Ska Distributing Adds Lone Tree Brewing to Southwest Portfolio

Image from 2020 Ska + Lone Tree Collaboration Day

DURANGO, CO— Lone Tree Brewing Company’s collection of canned beers are now available in Southwest Colorado through distribution partner Ska Distributing. 

The friendship between these two Colorado craft breweries began when they served together on the Colorado Brewers Guild board of directors, and stayed strong over the years through their commonality of a flagship Mexican-style Lager. “John Winter of Lone Tree and I always bonded over similar values, beer styles like Mexican-style Lagers,  and the fun atmosphere of both of our breweries,” says Ska Brewing Sales & Marketing Director Kristen Muraro. “When our Sales Rep Devin lived near (some say at) Lone Tree Brewing he was one of their regulars. It was his initial idea to collaborate.”

In March of 2020, the team from Lone Tree traveled to Durango to brew a collaboration beer at Ska, and before they even made it home, Collaboration Fest was cancelled due to COVID-19. The pandemic might have stopped them from releasing this collaboration, but it couldn’t keep these breweries from continuing to work together. 

“Fast forward to 2021 and we believe the collaboration was a successful failure,” says Dennis Stack, Lone Tree Brewing Sales & Marketing Director. “The Southwest region of Colorado was the missing piece of our distribution footprint and the reputation Ska has built in the area made the decision a no-brainer— we admire what they do to build brands and enjoy working with their great people. We are beyond excited to explore this new chapter of distribution with a great team behind the wheel.” 

To celebrate the partnership, Ska Brewing is tapping a guest keg of Lone Tree Vanilla Caramel Amber. This red-hued ale is enhanced with vanilla beans and caramel malt, with no additional sugar added. It will be on draft at World Headquarters while supplies last.

Six packs of Lone Tree IPA, Mexican Lager, Strawberry Kiwi Blonde Ale, Red Ale, Peach Pale, Double IPA, and spring seasonal Pomegranate Wit, as well as Lone Tree’s Brewer’s Bundle mixed 12-packs are now available in Durango, Telluride, Ridgway, and Ouray through Ska Distributing. Find Lone Tree beers at Skyridge Liquors, Macs Liquors, WJ Doyle, 6th Street Liquors, and Wagon Wheel Liquors, with more to come. Accounts looking to purchase Lone Tree beer should contact Justin Crump at justin@skabrewing.com.

For more information about Lone Tree Brewing Company, Ska Brewing, or this new distribution partnership contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.  

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING COMPANY

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery to open in Lone Tree, Colorado in Denver’s South Metro area in 2011. Lone Tree creates community around a stylistically diverse lineup of flagship, seasonal, and limited release beers that are sold in cans and on draft across the state of Colorado, and in select locations in Kansas. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

ABOUT SKA DISTRIBUTING
Ska Distributing Company is the premiere craft distributor for Southwestern Colorado, committed to serving independently owned companies. In addition to Ska Brewing’s award-winning beers, The Hard Seltzer, and non-alcoholic Skagua, they distribute other beers from Telluride Brewing, Left Hand Brewing Co., Bristol Brewing, Stone Brewing, and La Cumbre Brewing Co. Ska services on and off-premise accounts in Durango, Telluride, Ridgway, and Ouray. Find Ska online at skabrewing.com.

Lone Tree Brewing Unveils Pomegranate Wit For Spring

LONE TREE, CO— Lone Tree Brewing Company presents a fresh seasonal brewed for Spring Equinox, Pomegranate Wit.

Pomegranate Wit begins as a traditional Witbier recipe made with coriander, and fermented with a Belgian yeast strain before it gets the addition on pomegranate pureé. This pink-hued brew is a drinkable 5.3% ABV

From the time-honored Peach Pale Ale recipe to the Strawberry Kiwi Blonde Ale released in 2020, Lone Tree has always experimented with fruit in the brewhouse. The latest of these test batches-turned-canned selections is the sweet, zesty addition of Pomegranate to a traditional Belgian-style Wheat Ale. 

Pomegranate Wit joins the Lone Tree canned lineup of fruit beers this week, and it will stick around for the season. Find it in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans  across Colorado and in select locations in Kansas while supplies last.

For more information about Lone Tree Brewing Company or their 2021 seasonal beer releases, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING CO. 

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery to open in Lone Tree, Colorado in Denver’s South Metro area in 2011. Lone Tree creates community around a stylistically diverse lineup of flagship, seasonal, and limited release beers that are sold in cans and on draft across the state of Colorado, and in select locations in Kansas. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Our Mutual Friend Presents Hear Me Out IPA in Collaboration with Fermly

DENVER, CO— Fermly, an independent lab for brewers based in Denver, has teamed up with Our Mutual Friend on a new IPA. Hear Me Out— this IPA was brewed with quality ingredients from some of Our Mutual Friend’s favorite suppliers and shaped by the data and insight Fermly provided throughout the brewing process.  

Hear Me Out is a fruit-forward Tropical IPA with notes of guava, mango and pineapple. This 8.9% ABV IPA was crafted with malt from Root Shoot Malting, fermented with Kveik yeast from Inland Island Yeast, and hopped with the Pink Boots Society and Zythos hop blends from Yakima Chief Hops.

The owners at Fermly and Our Mutual Friend share the belief that by working across industries, you are able to learn more, work better together, and make even better beer. This belief inspired Hear Me Out IPA. 

"I've been working with Fermly for a few years now, and they have been a tremendous partner in helping us make the best beer we possibly can," says Head Brewer, Jan Chodkowski. "The expertise they provide helps us dial in our recipes and assures us that we are putting out quality products. An awesome bonus is that they are rad people and are just as passionate about beer as we are." 

Our Mutual Friend has crafted collaborations with other suppliers, but this was the first one they’ve done with an independent research lab. Danny Wang, Fermly’s Co-Founder and Information Architect, adds, “A major motivation behind Fermly is to help brewers succeed by providing them with better access to information that helps improve the quality of the beers they brew. Being involved in Our Mutual Friend’s recipe development and brewing process was a treat.” 

Hear Me Out can be found on tap at Our Mutual Friend, and in 16-ounce four-packs while supplies last.

For more information about Fermly or this collaboration, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT FERMLY 

Fermly is an independent quality lab designed by brewers, for brewers, complete with a data platform for tracking information from batch to batch. Launched in Denver by former brewery owner Danny and TTB-certified chemist Emily Wang, Fermly serves brewing companies of all sizes across the country who need and value QA/QC with customized lab services, an innovative subscription approach to lab work, and data privacy protection. Fermly know your craft. Visit www.fermly.com to learn more. 

ABOUT OUR MUTUAL FRIEND BREWING

Our Mutual Friend Brewing opened in December of 2012 with the goal of creating a place for community through their small neighborhood taproom in the up and coming River North (RiNo) neighborhood. Starting on a 31-gallon brew system, they worked tirelessly to understand the techniques and history of beer while looking forward to where craft beer was heading. Doing so influenced their vision to create beers with a sense of place, forging relationships with Colorado hop and barley growers, and has allowed them to offer as many 100% Colorado grown beers as possible. In 2015 they earned a silver medal in the wood and barrel aged sour category at the Great American Beer Festival for 24FPS, a 100% Colorado mixed-culture fermentation barrel-aged sour beer. 

In 2017 OMF continued its organic growth, increasing capacity to meet demand and offer traditional styles while still being afforded the opportunity for experimentation. 2016 and 2017 saw OMF receiving back to back silver medals at GABF in the brett beer category for Dreamy Thing (a collaboration with Cerebral Brewing) and Saison Trystero as well as a bronze medal in International Pale Ale for Inner Light in 2020.

For more information visit buyomfbeer.com, and follow OMF on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter at @omfbrewing.

Oh Hi Cannabis Seltzer Hits Oklahoma via OK CannaBev

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK— The Oh Hi Beverages THC seltzer line will be available this month across Oklahoma through OK CannaBev. 

Look for Oh Hi’s line of THC seltzers, which includes Pomegranate, Grapefruit, Lemon Lime, and Ginger Basil Limeade flavors, in dispensaries throughout the state.

Oh Hi is one of the few water-soluble THC infused seltzers on the American market. These fast acting, refreshing, and handcrafted cannabis seltzers contain terpenes that contribute to the natural flavor, aroma, and effects. Each Oh Hi seltzer beverage contains 10mg of THC and or CBD and only 20 - 25 calories.

“I grew up in Oklahoma, so this announcement hits home for me,” says Matt Vincent who co-owns both Oh Hi Beverages and Durango’s Ska Brewing. “Two years ago Ska started distributing in Oklahoma, and I’m excited that Oh Hi cannabis seltzers are now available for my parents to buy, too.” 

Oh Hi’s THC line is available wholesale to dispensaries in Colorado and now Oklahoma, the first state outside of Oh Hi’s birthplace to produce and distribute its THC products, via LeafLink. “This is the product that has been missing on the shelves in Oklahoma,” says Tucker Cason, OK CannaBev partner. We are proud to be manufacturing and canning this product locally to serve the needs in this market.” 

Oh Hi Beverages CBD seltzers are currently distributed in Southwest Colorado through the Ska Brewing distribution network, on Colorado’s Front Range through Two Six Craft Distributors, in Los Angeles through a distribution incubator, and across Michigan through Oath Distributing. They are also available for purchase online. 

For more information about Oh Hi Beverages and its growing distribution footprint, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. Contact sales@ohhibev.com with distribution inquiries.

ABOUT OH HI BEVERAGES

Founded in 2018, Oh Hi Beverages crafts canned THC and CBD seltzers in Durango, Colorado. Oh Hi Beverages is the brainchild of Aaron Miles and Jonny Radding, the co-owners of Durango Organics, and Matt Vincent, one of the co-owners of Ska Brewing and the founder of Ska Fabricating. Collectively Aaron, Jonny, and Matt bring a breadth of business, entrepreneurship, technical, and both cannabis and beverage-specific experience to this new hard seltzer company. Learn more about Oh Hi Beverages at ohhibev.com.

ABOUT OK CANNABEV

Founded in 2020 with the main purpose to produce and distribute Oh Hi Beverages in Oklahoma, OK CannaBev is owned by four partners: brothers Brett & Brian Bogert as well as Wesley Holloway and Tucker Cason. This team brings together 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry as well as expertise in the sales and distribution of cannabis product lines in the Oklahoma region. OK CannaBev employs a Can-I-Bus depalletizer, twist rinser, and conveyance provided by Ska Fabricating. 

Ska Brewing Releases Mexican Logger Cans for the 2021 Season

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing kicks off its 22nd Mexican Logger season on March 23 with a fundraiser for Durango’s Community Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) for COVID-19 relief. Cans of the brewery’s famous craft lager will be available at the brewery World Headquarters and across Ska’s markets next week. 

This clean, easy drinking lager has become a warm weather staple in Durango where Ska first produced Mexican Logger on draft and in 12 oz bottles in 1999. Although it is still a summer seasonal offering 22 years later, it has become one of the brewery’s flagship beers, and most anticipated releases. 

“The key ingredient in this beer is and always has been a very crisp, clean yeast strain,” says Ska Brewing Co-Founder and CEO Dave Thibodeau. “We use a strain specifically from Mexico City that helps keep drinkability at the forefront with the malts and the hops hanging in the background.” 

To support social distancing during the 2021 Mexican Logger release, Ska is celebrating all week and encouraging reservations at its World Headquarters. A $20 donation reserves your table and includes two pints of Mexican Logger.

Mexican Logger will tap at Ska Street Brewstillery in Boulder on Wednesday, March 24.

Find Mexican Logger across Ska’s markets on draft and in canned 12-ounce 6-packs throughout spring and summer. Earlier this year, Ska Brewing released the Mexican-style Lager Dark that is available when Mexican Logger is not. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com to learn more about the lager program at Ska Brewing. 

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award- winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, and Rue B. Soho. For information (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Ska Brewing Adds Double Hazy IPA to Can Lineup

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing is doubling down on its hazy IPA options this week with the release of Double Hazy IPA. This new beer taps at Ska’s World Headquarters on Friday, March 12, and is now available in cans in all of Ska’s markets.

The full-bodied Double Hazy IPA pours golden orange and wafts piney aroma, with notes of pear and pineapple that balance out its bold hop profile. This 9.2% ABV IPA is brewed with Idaho 7, Azacca, and El Dorado hops. It’s the big brother to The Hazy IPA that came out in 2019, and the Tropical Hazy IPA, Breakthru Beverage’s first beer release after the pandemic outbreak that quickly became one of Ska’s most popular beers in 2020. 

“Everyone loves a good Double IPA— we get requests for this beer style all the time,” says Ska Brewing Sales and Marketing Director Kristen Muraro. “Making a hazy one seemed to round out our hazy line up just right.” 

Ska Double Hazy IPA is now available across Colorado and Ska’s eleven-state distribution footprint in 12-ounce canned 6-packs as a year-round SKU. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Ska Brewing and the new Double Hazy IPA. 

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award- winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, and Rue B. Soho. For information (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Root Shoot Malting Reports Community Impact of East Troublesome Pale Ale & Homebrew Competition for Grand County Wildfire Relief

LOVELAND, CO—  Root Shoot Malting has announced the results of the East Troublesome Pale Ale initiative that united the Grand County brewing community and raised nearly $34,000 for those impacted by Colorado's second-largest wildfire.

Six professional breweries and 27 homebrewers brewed the East Troublesome Pale Ale over the last few months, and earned tremendous support from the Grand County community of beer lovers and homebrew competition entrants who helped to raise $34,000 for The Grand Foundation: a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting residents who were evacuated, displaced or lost their homes during the Grand County Wildfires. 

Root Shoot Malting, alongside Colorado Hop Company and Propagate Labs, donated ingredients to six breweries in Grand County to help create the East Troublesome Pale Ale. The recipe and ingredients were then available to homebrewers who were encouraged to brew their own version of the benefit beer. 

"I am blown away by the amount we raised and how many people rallied to support this cause," said Emily Olander, Co-Founder of Root Shoot Malting. “A huge thank you to everyone; brewers, suppliers, homebrewers, and residents of Grand County for donating your time, energy, and resources to make this a success." 

Root Shoot brought this effort home with a homebrew competition that 27 homebrewers entered earlier this year. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners were announced during a virtual awards ceremony, and the entries raised more than $550 for this effort that Root Shoot Malting matched. The whole team at Root Shoot extends congratulations to all of the winners and gratitude to everyone who participated. 

1ST PLACE 

Mackenzie Springett: “East Troublesome Fire Pale Ale” 

“When I drink the East Troublesome Fire Pale Ale, I immediately feel as if I’m sitting in the mountains and enjoying stunning views and the smell of the pine trees. I enjoy all of Root Shoot’s malts and use close to 100% of their malts in every recipe,” Springett says. “I also want to give a big shout out to firefighters. They saved us and helped preserve those smells and views.” 

2ND PLACE

Ben Gaylord: “Hearts and Minds”  

3RD PLACE

Nelson Crowle: “Grungeist SMaSH”

HONORABLE MENTION 

Charles Epperson: “Fire and Smoke” 

Fraser River Beer Co. is planning on serving a batch brewed with first place homebrewer Mackenzie Springett for the community to enjoy this Spring, and 100% of proceeds will be donated to the Grand Foundation. 

 For more information about Root Shoot Malting or the East Troublesome Pale Ale, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com. 

SPONSORS

The East Troublesome Pale Ale Competition was possible due to the support from all of our sponsors. We’d like to thank the following organizations for their contributions. 

• Fraser River Beer Co., Hideaway Park Brewing, Camber Brewing, Grand Adventure Brewing, Big Trout Brewing Co., and The Peak Bistro and Brewery donated 100 percent of their beer proceeds to this cause.

• Colorado Hop Company, Troubadour Maltings, Propagate Lab, Reggiebeer.com, and Turn It Up Media, contributed products and services. 

• Left Hand Brewing, Spike Brewing, Sticker Giant, American Homebrewers Association, Fermentis, Yakima Chief Hops, and Five Star Chemicals donated generous prizes that were awarded to the competition winners.

• Michael Bischoff, Head Brewer at The Peak Bistro and Brewery developed the East Troublesome Pale Ale homebrew recipe. 

ABOUT ROOT SHOOT MALTING 

Root Shoot Malting is a 5th generation family farm and craft malthouse that supplies the Rocky Mountain region with craft malt and grains. Founded by the Olander family in 2016, Root Shoot harvests barley, wheat, rye and corn to give craft brewers and distillers high-quality taste in every glass. Located on the Olander Farms’ 112-acre farm in Loveland, Colorado, and approximately 1500 leased acres, Root Shoot is working to ensure that farmland remains available to grow grains for the beers and spirits of tomorrow. Find this craft maltster online at rootshootmalting.com.

Lone Tree Brewing Co. and Peak View Brewing Co. Tap Lemon Squeeze Collaboration Saison

LONE TREE, CO— Lone Tree Brewing Co. has teamed up with Peak View Brewing Co. to brew a Belgian-Style Meringue Saison with a poppy seed twist. Lemon Squeeze Collaboration Saison will be available on March 10. 

In January, the production staff from both breweries met up for beers to develop a recipe that fused Peak View's creative use of exotic ingredients with Lone Tree's more traditional, but experimental brewing philosophy.

Lemon Squeeze Collaboration Saison was brewed with lactose, vanilla, Meyer Lemon puree, and a touch of poppy seed cake filling for a tinge of earthy sweetness. This one-of-a-kind farmhouse ale has aroma that wafts vanilla, lemon, and light pepper, with noticeable lemon bitterness coupled with citrus notes to taste. It weighs in at 6.8% ABV. 

“We borrowed pasty beer inspiration from Peak View Brewing Co.,” says Chris Gilmore, Lead Brewer of Lone Tree Brewing Co. “The poppy seed is very subtle in flavor and adds a nice contrast to the lemon puree."

The Lemon Squeeze Collaboration Saison will be tapped in both the Lone Tree Brewing and Peak View Brewing Co. tasting rooms on draft only on Wednesday March 10 while supplies last.

For more information about this zesty collaboration, contact Sarah Nelson at nelson@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT LONE TREE BREWING COMPANY

Lone Tree Brewing Company was the first brewery in Lone Tree, Colorado that opened near Park Meadows Mall in 2011. The neighborhood-focused, family-friendly brewery and tasting room regularly hosts community events that gather around a stylistically diverse lineup of flagship, seasonal, and limited release beers. Lone Tree’s cans are sold across the state of Colorado, and in select locations in Kansas. Its draft beer is poured at many bars and restaurants across its distribution footprint as well. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

ABOUT PEAK VIEW BREWING COMPANY

Peak View Brewing Company opened in Greenwood Village, CO on April 5th, 2019. We are locally owned and operated by two Air Force veterans. Peak View believes that great beer, an inviting atmosphere, and knowledgeable staff foster a thriving community. In the taproom, 18 different taps showcase tried and true flagships such as Peanut Butter Porter, seasonal selections like the Strudel Series, and the ever popular craft seltzer cocktails. At Peak View, beer is a passion and something we hold sacred. The next time you’re in the neighborhood stop on by! You may just find your home away from home. Visit peakviewbrewing.com to learn more.

Living The Dream Brewing Cans Horchata Powder Run Cream Ale

LITTLETON, CO— Living The Dream Brewing canned a fresh batch of the popular Horchata variant of its award-winning Powder Run Cream Ale this week. The Horchata Powder Run will be available in cans on Colorado’s Front Range and at the brewery tasting room while supplies last.

Living The Dream’s award-winning Cream Ale— a light bodied, creamy ale with notes of vanilla and a fluffy finishing mouthfeel— gets a boost of spicy cinnamon and creamy vanilla flavors from Colorado’s local Savory Spice Shop in this recipe that expands upon the Powder Run variant line. This is the second of the Powder Run variants to hit a can, following the Gingerbread Powder Run that sold out in less than a week in December. Past draft-only variants have included Tangerine and Vanilla Cream. 

Horchata Powder Run is available on draft and in Crowlers and cans to-go at Living The Dream, and in extremely limited canned six-packs on Colorado’s Front Range. 

Living The Dream plans to release more variants of Powder Run later this year.

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with questions about Living The Dream Brewing or the Horchata Powder Run. 

ABOUT LIVING THE DREAM BREWING

Living the Dream Brewing is a craft brewery established in 2014 in Littleton, our home base for adventure in Colorado. Built on a foundation of brewing beer using only the finest ingredients, Living the Dream celebrates the people, places, and activities of the Centennial State. Live the life you've imagined, and join us at livingthedreambrewing.com.

Advice From The Trail: Trillium Brewing on Content Marketing

Phil Cassella, photo courtesy Trillium Brewing

It goes without saying that Trillium Brewing are masters of content, among so many other things, who make us salivate on the reg with their scrumptious photography and streamlined messaging. Trillium’s Content Designer Phil Cassella and Marketing Director Mike Dyer are inspired, savvy, and generous with their insight— to say the least— and they gave us the lowdown on creating and executing a successful brewery content strategy. It all comes down to hospitality and patience. 

Ska Street Brewstillery Celebrates One Year In Business Amid Pandemic

Photo by Brewtography Project

BOULDER, CO— Ska Street Brewstillery, the first Colorado business of its kind, will celebrate one year in business all month long with a beer collaboration and livestream concert with Kyle Hollingsworth, a custom snowboard giveaway, an anniversary beer named 1:11 Imperial Stout, and refreshed menus.

Today, Wednesday March 3, Ska Street releases Fearless Composition IPA, a West Coast IPA single hopped with Citra, that was brewed with Kyle Hollingsworth for his birthday on March 2. The beer is available for purchase in Crowlers at Ska Street, where guests are encouraged to stock up on this limited release to watch the live stream of the sold out Kyle Hollingsworth Birthday Party feat. Kyle Hollingsworth Band this Sunday March 7 at Boulder Theatre. Purchase access to the live stream here. 

Ska Street Brewstillery opened on March 16 of 2020 just one hour and 11 minutes before Colorado’s first restaurant lockdown was instated. Accordingly, the brewstillery’s one year anniversary beer is called 1:11. This 18.5% Imperial Stout was barrel aged in Peach Street bourbon barrels. 1:11 will be available beginning on March 17 while supplies last. 

'From our hopeful beginning the family here at Ska Street personifies the ethos of both Ska Brewing and Peach Street Distillers; and because of the grit and support of the Boulder Community we are still here and looking forward to not just 2021 but getting back to our original visions of the Brewstillery and probably with a little more character now,” says General Manager of the brewstillery Katie Nierling.

This announcement comes with the addition of Ska Street’s new lunch program, new cocktails, and change in open hours to 12 to 8pm daily. Chef Travis Messervey has jazzed up the menu with new items and brought some fan favorites like the Sweet Plantain French Toast and Mac & Cheese with caramelized onions, bacon and crawfish with toasted breadcrumbs. Fresh beers will tap throughout March. This month-long birthday celebration includes a custom snowboard giveaway, and raffles to boot. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Ska Street Brewstillery, Peach Street Distillers, and Ska Brewing. 

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award- winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, and Rue B. Soho. For information (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

ABOUT PEACH STREET DISTILLERS

Peach Street Distillers was founded in 2005 in the heart of Colorado’s Fruit and Wine region, Palisade Colorado, where the high desert meets the mountains. The warm days and cool nights in Palisade make the local fruits and grains unimaginably delicious. Living the very definition of “craft” we do everything the hard way to turn these fermentable raw materials into extraordinary spirits. Because, this is what we consider fun and what makes for a mighty fine drink. Peach Street Distillers is Colorado’s oldest continuously owned and operated distillery. Visit Peach Street at www.peachstreetdistillers.com for more about the spirits and the spirits squad.

#GrayForGood Global 2021 Campaign Celebrates Women’s Gray Hair and Intentional Gestures Toward Closing The Gender Equity Gap

LYONS, CO—  Just in time for Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day in March, HerzMuses Enterprises launches Gray For Good - For All Womanhood, a 2021 global grassroots campaign devoted to celebrating all women-identified individuals who go gray and eradicating the gender equity gap by increasing charitable giving to women and girls focused causes.

Goldstein Market Intelligence identified in 2020 that more than 75 percent of women use some kind of hair dye in the United States alone(1) with the halo of mental, economic, and societal costs of coloring gray simply too large to measure. Couple this with the fact that organizations focused on women and girls only received 1.6% of all giving in the U.S.(2) and giving to women and girls of color accounts for 0.5% of giving by foundations.(3)

“The cultural pressure to color gray is immense and as I’ve come of age I keep asking why, why, why do I feel like I am supposed to cover it up? If I live to be 80-years-old and color my hair six times a year starting at the age of 40, the collective cost could reach $20,000 or more,” says Herz. “It is beyond time to eradicate the manufactured coloring expectation and instead use the savings to fund women and girls focused causes as society collectively works to eternalize gender equity within our lifetime.” 

To motivate women globally to go gray for good, Herz produced a two-minute music video depicting the pain and predicament of coloring one’s gray. The video, filmed in her hometown of Lyons, Colorado, features lyrics including:

Why we gotta color?

Why we gotta try?

Why we gotta cover up what’s real and not a lie?

I’m a woman with a soul.

When people scan my gray, 

It makes me feel that I’m not whole.

Color is cheap, but there is a cost. 

It’s cognitive dissonance in a box.

Adults and children everywhere are encouraged to participate by consciously celebrating women who are gray with genuine gestures of support, and by contributing directly to their favorite women and girls charities. The campaign has a starting goal of $1M in donations from 50,000 people at $20 each. Success will be tracked by stated dollars using the hashtag #GrayForGood. 

“Due to COVID-19, millions of women stopped coloring. Let’s use this collective moment to remind the world that we are enough without having to color and direct the financial savings to create meaningful and generational change,” Herz adds. “The more women who say I grayed, I saved, I gave, the more we will advance all womanhood for so many important reasons.”

• Video and digital assets are available here. 

• Learn more and contact Julia for speaking engagements at grayforgood.com. 

• Contact Emily Hutto with media inquiries about #GrayForGood at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT GRAY FOR GOOD - FOR ALL WOMANHOOD

Gray For Good - For All Womanhood is a global 2021 global campaign to celebrate all women-identified individuals who don't dye their gray hair and encourage the world to consciously and collectively increase giving to women and girls focused causes, bringing donations to a more equitable place. Join in at grayforgood.com and by using the hashtag #grayforgood.

ABOUT HERZMUSES ENTERPRISES

Julia Herz founded HerzMuses Enterprises in 2020 to bring energy, momentum and awareness to meaningful causes, companies, and brands. Learn more at herzmuses.com. 

(1) Global Hair Color Industry Analysis By Product Type (Powder Hair Color, Crème Form), By Usage, By Composition, By Distribution Channel & By End-User With COVID-19 Impact | Market Outlook 2017-2030

(2) The Women & Girls Index 2020: Measuring Giving to Women's and Girls' Causes

(3) Ms. Foundation for WomenStudy on Philanthropic Giving for Women and Girls of Color, July 1, 2020

From Seed To Glass: Root Shoot Malting Releases Malted Heritage Oland Wheat

LOVELAND, CO— Root Shoot Malting announced today the release of a rare malted heritage grain, Ölandsvete, or Oland Wheat. This passion project has been more than two years in the making and resulted from a cross-sector collaboration inspired by family history. 

This history of farming Oland Wheat goes back for centuries, and today there are only a few farmers in the world who grow the variety. Now, one is Olander Farms in Loveland, Colorado, home base for Root Shoot Malting— quite possibly the only malthouse in the world to malt this variety. 

Oland Wheat is named after a Swedish island in the Baltic Sea where this variety was first grown over 6,000 years ago, and from where the Olander's ancestors migrated in the 1800's. The grain nearly disappeared from Swedish fields in 1960 until 1995, when it was reintroduced to encourage the rediscovery of sourdough bread making.

The Olanders’ ties to Oland and thirst for innovation ignited their pursuit to bring a rare heritage grain to Colorado’s craft brewing and distilling community. Finnriver Grainery in Chimacum, Washington, who provided the seed via the Washington State University’s Bread Lab breeding program, made that possible.  Olander Farms grew ten acres of the grain in 2019, another twenty acres in 2020, and plans to grow another twenty acres in 2021. 

“I’m excited to taste these craft beverages, and wouldn’t be surprised if they have a hint of coastal wind-swept-Sweden in their flavor profile,” jokes Keith Kisler, Founder of Finnriver Grainery. “Heritage grains can thrive in low input organic environments, so farmers can go lighter on fertilizers and herbicides and still grow a viable crop full of flavor and nutrition. The way heritage grains adapt and survive tells us so much about the landscape and people.”

At The Family Jones Spirit House in Denver, Colorado, Head Distiller Rob Masters uses this heritage wheat for his single-estate Annika Jones Vodka, crafted with 60% Oland Wheat. He describes the flavor profile as sweet, with a hint of honeydew melon. "Utilizing heirloom grains was especially important to the flavor development for this vodka,” says Masters. “The fact that this variety came from Scandinavia, grown by farmers with Scandinavian ancestors, for a distiller with Scandinavian ancestors in a Scandinavian style vodka was a win all around.”

Root Shoot Malting has lastly partnered with Lake Hollow Homestead, a garlic farm in Berthoud, Colorado that sells Root Shoot grains to homebrewers, to also make Oland Wheat available in flour form to use in baking. Three-pound bags of fresh-milled Oland Wheat flour are now available for purchase through Lake Hollow Homestead’s Online Store.

Ölandsvete malted wheat is available to commercial brewers and distillers in limited quantities. To order, please contact Emily Olander by email at emily@rootshootmalting.com.  

For more information about Root Shoot Malting or this radical seed-to-glass collaboration, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT ROOT SHOOT MALTING 

Root Shoot Malting is a 5th generation family farm and craft malthouse that supplies the Rocky Mountain region with craft malt and grains. Founded by the Olander family in 2016, Root Shoot harvests barley, wheat, rye and corn to give craft brewers and distillers high-quality taste in every glass. Located on the Olander Farms’ 112-acre farm in Loveland, Colorado, and approximately 1500 leased acres, Root Shoot is working to ensure that farmland remains available to grow grains for the beers and spirits of tomorrow. Find this craft maltster online at rootshootmalting.com.

Celebration of Life For Eagle Residents Seth Bossung, Andy Jessen, and Adam Palmer to Live Stream Sunday, February 28

EAGLE, CO— In celebration of the lives of Eagle, Colorado residents Seth Bossung, Andy Jessen, and Adam Palmer, friends and family and the Vilar Performing Arts Center (VPAC) present a livestream musical tribute this Sunday, February 28 featuring Custom 20, the Olora Brothers, Hardscrabble, and several other local musicians.

The loss of Bossung, Jessen, and Palmer is felt deeply in their families and the Eagle community. All were husbands, sons, and stewards of the environment. Bossung worked in the Eagle County Sustainable Communities Department, was an Energy Smart Colorado home auditor, architect and LEAD specialist, a fiddle player, and the father of two. Palmer served as Director of the Eagle County Sustainable Communities Department, a founding member Hardscrabble, Olora Bros, Six Penny, and Custom 20, a town council member, a Holy Cross Energy Board member, long time volunteer for the Hardscrabble Trails Coalition, and the father of two as well. Jessen, who co-owned Bonfire Brewing and managed the Bonfire Block Party with his wife Amanda, served as Eagle mayor pro tem, a sponsor of the Eagle River Park project, a bowling and softball enthusiast, a Subaru (Brat) zealot, and a proud dog dad.

Fifteen local musicians will perform at this benefit concert, for which donations will benefit Vail Mountain Rescue Group, San Juan County Search & Rescue, and the Bossung, Jessen, and Palmer families. Elli Varas, Custom 20, the Olora Brothers, and Hardscrabble will perform throughout the evening. This event will be live streamed for free on the Vilar Performing Arts Center’s YouTube channel on Sunday beginning at 5pm, and all viewers are encouraged to donate through MobileCause. Both the streaming and donation link can be accessed at vilarpac.org.

“We believe that music and the arts can help us cope, celebrate and express just a glimmer of our deep gratitude and admiration for these men,” says Owen Hutchinson, the Executive Director at VPAC. “Each of them made such a lasting and positive impact in our community, and we hope this live streamed event will offer those who knew them an evening to reflect, remember and rejoice all they brought to our lives.”

No in-person tickets are available to the public for this event. We hope everyone will join us from the comfort of their homes as we live stream the event from the VPAC stage.

On Monday, March 1 a local restaurant effort to raise funds for these families through Bonfire Brewing beer, Gather ‘Round Week, will launch at more than 20 venues across the county. 

VPAC Celebration of Life Event Page

Direct YouTube Link

Press Contact: Emily Hutto, coop@radcraftbeer.com

About VPAC

Located in the heart of Colorado's Beaver Creek Resort, the Vilar Performing Arts Center is a 535-seat theatre, operated by the Vail Valley Foundation, which presents a variety of year-round performances including Broadway musicals, concerts, family entertainment, comedy, dance, classical music and more. Visit vilarpac.org for more. 

Eagle Valley Restaurants Present Gather ‘Round Week in Celebration and Support of Avalanche Victims from Eagle, Colorado

EAGLE, CO— In response to the loss of three of Eagle’s community members in an avalanche in Silverton, Cameron Douglas who owns Montauk and El Segundo, has organized a county-wide effort for local restaurants to support the families of these victims through the liquid that brings us all together: Beer. Gather ‘Round Week, named after the Bonfire Brewing slogan and deep community impact in Eagle and beyond, will launch March 1 and go through March 7.

More than 20 restaurants and counting have committed to donating proceeds from Bonfire Brewing beers sold back to the Bossung, Jessen, and Palmer families during the first week of March. They are listed below and updated daily.

“This effort is about Eagle coming together to support these families who are anchors in our community,” Douglas says of Gather ‘Round Week. Douglas and his wife Heather have lived and worked in the valley for nearly 20 years, and experienced the power of the community to rally around its people. “From bikes to beers to conservation, these are three people who helped make Eagle cool. They’ve always given back, and now it’s our turn to do the same,” he adds.

“After this news broke, Cameron reached out to me with this idea having already gotten restaurants on board. Him taking this initiative shows just how much our community really cares about everyone in it,” says Bonfire’s Mountain Ale Ambassador Doug Fenske. “These restaurants and bars have always shown us an incredible amount of support throughout our 10 years in business, and now more than ever have shown us what it means to gather ‘round.” 

Cameron Douglas and his team are managing donations for Gather ‘Round Week. Restaurants interested in participating should contact montaukvail@gmail.com. 

To purchase Bonfire Beer to sell at your bar or restaurant, contact Doug Fenske at doug@bonfirebrewing.com or (970) 456-1491. 

Please contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com with any media inquiries about Gather ‘Round Week or Bonfire Brewing. 

PARTICIPATING VENUES

Assembly

Blue Moose

Boneyard

Charter

Chophouse

Color Coffee

Craftsmen

Dusty Boot

EL Segundo

E Town

Fall Line

Garfinkles

Grand Hyatt Vail

Lancelot

Landing Merchantile

La Nonna

La Tour

Los Amigos

Matsuhisa

Met Kitchen

Minturn Saloon

Moe's Eagle

Moe's Vail

Montauk

Mountain Standard

Northside/Benderz

Pickup’s Pizza

Red Lion

Russels

Sebastian

Sonnenalp

Sweet Leaf Pioneer

Sweet Basil

Vendettas

ABOUT MONTAUK AND EL SEGUNDO

Owned by Cameron Douglas, Montauk has been a Lionshead institution since it opened in 1987 and its sister company El Segundo has been thriving since its opening in 2019. Both culinary programs are managed by Chef Partner Dimitri Souvorin. Find the restaurants at montaukvail.com and elsegundovail.com. 

ABOUT BONFIRE BREWING

Craft enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers gather around Bonfire Brewing in Eagle, Colorado, where the beers are driven by quality, curiosity, and community. Founded in 2010, Bonfire continues on their path of sustainable growth with cans of their year-round beers available in liquor stores and restaurants across Colorado. Gather ‘round Bonfire online at bonfirebrewing.com.

Root Shoot Malting Wins 2021 Malt Cup for Genie Pale Malt

LOVELAND, CO— Root Shoot Malting was humbled and overjoyed to take home a Malt Cup over the weekend at the annual Craft Malt Conference put on by the Craft Maltsters Guild. 2021 marks the third year of this prestigious awards program and the third consecutive year Root Shoot has won. Root Shoot is the only malthouse in the world that can now make this claim.

Root Shoot’s popular Genie Pale Malt was the bronze recipient in this year’s Pale Malt category, which had 25 entries. The 2021 Malt Cup awards evaluation was conducted by 83 international judges who completed three rounds of sensory evaluation to determine the world’s best malt.

Root Shoot’s Genie Pale Malt starts as Limagrain Cereal Seed’s award-winning Genie 2-Row, which Troubadour Malting also cultivates in their Genie Pale and also won at the Malt Cup this year. More flavorful than a traditional 2-Row base malt, this light malt has notes of bread and honey making it an excellent base malt for any style beer. 

“We value camaraderie and mentorship in our craft malting industry, and we owe this award to our peers who have helped shape us along the way,” says Emily Olander, the co-owner at Root Shoot Malting. “It takes an enormous, dedicated team to produce award-winning malt three years in a row. Many thanks to our farmers, fellow maltsters, brewers, and distillers for guiding us along the way.”  

The Root Shoot crew watched and celebrated the awards ceremony at Timnath Beerwerks in Northern Colorado. “At Timnath Beerwerks, we use local craft malt for many reasons,” says Head Brewer and Co-Owner Cy Bevenger. “Quality and freshness make the decision easy from a brewing perspective. Combine that with the relationships that the fantastic people at Root Shoot (and Troubadour too!) strive to maintain with their customers and suppliers every single day, and there is no question as to why we support this great local business.” 

Root Shoot is grateful to Montana State University, DraughtLabs, and the Craft Maltsters Guild for their savvy Malt Cup judging process, and proud to stand beside the other 2021 Malt Cup winners– Gold Rush Malt, Malteria Italiana Artigianale, Troubadour Maltings, and Admiral Malting. 

For more information about Root Shoot Malting or the company’s third Malt Cup win, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT ROOT SHOOT MALTING

Root Shoot Malting is a 5th generation family farm and craft malthouse that supplies the Rocky Mountain region with craft malt and grains. Founded by the Olander family in 2016, Root Shoot harvests barley, wheat, rye and corn to give craft brewers and distillers high-quality taste in every glass. Located on the Olander Farms’ 112-acre farm in Loveland, Colorado, and approximately 1500 leased acres, Root Shoot is working to ensure that farmland remains available to grow grains for the beers and spirits of tomorrow. Find this craft maltster online at rootshootmalting.com.

Bonfire Brewing Statement: February 18, 2021

EAGLE, CO— The Bonfire Brewing team is humbled by the Eagle and Colorado beer communities that have offered support after the loss of Co-Owner Andy Jessen in an avalanche in Silverton. These volunteer and fundraising efforts have helped the brewery maintain operations to continue serving its community during this time of shock and grief.

In response to an outpouring of local support and to supplement unexpected expenses, Bonfire launched this GoFundMe campaign. 

In addition to contributing to this GoFundMe campaign, fans and friends of Colorado beer can support the brewery during this time by purchasing Bonfire beer at the tasting room in Eagle, at restaurants, or in liquor stores across Bonfire’s distribution footprint along the I-70 Corridor and across Colorado’s Front Range. They can also purchase merchandise at the brewery or through the online store and send cards to PO Box 5276.

Last week, residents of the town of Eagle honored Andy and fellow adventurers Adam Palmer and Seth Bossung with a gathering at Eagle’s River Park that Bonfire co-sponsored. The Town of Eagle also resurrected the now notorious Christmas penis monument that Andy adamantly crusaded to keep erect in effort to “Keep Eagle Weird” last year. 

Bonfire Brewing expresses deep gratitude for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), San Juan County Search and Rescue, and both the towns of Silverton and Eagle. 

“There aren’t enough words to say thank you to Eagle, the Colorado beer community, and beyond,” Amanda Jessen says. “We’re managing this crisis and our grief as best we know how, and deeply appreciate the grace, space, and support.” 

Bonfire Brewing is working with the Town of Eagle to livestream a charitable concert and memorial service for Andy, Adam, and Seth on February 28. More details will be announced later this week.

The Bonfire Brewing team and Jessen family do not have additional comments at this time. Please direct all media inquiries to Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT BONFIRE BREWING

Craft enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers gather around Bonfire Brewing in Eagle, Colorado, where the beers are driven by quality, curiosity, and community. Founded in 2010, Bonfire continues on their path of sustainable growth with cans of their year-round beers available in liquor stores and restaurants across Colorado. Gather ‘round Bonfire online at bonfirebrewing.com.

ESTER Introduces Proprietary Flavor Intelligence Technology and Predictive Personalization Data Engine to Craft Beverage Companies

NEW YORK, NY— ESTER, the Belgian-born Flavor Intelligence Platform now with a location in New York City, introduces its Early Adopter Program to craft breweries, wineries, and retailers near and far. 

ESTER’s Flavor Intelligence Portal and independent chemical as well as sensory panel testing is now available for breweries and wineries to engage with at its most affordable rate. This new program, already adopted by regional players Sierra Nevada, Boston Beer, Deschutes Brewery, and Craft Beer Cellar, empowers producers and retailers to target new customers based on the most comprehensive flavor analysis available today. 

ESTER's comprehensive scientific approach analyzes 250+ chemical compounds, product packaging, and sensory analysis from it's trained specialized panel. Brand data is then mapped within the proprietary ESTER recommendation database including other leading brands worldwide. This unbiased technology matches customers to beers and wines that they are predisposed to prefer based on authoritative and sound sensory insights, eliminates unconscious bias, and delivers personalized recommendations more likely to reward the end customer.

Early producer adopters of ESTER have access to the world’s most comprehensive analysis via the continuously updated producer portal, with the capability to download the raw data using the current functionalities available free for life. They also have the opportunity to be showcased in the ESTER U.S. book and brand list website coming out in 2021. 

“My passion for the individuality of flavor goes back to my childhood, fighting with my mom about whether I liked my greens or not,” explains ESTER’s Co-Founder and CEO Jean Van Damme. “That stubbornness turned to curiosity when I went on to study food science at the University of Leuven and then work in grocery retail. I was struck by the gap between retailer’s focus on customer needs, yet lack of information about their preferences. It has become my life’s work to understand and bridge that gap, and to leverage our knowledge to drive innovation that levels the playing field for all businesses of all sizes in the space.” 

The lowest introductory rate of ESTER’s Early Adopter Program will apply to the first 250 beer or wine brands signed up.

Set up a demonstration of this game-changing new product by emailing contact@ester.ai.

# # #

Press Assets: available for download here

Press Contact: Emily Hutto, coop@radcraftbeer.com

ABOUT ESTER  

ESTER is building the most comprehensive beverage flavor intelligence that exists today, an AI engine to understand flavor on a personalized level. Consumers use ESTER to explore their unique flavor preferences through efficient exploration, while retailers and producers use ESTER to increase customer loyalty and sales. This integrative technology was launched in Belgium in 2018 by Jean Van Damme, Didier Vanden Broucke, and Frederik Durant, and brought to the American market in 2020. Through academic partnerships with the Verstrepen lab at the University of Leuven and Cornell University, ESTER has grown into a multidisciplinary team of scientists, data engineers, developers, and UX experts on a mission to use the latest science and machine learning technology to deliver innovation to the food system. Learn more at ester.ai.

2021 Malt Cup Winners, Soles of Malt Recipient Named During First Virtual Craft Malt Conference Awards Ceremony

The Craft Maltsters Guild (CMG) is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2021 Malt Cup, as well as the recipient of the annual Soles of Malt Award. The virtual awards ceremony was broadcasted and streamed live as the finale of the best-attended Craft Malt Conference yet on February 12, for which malt enthusiasts and craft beer lovers tuned in from all over the world. 

2021 was the first time CMG hosted the conference virtually, and the first year the guild opened up this one-of-a-kind competition to international malthouses. 28 malthouses from seven countries, 17 states, and one province submitted a total of 46 entries. Altogether, this year’s submissions spanned 29 different malt barley varieties.

The 2021 Malt Cup awards evaluation took place in three phases over two months. Malthouses sent samples to Montana State University's Barley, Malt & Brewing Quality Lab, where researchers conducted quality control analysis to ensure that each entry meets the competing category criteria. The qualifying samples then underwent hot steep sensory evaluation at 17 different judging locations across the United States and Canada. Judges reported sensory data such as aroma, flavor, and aroma via DraughtLab, a sensory software. The DraughtLab team is an on-going partner in the competition.

In the final round, additional judge panels evaluated the top malts in each category to determine the top winners. Judges examined both the certificate of analysis for each malt and conducted further hot steep sensory evaluation to make decisions about the world’s best craft malt. In total, 83 judges worked together to determine the following winners: 

PILSEN MALT 

• Gold -  Gold Rush Malt (Baker City, OR, USA)

• Silver - Malteria Italiana Artigianale (Gualdo Cattaneo, PG, Italy)

• Bronze - Admiral Maltings (Alameda, CA, USA)

PALE MALT 

• Gold -  Gold Rush Malt (Baker City, OR, USA)

• Silver - Troubadour Maltings (Fort Collins, CO, USA)

• Bronze  - Root Shoot Malting (Loveland, CO, USA)

2021 MALT CUP WINNER

Gold Rush Malt was awarded Best of Show and became the first malt house to win two gold medals in a single season. 

SOLES OF MALT AWARD

The Soles of Malt Award is an award that honors individuals who stand out for their leadership, selflessness, and philanthropic stewardship of craft malt. The award is named in memory of William Soles, co-founder of Grouse Malt House. The recipient of the 2021 Soles of Malt Award is Paul Schwarz, professor of Malting Barley Quality in the Department of Plant Sciences at North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND. 

“Paul has taught many students now employed in the malting, brewing, and food science industries, especially in craft malting about crop diseases, beer gushing, and malt quality analysis,” says  Dave Thomas, Brewer Emeritus at Dostal Alley Brewery. “I have personally witnessed Paul's uncanny ability to spot the variety, quality, and stage of development or diseases in cereal grain fields from the window of a moving car at 60mph on a backcountry road!"

“Agricultural contributions like Schwarz’s and exceptional final products from Malt Cup winners continue to elevate craft malt as a critical value add for craft brewers and distillers across the globe,” says Jesse Bussard, CMG Executive Director. “In turn, they help to establish the importance of flavor, sustainable supply chains, and engaged communities in the beverage industry and beyond.” 

#CRAFTMALTCON2021
This year’s virtual format via Crowdsource allowed for 265 total attendees and 30 speakers from six continents, 15 countries, and 36 United States to tap into the most accessible craft malt education in the world. 

CMG extends congratulations to all of the 2021 winners and gratitude to all speakers, sponsors, and participants. 

To learn more about these prestigious awards programs or the North American Craft Maltsters Guild, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT THE CRAFT MALTSTERS GUILD

Formed in 2013 by eight craft malthouses, the Craft Maltsters Guild’s mission is to promote and sustain the tradition of craft malting in North America, provide services and resources to the Association’s members, and uphold the highest quality and safety standards for craft maltsters. Learn more about the Craft Maltsters Guild at www.craftmalting.com.

Craft Maltsters Guild Announces Newly Elected and Returning Board Members

BOZEMAN, MT—  The Craft Maltsters Guild (CMG) is thrilled to announce the new election of the largest and most diversely talented Board of Directors yet, just in time for the annual gathering of its community at the virtual 2021 Craft Malt Conference.

The CMG Board of Directors is a group of individuals dedicated to holding craft malting to the highest standards, responsible for the general administration of the association’s activities and creating policy on behalf of the Guild. Members of the board of directors are elected by malthouse members of the Guild and will serve a three-year term. 

This year, the Craft Maltsters Guild will welcome back three existing members and welcome five new members to the Board of Directors. 

Introducing the 2021 class of CMG board members:

(* Indicates new to the board in 2021) 

Member Malthouse Seats 

Hillary Barile. Returning for a second term, Barile is the Secretary of the Guild and an existing member of the board. Barile is a farmer, maltster, and partner at Rabbit Hill Farm. She brings a big-picture lens to the translation of agriculture to the consumer with her commodity farming background and breadth of leadership experience.

Jeff Malkiewicz. Co-Founder of Great Lakes Malting Co., Malkiewicz is returning as Guild Treasurer for a second term. He continues to oversee membership growth and technical initiatives. 

*Curtis Davenport. Prior to co-founding Admiral Maltings, Davenport grew organic fruits, vegetables, barley, and wheat in Santa Barbara County, CA. He began floor malting inside a converted shipping container in 2013 and has been a member of the Craft Maltsters Guild ever since.

*Matt Enns. Founder of Maker's Malts, Enns wears many hats in barley research and education, including leadership roles at the Saskatchewan Barley Board, Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute, Canadian Malting Barley Technical Center, and the Prairie Grain Development Committee.  

Allied Trade Seats

*Branch Rothschild. As Brewhouse Manager at Allagash Brewing Co. and long-time member of the Master Brewers Association of America (MBAA), Rothschild’s role in the craft beer community has become increasingly centered around the production of barley. 

Hannah Turner. Another returning Board of Director’s seat, Turner is the Director of the Montana State University Barley, Malt, & Brewery Quality Lab that works to improve barley of all kinds and offers barley and malt testing for farmers and craft maltsters. 

Individual Seats

* Ryan Hamilton, is the Executive Director of the Michigan Barely Association and a Professional Aide for Malting Barley Outreach at Michigan State University. Hamilton has a rich background and connections in research and academia and brings a valuable perspective on building sustainable barley value chains.  

*Jason Parker. Co-Founder and President at Copperworks Distilling Co., Parker is a founding member of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission with a long history of brewing and distilling. 

“We’re excited about the fresh, new perspectives the incoming class of new and returning board members bring to the craft malt community,” says Jesse Bussard, the Executive Director of the CMG. “Their collective experiences and professions span the supply chain from field to glass including not only craft maltsters but two university researchers, a brewer, and a distiller as well.” 

Members of the new board will attend and help execute the virtual 2021 Craft Malt Conference February 10 through 12. Registration for this continuing education opportunity closes on Tuesday, February 9. 

The Craft Maltsters Guild extends farewell to outgoing board members Twila Soles of Grouse Malt House and Dave Thomas of Dostal Alley Brewery, with gratitude for their service to the craft malt community. 

ABOUT THE CRAFT MALTSTERS GUILD

Formed in 2013 by eight craft malthouses, the Craft Maltsters Guild’s mission is to promote and sustain the tradition of craft malting in North America, provide services and resources to the Association’s members, and uphold the highest quality and safety standards for craft maltsters. Learn more about the Craft Maltsters Guild at www.craftmalting.com.