Join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring representatives from Crisp Malt (UK) and Admiral Maltings (USA) as they unravel the story of their groundbreaking international floor malting collaboration. This session will explore how these two renowned maltsters joined forces to revive Hána, a heritage barley variety, through traditional floor malting techniques. Floor malting, an ancient method dating back millennia, relies on the maltster's skill instead of mechanization to nurture grain through germination and kilning, producing malt with distinctive flavors prized by brewers throughout history.

Kate Bernot, Tim Decker, David Griggs, Colin Johnston, and Ron Silberstein take you on a journey through time and across continents, connecting the dots between agricultural history, malting traditions, and modern brewing practices. Learn how this unique project has not only produced exceptional malt but also strengthened the ties between farmers, maltsters, and brewers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Discover the challenges and triumphs of working with heritage grains, the nuances of floor malting, and the distinctive characteristics that Hána barley brings to the brewing process. Our experts will share insights into how this collaboration is influencing beer styles and flavors while offering a taste of history in every sip.

This session will conclude with a Q&A, allowing attendees to engage directly with the panelists and delve deeper into the intricacies of this fascinating collaboration.

Kate Bernot (moderator) is a beverage-alcohol reporter and the director of the North American Guild of Beer Writers. She is the lead reporter at Sightlines, an insights newsletter for the beverage-alcohol industry, and her work also appears in Craft Beer & Brewing, NACS Magazine, Imbibe, and other publications. She lives in MIssoula, Montana. 

Tim Decker is a Certified Cicerone ®,  BJCP Certified Beer Judge, and former beer and cider sales representative living in Sacramento, California. For three years he shoveled grain as a maltster at Admiral Maltings while also running the social media accounts for Admiral and their pub, The Rake. He was recently promoted to the role of Sales & Marketing Manager where he has assisted in promoting their California grown floor malt and organizing their inaugural ITS THE MALT craft malt festival. In addition to his role in craft malt, he is a former contributor and podcast host with Good Beer Hunting and has his own collaborative beer project, AltBrau, through which he has brewed beer in California, Oregon, Washington, Belgium, Germany, and France.

Dr. David Griggs is a world-wide renowned guru of barley and malt and has served as the Technical Director of Crisp Malt since 2013. Dave joined the malting industry in 1990 after completing an Honours degree in Industrial Biology and a Ph.D. in plant biochemistry. After an exciting start to his career with Boortmalt, working across various roles and even spending some time working in Russian maltings, Dave made his way to Crisp Malt. Since then, he has been a key figure in helping to produce the finest malt brewers and distillers know and love.

Colin Johnston is the Sales & Marketing Director at Crisp Malt. He has over 15 years of brewing and distilling experience, starting his career in the industry in 2009. Having studied engineering at university followed by teaching in Japan for three years, Colin has since taken on many roles within the brewing industry. From brewery management to brewery engineering, Colin finally joined the Crisp Malt team in 2016. His Diploma in Brewing and General Certifciate in Distilling from the Institute of Brewing & Distilling in the UK, combined with his years’ of experience, have allowed him to triumph in his role with Crisp Malt.

Ron Silberstein co-founded Admiral Maltings in June 2017. Admiral Maltings produces freshly kilned malt using traditional floor-malting methods and sustainably grown (organic or no-till), California sourced grain. Prior to Admiral Maltings, Ron opened ThirstyBear Organic Brewery In 1996 as its founding brew-master. During his almost three-decade stint operating ThirstyBear, Ron co-created the San Francisco Brewers Guild and sat on its board of directors for many years. Before his career in brewing and malting, Ron was a practicing immigration attorney in San Francisco.