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.
There is nothing more we love than talking to brewers and distillers so if you have any questions, or would like to arrange a call with a member of our team, please feel free to get in touch – we would love to hear from you!
This year marks the 60th anniversary of Maris Otter, one of the most recognisable and widely used malts in British brewing. To celebrate this milestone, we teamed up with Duration Brewing for a collaborative brew day at Duration’s brewhouse in West Acre, Norfolk. Maddie (Marketing Manager) and Abi (Sales Operations Administrator) from Crisp Malt joined Duration’s team, Miranda, Virginia, and Bates, to create a new beer for the occasion. The collaboration resulted in Goldfish, a 4.2% Columbus-hopped Pale Ale designed to highlight the character and heritage of Maris Otter.
When asked why the beer would be brewed using 100% Maris Otter, brewer Virginia explained:
We chose it because it’s the heart and soul of great British brewing – rich, biscuity, and full of character. We wanted to celebrate the fact that sixty years on, Maris Otter, with its depth of flavour and character, remains a brewer’s favourite.
Maris Otter’s unmistakable warmth and biscuit sweetness have earned it global recognition.
So, what kind of beer best showcases such a storied ingredient? For Duration, the answer came in the form of a vibrant and balanced Pale Ale.
We’re brewing a Pale Ale that bridges two traditions: the elegance of English malt and the bold bitterness of classic American hops,” Virginia shared. “It’s called Goldfish, a playful nod to its shimmering golden hue.”
Drawing inspiration from the hop-forward American bitters of the 1990s, Goldfish pairs the smooth, toasty sweetness of Maris Otter with the piney, resinous punch of Columbus hops. The beer leans into both worlds: comforting malt depth and bold hop expression.
Goldfish pours a rich golden hue, bright and inviting. Aromas of grapefruit and pine lead the way, followed by a flavour profile built on a biscuit base with warming malt sweetness. Columbus hops add citrus rind, pine, and resin, culminating in a clean, dry, snappy finish that’s both refreshing and satisfyingly bitter.
It’s a beer where tradition meets innovation – and neither overshadows the other.
It was Abi’s first chance to see the other side of brewing – after months of speaking with brewers over the phone or via email, she was finally able to see how they work day-to-day, experience their challenges and joys first-hand, and put faces to the names she’d been supporting from afar.
I completed my first-ever brew day with the team at Duration Brewery in West Acre. Virginia was fantastic, walking me through each stage of the brewing process, showing me the ropes, introducing me to their ingredients, and even letting me get hands-on. After spending my first few months chatting with brewers over the phone and helping them with their orders, it was amazing to finally see the process in action. I’ve come away with a much clearer understanding of the challenges and joys our customers experience every day. It was also great to see our product in use, and tasting the sweet, malty wort was a real highlight. Seeing the full circle of what we do has given me a whole new appreciation and I definitely won’t be taking my next pint for granted! A massive thanks to Miranda, Virginia, and Bates for looking after me on my first ever brew day.
Duration Brewing’s location is a place where the past is always present. The brewery sits inside a 16th-century flint barn, built from the remnants of a former priory. Brewing within these centuries-old stone walls connects the team to generations of history, a setting wonderfully suited for celebrating a malt that has shaped British beer for six decades.
“It’s a truly unique place where history and craft beer come together,” Virginia said.
Goldfish is more than a collaboration beer. It’s a tribute to an ingredient that transformed brewing, a celebration of Norfolk’s agricultural heritage, and a joyful meeting point of British tradition and American craft influence.
As Maris Otter turns 60, there’s no better way to raise a glass than with a beer brewed where the malt itself is grown and cherished, and with people who understand its story.
Back to top
