Malt produced at small-scale malthouses is typically hand-crafted, including the manual stirring of malt to avoid clumping as the barley germinates.

Since its establishment in 2013, the Craft Maltsters Guild began with just eight member malthouses. Presently, it proudly includes 110 member malthouses spread mainly across North America and internationally. Although exact figures are unknown, the Guild recognizes the presence of additional small malthouses not registered with them.

It is clear that over the past ten years, craft malt has evolved into a significant industry.

“Craft malt has gained significant traction primarily due to the rise of craft breweries and distilleries,” stated Steve Kurowski, the executive director of the Guild, during a phone interview. “These establishments are small businesses that often choose not to engage with larger malt companies. They have grown by encouraging their patrons to support local enterprises, hence they prefer to reciprocate that support by partnering with local maltsters who are attentive and responsive to their needs.”

The rise of small-scale maltsters who purchase grains like barley, wheat, rye, and others directly from local farmers has multiple advantages that extend to the broader context of local brewing and distillation. These smaller malt producers operate on a scale much smaller than large industrial malthouses, allowing them to buy grains from local small-scale farmers. This practice helps avoid the pitfalls of monocropping, promotes diverse crop rotation, and contributes to the overall health of the soil, which benefits a variety of crops, not just those used for brewing.

Contrary to large malthouses that require uniform and high quantities of grains, and typically source only a few varieties from specific regions like the Midwest, small maltsters have the flexibility to source grains from a broader geographic area, ranging from New York to California. This geographical diversity is necessary because certain grain varieties thriving in the Midwest may not perform as well elsewhere. Farmers outside the Midwest, therefore, grow varieties that are adapted to their specific regional soil and climate conditions. This variation and diversity are beneficial for agriculture, helping prevent the spread of diseases and fungi.

Additionally, the presence of small maltsters encourages more farmers to integrate malting barley into their crop rotation. This can potentially increase their income in an industry where, as noted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, profitability is often elusive. By promoting the cultivation of higher-value crops, craft maltsters are making a significant impact on the economic viability of farms.

Through their collaborations with local farmers, small maltsters help foster agricultural practices that are less reliant on monoculture. This shift supports more sustainable farming methods and strengthens connections with the local community. Integrating a broader variety of crops into the rotation is widely recognized to improve soil health, as different crops both contribute to and deplete different soil nutrients.

Craft Malt Month, an initiative of the Craft Maltsters Guild, runs from September 1 to 30.

September is Craft Malt Month, an initiative of the Craft Maltsters Guild to promote the work of the Guild and bring attention to the work of small malthouses and small farmers.

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts.

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site’s Terms of Service. We’ve summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

So, how can you be a power user?

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site’s Terms of Service.