Since 1870 we’ve lived and breathed malting. With this passion and expertise, and by combining traditional and modern techniques, we create an impressive range of malted and non-malted products, including several unique and exclusive barley malts.
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A Transatlantic Malt Collaboration Inspires Unique Brews
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As beer enthusiasts around the world raise their glasses to celebrate International Beer Day on the first Friday of August, it’s a reminder of the global spirit that unites beer lovers across continents. Founded in 2007 in Santa Cruz, California, this annual celebration has grown from a small local event to a worldwide phenomenon spanning 207 cities, 80 countries, and six continents. Its three core purposes – enjoying beer with friends, celebrating those who brew and serve it, and uniting the world through beer – perfectly align with the groundbreaking collaboration Crisp Malt from the UK undertook with Admiral Maltings from the USA earlier this year.
These renowned maltsters’ transatlantic partnership has breathed new life into Haná, a heritage barley, through traditional floor malting techniques. A testament to the international nature of the brewing industry, the collaboration has created a unique bridge between Old World traditions and New World innovation. This project honours the craft of malting and celebrates the global community of brewers and beer enthusiasts – a perfect reflection of International Beer Day’s goals.
Brewers across the United States have embraced the Admiral-malted Haná barley, each bringing their distinctive vision to showcase this special malt. Their experiences offer insight into the challenges and rewards of working with a heritage grain.
Andrew Rose from Alvarado Street Brewing in Salinas, CA, who brewed a Pilsner with the malt, noted, “The brew went smoothly. We did a multi-step mash by infusion to hit a protein rest, as well as beta and alpha-amylase rests. It would be interesting to see how the malt performs under different mash regimens.”
Similar to Rose, Ryan Frank at Headlands Brewing in Lafayette, CA also used a step-mash routine. About his brew day, he remarked, “The malt performed well. The expected extracts smelled great and the grain crushed with no issues or adjustments to our mill. We did our first step mash with a protein rest, and with the extended time rising through beta-amylase, I’m expecting a well-attenuated Helles.”
Step-mashing involves progressively increasing the mash temperature through a series of rests. A step mash is not required for most modern, well-modified malts, but many of the brewers who brewed beers with the Admiral-malted Haná chose to implement one given the malt’s under-modified, rustic nature. This practice helps to improve yield and wort quality during the brewing process.
Similar to his peers, Phil Emerson from Olfactory Brewing Co. in San Francisco also praised the malt’s performance and taste during their decoction brew day. “The Haná had a lovely floral and cracker note to it. It performed great in the brewhouse with no issues. The resulting Kӧlsch was well received, definitely closer to European character than our typical Admiral experience.”
Decoction mashing is a traditional and intensive procedure that often (but not always) goes hand in hand with step mashing. The method involves boiling a portion of grains from the mash to destroy the cell walls and make starches more accessible to malt enzymes. It also has the effect of raising the temperature of the bulk mash to a defined higher temperature once mixed back in. Used by most breweries of the past, today’s modern malts have made decoction unnecessary, but it is still used periodically for less-modified malts such as the Admiral-malted Haná.
The enthusiasm and inventiveness of the many breweries that used the Admiral-malted Haná barley resulted in an impressive array of beers spanning various styles and techniques. Here’s a full list of the 23 beers brewed or planned:
Alaro Brewing – “Three Crowns” Dark Czech Lager Almanac Beer Co. – “Sandbox” Kellerbier Alvarado Street Brewery – “Haná Pils” Pilsner Break Even Beermakers – “Handshake: Haná” Pilsner Brewbilt Brewing – “Spirit Guide” Heirloom Lager Drake’s Brewing Co. – “Haná Tuah” Pilsner DTSJ Brewing Co. – “Oh Haná” Czech Pilsner Firestone Walker Brewing Company – The Propagator (R&D pilot brewhouse) – (not yet brewed) Hanabi Lager Co. – “Hana Pilsner” Pilsner Harmonic Brewing and East Brother Beer Co. (collaboration) – Altbier Dusseldorf Amber Headlands Brewing – “Haná Keller Helles” Unfiltered Helles Lager Highland Park Brewery – “Backflip Twist” Italian Pilsner Mount Holly Beer – “Can Service” Triple Decocted Pilsner Old Caz Beer, Local Brewing Co., and Pond Farm Brewing Co. (collaboration) – “Three Bridges” Helles Lager Olfactory Brewing – “Haná Kolsch” Kolsch pFriem Family Brewers – “Haná Pils” Pilsner Pond Farm Brewing Co. – “Traveller’s Cheque” Czech Pilsner Ronin Fermentation Project – “Alpen Lite” Decocted Leichtbier Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. – “Trinkstiefelweizen” Weizenbier The Monk’s Cellar – “Abbey Gold” Belgian Table Beer The Monk’s Cellar and Altbrau (collaboration) – “Lidská Moucha” Polotmavy Amber Czech Lager Fox Tale Fermentation Project and AltBrau (collaboration) – “Eichenlander” Keller Pils Russian River Brewing Company – “RnD Lager #9” Pilsner
From traditional Czech lagers to innovative interpretations like Italian Pilsners and Weizenbiers, these beers showcase the versatility of the Haná malt and the imagination of the brewers working with it. Each beer offers a one-of-a-kind expression bridging centuries-old brewing traditions with modern techniques.
The beers crafted with Haná malt have been well-received by both brewers and beer drinkers. Tim Decker, Admiral Maltings’ Sales and Marketing Director and proprietor of AltBrau, which collaborated with The Monk’s Cellar and Fox Tale Fermentation Project to brew two different beers, summed up the unique opportunity to work with this special malt best.
“Working with an heirloom landrace variety like Haná was an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Decker. “So often we take for granted the story of where our ingredients come from and all the steps it took to get to us. Working with this rustic variety forced brewers to focus on their brew day and be prepared to make adjustments. The two brew days I attended felt more like we were living in the moment.” – Tim Decker, Admiral Maltings’ Sales and Marketing Director
Another collaboration beer brewer, Eddie Gobbo from Harmonic Brewing, who worked with East Brother Brewing Co., noted, “After tasting the malt, I was happy it was being paired with other kilned malts in the Altbier. Instead of accentuating the sweetness of the kilned malts, the breadiness and doughiness of the Haná gave the finished beer great balance and drinkability. We felt really lucky to work with such a special ingredient.”
Paul Liszewski, Brewmaster of East Brothers Brewing Co., agreed and reflected on the historical significance of the malt and this collaboration.
“The history behind the malt is very interesting, and using an OG Pilsner malt in a style that would have been prevalent in the region is something that I think that the brewers of the past themselves would experiment with. We were very pleased with the flavor profile and interaction of the Haná Malt with the other malts.” – Paul Liszewski, Brewmaster of East Brothers Brewing Co
On June 29th, Admiral Maltings hosted the IT’S THE MALT Craft Malt Festival in Alameda, CA, showcasing 13 beers brewed with the collaboration malt. This event brought the spirit of International Beer Day to life on a local scale.
“IT’S THE MALT was a successful end to this chapter of our collaboration with Crisp Malt,” said Decker. “Our 200(ish) attendees were a wonderful mix of brewers, distillers, maltsters, hobbyists, and craft beer enthusiasts from around the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Our customers let us know how much they enjoyed being able to taste a variety of beers made with Haná and appreciated having the opportunity to experience such a wide range of creative beers utilizing this unique heirloom variety.”
Josh Wurzbacher, North American Technical Sales Manager at Crisp Malt, who also attended the festival, added, “It was a perfect sunny day to drink my favourite style of beers from some of the best breweries the West Coast has to offer. This malt collaboration years in the making all came together thanks to Ron, Curtis, and Tim’s hard work. I drank every single beer that was offered (30+ small pours) and had a blast hanging out with brewers and beer lovers alike.”
The Crisp-Admiral collaboration exemplifies the global nature of the brewing industry and the innovation that can arise from international partnerships. As we celebrate International Beer Day, this project serves as a shining example of how the brewing community can come together to create something truly special.
The Admiral-malted Haná barley has inspired ingenuity among the brewers who had the chance to brew with it. As the collaboration continues to evolve, with plans for Admiral to send their Butta 12 barley to the UK in early 2025, we look forward to more unique brews that celebrate the rich history and bright future of international brewing.
This International Beer Day, we encourage you to seek out beers made with Admiral-malted Haná barley. Many may be available in their respective brewery taprooms or at select local establishments. To learn more about each brewery’s offerings and availability, visit their websites or social media pages.
Additionally, don’t forget to explore beers from different countries to embrace the international spirit of the holiday. Step out of your comfort zone and try a beer from another culture – you might just discover your new favourite brew.
Jesse Bussard is a writer and a marketing communications professional based in central Pennsylvania. Through their business, Cowpunch Creative, they collaborate with agricultural and craft food and beverage brands, adding the punch they need to stand out.
Find out more about Jesse Bussard here.
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