malt industry, and the task force the Guild is creating to help work towards more diversity and inclusion.

Malt With a Mission at Riverbend Malt House

This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy talks to Brent Manning from Riverbend Malt House in Asheville, North Carolina, about their process of producing high quality craft malt at a large scale. The duo discuss the trends in craft beer, craft malt, and the future of a more sustainable beer industry. Grab your green headphones and dig in on the convo with us right now!

Brent kicks off the episode with a brief introduction of his environmental consultant background, and how he turned to craft malt through his craft beer passion. He’ll also give you a glimpse of the early day struggles with his ‘artisan’ kiln, before introducing us to the fanciest equipment whose name Jimmy can’t even pronounce. Brent continues to present us with a more local and more creative future for malters and brewers nationwide, before diving into Craft Malt Week this Sept. 27, organized by the Craft Malsters Guild, where he is the founder and president.

After a short break, we will return to a discussion on distilleries using craft malts and Brent’s experimentations with different types of grains. He’ll also share an exciting trend of brewers converting to using locally sourced and malted grains as a triumph against international maltsters, along with a crazy story about a couple from the Netherlands who came to a Craft Malt Week. Last but not least, Brent closes the show with an amazing growth report for South East craft beer and malt, along with his mission being a bridge between farmers and brewers nationwide.

BSR on the Road in Holyoke, Massachusetts: Craft Malt in 2024

Jimmy’s summer travels roll on! This week, a stop in Holyoke, Massachusetts to catch up with some malt and grain powerhouses you may remember from past episodes…

Chatting with Jimmy are Andrea Stanley, co-owner of Valley Malt and Ground Up Grain; Kyle Fiasconaro, owner and chef at Brewer’s Foods; and Matthew Steinberg, co-founder and head brewer at Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing in Framingham, Massachusetts.

This episode has been years in the making! Some of the first grain and craft malt stories on BSR were brought to you by Andrea. Plus, what have Kyle and Matthew been up to since we last caught up with them?

Malty Maine: 2023 Craft Malt Conference LIVE

We have made it to the third and final live show from the 2023 Craft Malt Conference! Jimmy wrapped up his first trip to the special conference in Portland, Maine, by chatting with two proprietors of the most important ingredient in beer and whisky: Malt!

This week the focus is on Maine and how the state’s agriculture stewards great malt. Jimmy catches up with Joshua Buck of Maine Malthouse and Joel Alex of Blue Ox Craft Malt on the heels of their talk at the conference. Join Jimmy as he delves deep into Joshua and Joel’s work to build a local grain-chain in the pine state, as well as their history in agriculture, grains, and malts.

The Craft Malt Conference is always an exciting time for Jimmy and all craft malt appreciators, but this year is special: It’s the 10th anniversary of the organization, and the 6th anniversary of the Conference! This is the only conference of its kind that offers workshops and seminars on all topics craft malt.

Tune in to hear how it all went down!