Craft Maltsters Guild to Present the 2021 Virtual Craft Malt Conference

Malt education will come to the forefront in early February when the Craft Maltsters Guild presents the 4th annual Craft Malt Conference in a virtual format from February 10-12. This three-day conference will bring together maltsters from around the globe and will kick off with Ken Grossman, the co-founder of Sierra Nevada Brewing, with the conference’s keynote address.

With this year’s Craft Malt Conference going virtual while we muddle our way through the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s conference will allow easier access for brewers to take advantage of all of the educational seminars each day.

The 2021 Craft Malt Conference will feature curated live seminars on the latest research, trends, and best practices relevant to those in the craft malt supply chain. Participants can also participate in digital malthouse tours, peruse a virtual trade show, and attend cyber happy hours each evening. Attendees will also have the chance to talk with sponsors during live Q&A sessions and check out new products via video demos.

“We’re excited about the potential this exciting new format offers,” says Executive Director of the Craft Maltsters Guild Jesse Bussard, in a statement. “Adapting our conference to a virtual experience makes craft malt education more accessible than ever!”

The 2021 Craft Malt Conference keynote speaker is the esteemed craft beer icon Ken Grossman of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Other guest speakers include Richard Simpson of Simpsons Malt, Bart Watson of the Brewers Association, Becky Harris of Catoctin Creek Distillery, and Dr. Charlie Bamforth of UC Davis, from the University of Nottingham and Sierra Nevada, among many other leading craft malt, beer and spirits industry experts.

The conference finale is the Malt Cup Awards Ceremony on Friday, February 12th. 2021 marks the third year of this one-of-a-kind malt competition, which was remotely judged by a nationwide team of 74 maltsters, brewers, distillers, researchers and Cicerones. Entry analysis and judging was organized by the Montana State University – Barley, Malt and Brewing Quality Lab. Medals will be awarded for the top three winners in both 2021 categories, Pale Malt and Pilsner Malt.

Registration for the 2021 Craft Malt Conference includes access to the full conference schedule, and is available both to CMG membership and non-members. To register for the conference, click here.