Craft spirits movement gives rise to craft malting

Craft distilling and brewing has led to increased interest in craft malting, with more than 40 malthouses now operating in the US, according to a new book dedicated to the subject.

Interest in “craft malt” has risen in recent years, according to The Craft Maltsters Handbook

The Craft Maltsers’ Handbook, by former Coors brewer and maltster Dave Thomas, claims that more distillers and brewers are considering the quality and characteristics of their ingredients when making whisky and beer.

“After decades of ‘hop happiness’ in the US craft beer industry,craft malt is fast becoming the essential, enigmatic ingredient that fills craft beer, craft foods and craft spirits with colour, flavour, strength, personality and ‘terroir’.

The new book, which is now available through White Mule Press, is an encyclopaedic exploration of the important role malt plays in brewing and distilling.

Having spent 32 years in malting and distilling at Coors breweries, and with an MSc in Malting and Brewing from Heriot-Watt University, Thomas has developed a book for craft producers to improve their knowledge of malt as well as their end product.