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!
Great beer starts with great ingredients but even better things happen when like-minded people come together.
This summer, we’ve partnered with Lakedown Brewery and our friends at Charles Faram to create a collaborative brew that celebrates quality, innovation, and sustainability. The result is Kölab – a crisp, refreshing Kölsch brewed with our pioneering Clear Choice Malt, alongside Vienna Malt and Torrefied Wheat, with carefully selected hops supplied by Charles Faram.
The collaboration was built around one key ingredient: Clear Choice Malt.
Developed to help brewers reduce their environmental impact without compromising on performance, Clear Choice is designed to enable a shorter boil time, helping breweries save energy during production. For Lakedown Brewery, where sustainability is already central to the brewing process, it was the perfect opportunity to put the malt through its paces in a commercial brew.
The team chose to brew a Kölsch, a beautifully balanced beer style that combines the clean, crisp character of a lager with the delicate fruitiness of an ale.
The idea for the collaboration began last year, when Crisp Malt’s Sales Representative Rob Crane met the Lakedown team and the conversation turned to brewing together.
“It would be great to do a collaboration,” was the shared sentiment, and when the opportunity arose to showcase Clear Choice Malt, a Kölsch felt like the perfect fit. Its light colour, subtle malt profile and refreshing finish provide an ideal canvas to highlight both the malt and hop character.
Nestled on Roger Daltrey’s estate in the heart of rural East Sussex, Lakedown Brewery is as committed to sustainability as it is to producing outstanding beer.
The brewery uses natural spring water in every brew, while spent grain is fed to cattle on the estate. Around 70% of the brewery’s electricity is generated by its solar array, with surplus energy stored in batteries that help power its picturesque lakeside taproom. The estate is also home to a trout fishery, making it a truly unique brewing destination where the surrounding landscape plays an important role in the brewery’s story.
The collaboration brew was a success from start to finish, with the brewing process showcasing the performance of Clear Choice Malt.
Rob Crane commented:
“Great day at the collab brew with Lakedown and Charles Faram. It was a very smooth brew! Run-off was smooth and transfer simple. Wort looked nice and pale, reasonably bright.”
The Lakedown team were equally enthusiastic about the project:
“It’s super exciting to be working together with two amazing suppliers, Crisp and Charles Faram.”
Kölab is more than just a collaboration beer – it’s a celebration of what can be achieved when brewers, maltsters and hop merchants work together with a shared commitment to quality and sustainability.
We can’t wait to taste the finished beer and see how Clear Choice Malt performs in the glass. Here’s to great partnerships, great ingredients and great beer.
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