2019 Craft Brewers Conference

From Terroir to Technique: Understanding the Impact of Craft Malt in Beer (Room Four Seasons Ballroom 1)

09 Apr 19
1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Tracks: Technical Brewing

Speaker(s): Jen Blair, Executive Director, Craft Maltsters Guild; Hillary Barile, Head Maltster, Rabbit Hill Farms and Malthouse; Seth Klann, Owner & Maltster, Mecca Grade Estate Malt, Madras, OR; Greg Kessel, North Dakota Barley Grower, National Barley Growers Association; Josh Cody, Owner/Specialty Maltster , Colorado Malting Company ; Ron Silberstein, Founding Partner, Admiral Maltings

At the 2014 Craft Brewers Conference in Denver, five craft maltsters introduced brewers to the concept of using craft malt to express their craft and connect to a locale. Five years and over 60 new craft malthouses later, brewers are invited to join the Craft Maltsters Guild to learn more about how craft malt’s growth is driving new insights into barley and malt flavor, and how those insights can impact beer flavor. Brewers will learn how to incorporate malt sensory techniques into their own in-house analyses, as well as how to continue their malt sensory education through the Guild’s upcoming Malt Sensory Ambassador certification program. Geographically diverse craft maltsters will tell the stories behind their malts. Brewers will taste the presenters’ malts and compare beers made with them to demonstrate how malt flavor impacts beer flavor. After the presentation, brewers will have a greater understanding of how craft malt can help them create a true taste of place in their beers.