Craft Maltsters Guild Announces 2024 Malt Cup Winners In MaltCon2024 Recap

DAVIS, CA – The Craft Malt Conference (aka MaltCon) took place at the University of California Davis in February. Organized by the Craft Maltsters Guild, the conference serves to gather stakeholders and grow the market for regional, artisanally-produced malted grain in geographies around North America and beyond. The Craft Maltsters Guild is pleased to report on its international attendance, six scholarship recipients, host of Malt Cup winners, and the recipient of the Soles of Malt award.

The conference itself consisted of two days of networking and technical sessions with some of the industry’s leading experts. Pre-conference events included a four-day Advanced Class in Craft Malt Production; a day of malt quality judging for the Malt Cup; and a welcome reception at Admiral Maltings in Alameda, where participants could tour a production-scale floor malting operation while sampling dozens of beverages made with craft malt from around the United States.

More than 150 individuals from 11 countries participated in this year’s conference across virtual and in-person formats. Of those, more than 120 attendees traveled from North America, Europe, and Asia to participate in the in-person programming

Approximately one third of MaltCon2024 participants represented malting operations. Brewery and distillery producers comprised about 9 percent of attendees. The remaining participants were university researchers, professors, sponsors and other allied trade professionals, and members of the media. Six farm operators were in attendance. 

Six scholarship recipients participated in this year’s conference:  Don Tse, Lee Dongwook & Katherine Olson (shared), Angelo Ruiz, Rodney Zinyemba, and LaShanda Poteat. Meet the 2024 scholars here. 

2024 MALT CUP 

The Craft Maltsters Guild’s Malt Cup remains the world’s only malt quality competition, inviting maltsters of all shapes and sizes to compete for the best malt in various common categories. This year’s Malt Cup expanded to six categories: Caramel, Light Munich, Pale Malt, Pilsen, Vienna, and Wheat. Entries in these categories came from 26 malthouses in five countries. Malt Cup entries were scored in three rounds by 70 judges, a process facilitated by the Montana State University Barley, Malt & Brewing Quality Lab, and DraughtLab. 

Congratulations to Hogarth Malt, named Best in Show in the 2024 competition, who took the coveted traveling Malt Cup home with them to Alberta, Canada.

Here are the medal-winning malthouses by category:

Pilsen

• Gold – Hogarth Malt - Olds, Alberta

• Silver – Blue Ox Malthouse - Lisbon Falls, Maine

• Bronze – 3D Malt - Camrose, Alberta

Pale Malt

• Gold – Malteria Italiana Artigianale - Perugia, Italy

• Silver – Field Five Farm - Saanichton, BC

• Bronze – Root Shoot Malting - Loveland, Colorado

Vienna

• Gold – 3D Malt

• Silver – Murmuration Malts - Bloomfield, New York

• Bronze – Admiral Maltings - Alameda, California 

Light Munich

• Gold – Root Shoot Malting

• Silver – Hogarth Malt

• Bronze – Field Five Farm

Caramel

• Gold – Troubadour Maltings - 

• Silver – Red Shed Malting - Red Deer County, Alberta

• Bronze – Blue Ox Malthouse

Wheat

• Gold – Root Shoot Malting

• Silver – Riverbend Malt House - Asheville, North Carolina 

• Bronze – LINC Malt - Spokane Valley, WA

Watch the replay of the 2024 Awards Ceremony at maltcon.online. 

SOLES OF MALT AWARD

Given annually over the past seven years, The Soles Of Malt award was created in memory of craft maltster William Soles and stands for selfless and philanthropic stewardship of craft malt. Each year, a selection committee considers a wide range of craft malt community members and ultimately must make a tough decision. Congratulations to the 2024 Soles of Malt Award recipient, Dr. Patrick Hayes, Professor Emeritus at Oregon State University, who was nominated by multiple Guild members this year for his work furthering malt education, developing new barley varietals, and establishing the OSU Research Malthouse– among many other milestones in his career. Hayes says he’s been privileged to work with an evolving team of colleagues at Barley World until his retirement in 2023. 

SPEAKERS

The Craft Maltsters Guild extends gratitude to the 2024 Craft Malt Conference keynote speakers Dr. Patrick Hayes and Dr. Xiang Yin, Vice President for Corporate Quality and Innovation at the Rahr Corporation in Minnesota; and all of the experts who contributed their insights and research to this year’s programming. Speakers represented various roles in the small grains supply chain and intersecting industries, including barley breeders, farmers, maltsters, brewers, distillers, professors, students, and scientists. 

SPONSORS 

The Craft Malt Conference is made possible by generous organizations committed to supporting our members with their contributions. 

Presenting Partners

Malters Advantage

GlycoSpot

Supporting Partners

Kaspar Schulz

Laizhou Yingtai Machinery Co., Ltd

Buhler Group

Valued Partners

MSU Barley, Malt & Brewing Lab

RadCraft

Sudwerk Brewing Company

 Community Partner

Admiral Maltings  

SPECIAL THANKS

A special thank you is owed to several individuals who contributed substantial volunteer support via the Guild’s Conference Planning Committee: Harmonie Bettenhausen of Hartwick College, Campbell Morrissy of pFriem Family Brewers & Oregon State University, Glen Fox of UC Davis, and Curtis Davenport of Admiral Maltings. Harmonie and Campbell were particularly influential in the development of the conference program. Glen provided key support on behalf of the conference venue. Curtis ensured that conference attendees left feeling inspired about the impact and potential of regional craft malting facilities.

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about the Craft Maltsters Guild or the 2024 conference. Media assets are available for download here.

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. 

Riverbend Malt House Appalachian Wheat Malt Wins 2024 Malt Cup

ASHEVILLE, NC– Riverbend Malt House came home from MaltCon2024 with new hardware last month. The Craft Maltsters Guild awarded silver to Riverbend’s malted wheat in the new Wheat category of the Malt Cup, a prestigious malt quality competition that rigorously judges entries from all over the world.

2024 is the seventh year of the Malt Cup, which recognized craft maltsters for the quality and consistency in six malt varieties. Entries were submitted from 26 malthouses in five countries, and evaluated in three rounds by 70 industry judges. 

Riverbend’s Appalachian Wheat malt, popular among both brewing and distilling customers, received the silver medal in a brand new Wheat category. This malt is produced using soft red winter wheat and kilned with elevated temperatures to enhance aromas of freshly baked bread and toast. It’s a versatile style that augments grain bills across categories— from Lager to IPA to Wheated Whiskey. 

“Appalachian Wheat is like fresh baked bread,” says South Main Brewing Co-Owner and Head Brewer Nic Farley. “We use it in many of our beers for which we want a good haze, or to improve head retention.”

South Main and many other producers such as End Of Days Distillery, Fullsteam Brewery, Lookout Brewing, and Weldon Mills use Appalachian Wheat to craft their mainstay products. 

“This product has been a part of our lineup since the early days and we are excited to take home a medal for it,” says Riverbend Malt House Co-Founder Brent Manning. “We initially experimented with several heirloom varieties, but after several years of testing and trials we recognized that our process was driving more of the flavor than the variety itself. Definitely a surprise to both us and our customers!”

The flavor and performance of this malt have helped Appalachian Wheat take part in numerous trends over the years. From Hefeweizen to Gosé to NEIPA, this malt has stood the test of time.

Order Appalachian Wheat or any other of Riverbend’s malts for brewers and distillers, email orders@riverbendmalt.com. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Riverbend Malt House.

ABOUT RIVERBEND MALT HOUSE

Riverbend Malt House is on a quest to connect Southeastern family owned farms and fermenters. Co-Founders Brent Manning and Brian Simpson launched Riverbend, the first craft malthouse east of the Mississippi River, in Asheville, North Carolina in 2010. Buoyed by a 70,000 foot production facility and state of the art equipment, Riverbend Malt House helps breweries and distilleries large, small, and in-between stand out with flavor, locality, and community in an increasingly competitive landscape— all the while challenging the status quo of corporate, big-agriculture malt. Learn more at riverbendmalt.com.

Ska Brewing Announces the Launch of Southwest Coast IPA: The Brew That Bridges the Divide Between East and West

"Southwest Coast IPA: It's Not Just a Beer, It's a Direction."

DURANGO, CO— In an unprecedented move that promises to unite hop enthusiasts across the Four Corners of the United States, Ska Brewing unveils their latest creation: the Southwest Coast IPA. This groundbreaking New-World IPA is brewed with a mission—to bring together the bold, adventurous spirit of the West Coast IPA with the innovative hopping techniques of the East Coast, all while paying homage to the vibrant cultures and landscapes of the Southwest.

 "With the Southwest Coast IPA, we decided to throw the rulebook into the mash tun and brew something that resonates with the soul of the Southwest,” said Ska Co-Founder Dave Thibodeau. “Think of it as a hoppy road trip through the Four Corners, but you don't need to leave your barstool."

Crafted for those who navigate life by the compass of their taste buds, this innovative IPA is as daring as a cliff dive in the Grand Canyon and as refreshing as a snowmelt river in Colorado. The Southwest Coast IPA is bright and crisp; the addition of Bravo, Idaho 7, Columbus, Simcoe, and Strata hops create a harmonious blend of grapefruit and tropical fruit aromas that dance like a desert mirage on the palate.

Available in 16-ounce cans and only in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, the Southwest Coast IPA is set to make a splash in the craft beer scene. Whether you're scaling the mesas of New Mexico, exploring the red rocks of Utah, shredding the slopes of Colorado, or surfing the waves of your Arizona beachfront property, this beer is your perfect companion.

“The Southwest Coast IPA is here to challenge what you know about IPAs and take you on a flavor journey that's as vast and varied as the Southwest itself,” said Thibodeau. “Grab a pint, kick back, and let Ska Brewing take you on a tour of the Four Corners—one sip at a time.”

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Founded in Durango, CO, by a group of friends who loved brewing beer almost as much as they loved ska music, Ska Brewing has been on a mission to deliver fearless and bold beer since 1995. Known for their eclectic style, commitment to sustainability, and a penchant for fun, Ska Brewing continues to be a beacon of creativity in the craft beer industry. For more information about Ska Brewing or the Southwest Coast IPA, please visit skabrewing.com or follow us on social media.

Lone Tree Brewing In Parker, CO To Celebrate Grand Opening March 1

LONE TREE, CO— Lone Tree Brewing will open the doors in its second location in Parker, Colorado on Friday, March 1 with a community celebration and a tapping of a new Juicy-Hazy IPA. 

The new Lone Tree Brewing taproom will be open at noon on Friday at the new taproom, located at 18425 Pony Express Drive. Guests can look forward to the first sips of this year’s batch of Lone Tree’s award winning Mexican Lager, and twelve other Lone Tree beers on tap— and beer and merchandise to-go too. Lindsey Giffey will play live music from 4 to 7pm and the Outpost Eatery food truck will serve from 3 to 8pm.

Lone Tree Brewing’s second taproom is located in the former Barnett & Son Brewing Co. Barnett & Son Owner Andrew Barnett’s retirement catalyzed this transaction, explains Lone Tree Brewing Founder John Winter. “We want to congratulate our friend Andrew on this bookend of his career, and express our gratitude for his friendship for all of these years. Now it’s our turn to serve him on the other side of this bar.”

The Lone Tree brewing team will soon start brewing at its new location, expanding capacity for experimentation with more draft-only batches. 

Media interested in covering or joining at Lone Tree Brewing’s Parker Grand Opening can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@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.

North Carolina Maltster Innovates Malt Styles and Connects Grain To Glass; 2023 By The Numbers at Riverbend Malt House

ASHEVILLE, NC— The first craft malthouse in the South had a strong year of business growth, community development, and customer engagement in 2023. Here is the Riverbend Malt House 2023 Year In Review.

Production and Capacity

In 2023, Riverbend Malt House malted almost 4 million pounds of craft malt, which included flagship styles as well as custom and smoked malt for specialty projects. This number represents a growth of more than 20 percent over 2022.

The malt house added conveyance equipment that allowed for the filling of its first bulk truck orders in 2023. This exciting upgrade will allow them to fill silos across the region with top quality local malt.

In response to the growing demand for smoked malt, Riverbend additionally installed an unloader that will allow for more seamless transportation of smoked malts from their retrofitted shipping container smokehouse⁠. 

Local Farmers and Customers 

In 2023, Riverbend sourced grain from family-owned farms across the Southeast region, including North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky  Virginia, Georgia, and Florida—  all within 500 miles of the malthouse. Learn more in Riverbend’s video Craft Malt Powered By Family Farms. 

Riverbend sold malt to more than 300 breweries and distilleries in 2023, a figure that includes more than 70 new customers. 

Malt Innovation

Riverbend’s malt portfolio grew to include seasonal products that included the Hickory King Corn variety as an addition to Riverbend’s malted corn products. The malt house’s ongoing experimentation with kilning regimes coupled with customer demand yielded a new year-round Crystal 50 product as well. 

Riverbend’s ​​stock of Avalon 2-Row barley bred by the Eastern Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center increased exponentially in 2023, which allowed for the malt house to craft both a Pale and Pilsner styles of this variety.  “Adoption of Avalon has happened quickly throughout the Southeast and we were excited to have lots from North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee to work with this year,” says Riverbend Malt House Co-Founder Brent Manning.

2023 brought many custom malt projects to Riverbend Malt House, including a malt made with a custom water profile to mimic the water chemistry found in Belgium. This custom malt, Farmhouse Pilsner, was first crafted for Little Animals Brewery and Leveller Brewing collaboration beer. 

Malt With A Mission 

In total, Riverbend redirected approximately 200,000 pounds of waste from landfill in 2023.

In partnership with the local cattle operations, Riverbend composted 15 tons of organic waste and diverted 30,000 pounds of polywoven plastic from the landfills this year; a malt bag recycling program activated by the Asheville Brewers Alliance and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. 

Also in 2023, Riverbend was pleased to become the first malt house licensor for Beer To Bags, a North Carolina-based innovator in the upcycling space turning spent malt bags to create stylish totes.

Riverbend upgraded all 141 of our light fixtures to LED panels in September. Installing these panels will result in a 64% reduction in power consumption associated with factory lighting. These efficiency improvements resulted in a 12% reduction in energy consumption in Q4 2023 compared to 2022.

Riverbend Malt House made a donation to Waterkeeper Alliance for each of the 2023 customer surveys they received. 

Finally, Riverbend was pleased to donate Calypso barley seed to Community Malt spearheaded by Harlem Brewery. This is a collaborative initiative for Black and BIPOC farmers in North Carolina and Virginia who are cultivating small grains as a viable crop. ⁠

Events & Community

Riverbend Chesapeake Pilsner malt was selected as the single malt in the recipes at the 2023 Florida SMaSH Festival. This annual gathering, hosted by Hourglass Brewing and B.E.A.R.D. to raise funds and awareness for A Spoon Full of Hope, raised $16.027.74 in support of sustainable careers in the food industry; all the while showing off the prowess and creativity of Florida craft breweries. 

Riverbend Avalon Pilsner is the feature malt of the 2024 Florida SMaSH Festival. “We’re beyond excited to sample what will undoubtedly be a full-color spectrum of expressions of Avalon from so many different breweries,” says Manning. 

Riverbend was proud to be a part of five beers brewed around International Women's Day in support of the Pink Boots Society; the Birmingham brewers collaboration beer, BirmingHelles made with the first malting barley grown in Alabama at WK Farms in Hamilton AL, that Cahaba Brewing spearheaded; and a second year of the Brick Store Pub Craft Malt Showcase of Southern beers made with Riverbend malt.  

Riverbend and Bootleg Biology hosted the successful inaugural Southern Lager Invitational at Harding House Brewing Co. during the 2023 Craft Brewers Conference in Nashville. This celebration of classic and innovative lagers that feature Southern-grown ingredients will return in 2024, slated to take place on May 25 at The Mule in Asheville. 

Riverbend’s Co-Founder Brent Manning presented at the Craft Brewers Conference, providing a summary of the successful Farm To Tap festivals and guidance for successful event management. Manning also took part in several conferences, sharing 10 years of craft malt memories at various trade events, including the North Carolina Craft Brewers Conference and MaltCon2023. 

Awards & Accolades 

2023 marks the sixth consistent year of Riverbend’s Living Wage Certified Employer status from Just Economics. It also marks Riverbend’s second consecutive year named on the  Inc. 5000 list. In August, Riverbend was named number 3,992 of the fastest growing private companies in the country in this prestigious ranking. 

Throughout the year, many of Riverbend’s customers were recognized by multiple awards programs for beers made with Riverbend malt– including the Great American Beer Festival®, the World Beer Cup®, the U.S. Beer Open, the North Carolina and South Carolina Brewers Cups, the Florida Brewers Ball , and the Good Food Awards. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer with media inquiries about Riverbend Malt House. 

ABOUT RIVERBEND MALT HOUSE

Riverbend Malt House is on a quest to connect Southeastern family owned farms and fermenters. Co-Founders Brent Manning and Brian Simpson launched Riverbend, the first craft malthouse east of the Mississippi River, in Asheville, North Carolina in 2010. Buoyed by a 70,000 foot production facility and state of the art equipment, Riverbend Malt House helps breweries and distilleries large, small, and in-between stand out with flavor, locality, and community in an increasingly competitive landscape— all the while challenging the status quo of corporate, big-agriculture malt. Learn more at riverbendmalt.com.

Mexican Lager 12-Packs, 12 Years, and A GABF Medal: Lone Tree Brewing Publishes 2023 Year In Review

LONE TREE, CO— In 2023, Lone Tree Brewing won a coveted GABF® medal for its best-selling Mexican Lager, introduced 12-packs of said lager to distribution, contributed $4,500 to causes the brewery cares about, and celebrated 12 years in the Colorado craft beer business. 

Here is the 2023 Lone Tree Brewing Company Year In Review. 

Beer In Review 

Lone Tree brought back its popular Hefeweizen, Oktoberfest, and Vanilla Caramel Amber in seasonal cans in 2023, and also introduced the year-round SKU Blueberry Blonde and winter seasonal Brownie Stout across Colorado and Kansas. In the fall, the legendary Hop Zombie Imperial Red IPA crept on tasting room taps for one day only. In the winter, the brewery introduced Brownie Stout in cans.

This year Lone Tree also introduced 12-packs of its flagship and decorated Mexican Lager. This beer, Lone Tree’s top seller, won its third Great American Beer Festival® medal, a silver in the American Light Lager category at the 2023 awards. 

Production

Lone Tree produced 3,543 barrels of beer in 2023, using 239,000 pounds of grain and 3,600 pounds of hops. Lone Tree filled 570,048 cans last year.

Throughout the year, the brewery recaptured 130,820 gallons of water and reused pallet wraps that saved 400 pounds of plastic wrap from landfills.

Sales & Distribution 

Lone Tree sold beer across Colorado and Kansas through longstanding distribution partnerships; Western Distributing and Ska Brewing in Colorado, and Worldwide Beverage Group in Kansas.

Community and Events

Lone Tree’s philanthropic contributions totaled $4,500 in 2023. Among the recipients were Drink for Pink, Big Dogs Huge Paws, the Evans Scholarship Fund, Douglas County Libraries, the Honor Bell Foundation, and the Moving Mountains Animal Rescue. The third annual Douglas County School District Bridge Transition Program & Lone Tree Brewing car show raised more than $12,000 that helps facilitate the transition from school to the adult world through meaningful learning opportunities within the classroom and community. 

In 2023, Lone Tree presented its annual market series including the Summer, Oktoberfest and Fall Craft markets; each featuring more than 20 local craft vendors. 

Exciting for Lone Tree Brewing’s tasting room customers is the installation of a new photo wall that sports Lone Tree’s slogan, Take Root Grow Friends. Social media selfies are encouraged, with the hashtag #takerootgrowfriends. 

In December of 2023, Lone Tree celebrated 12 years in business with four specialty beers made for the occasion. The brewery extends gratitude to its friends and family for coming out to celebrate another successful year in business. 

Moving Forward 

“We’re always giving our portfolio close examination to stay nimble in the dynamic Colorado beer marketplace, and we’re pleased to see consumer demand for styles that we love to brew the most— including lagers, fruit beer, and traditional European styles,” says Lone Tree Brewing Sales & Marketing Director Dennis Stack. “We’re thrilled that our customers love Hefeweizen and Oktoberfest, two seasonals that sold out rapidly last year. Both of those beers will return in 2024, along with two new seasonal cans: Juicy IPA in spring, and building upon the momentum of the Mexican Lager category with Lime Mexican Lager in summer.” 

Lone Tree will celebrate the grand opening of its second location in Parker (at 18425 Pony Express Drive) on Friday, March 1. After years of searching for another space, the company is thrilled to expand in 2024. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Lone Tree Brewing Co. 

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, and has remained a local staple for a decade. 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 Colorado, and in select locations in Kansas. Find the brewery online at lonetreebrewingco.com.

Maine’s Blue Ox Malthouse 2023 Year In Review: 10 Years Of Maine Malt; Expansion, Beer Collaborations, and Two Malt Cup Awards

LISBON FALLS, ME— 2023 will go down as a historic year for Maine’s first malting operation, Blue Ox Malthouse. The company celebrated a decade in business this year, and broke ground on an expansion that will make it the largest floor malting operation in North America. Blue Ox is proud of its growing team and increasingly meaningful connections among Northeastern agricultural communities, and beyond. 

In March 2023, Blue Ox Malthouse was awarded two prestigious Malt Cup awards during MaltCon2023 in Portland, Maine. Blue Ox Floor Malted Pale and Floor Malted Light Munich malts earned bronze medals.

Also during the 2023 Craft Malt Conference, Novare Res Bier Cafe hosted an all craft malt tap takeover featuring several beers made with Blue Ox malt that the Beer Sessions podcast marks as one of the ‘best beer moments of the year’ in Episode No. 694. 

In addition to the Craft Malt Conference, Blue Ox participated in several events supporting Maine’s food systems, including Grain To Glass Freeport, the 2023 New England Beer Summit, and the National Barley Improvement Committee meeting.

In April 2023, Blue Ox Malthouse turned ten. Founder Joel Alex expressed his thoughts on a decade of Blue Ox malt on Instagram. ”What a wild ride. The last ten years seem like a blink of an eye, but if I think of how far we’ve come and moved the needle in connecting craft brewers to local ingredients and the impact on the farmer, I am really proud,” he adds. “It’s been a team effort and required the hard work of many people along the way–employees, customers, farmers, and community partners included.” 

Alex and team were thrilled to visit Porter Farms in Aroostook County and Crystal Springs Farm in Cumberland County, Maine during the 2023 harvest season. “We carefully select farm partners who steward the land with sustainable practices that make for the healthiest soil possible,” Alex says. “What starts at the seed supports the highest quality beer, spirits, and food products made with Blue Ox malt.” 

In the fall, Blue Ox began construction on a major malthouse expansion that will quadruple its production capacity. This growth will establish the malthouse as the largest dedicated floor malting facility on the continent; Not to mention, it will increase hiring capacity for staff of more diverse physical abilities and space and equipment to support a wider range of malt products, including roasted malts. 

The Blue Ox team is growing. This year, they were pleased to bring on Ian Goering as the malthouse’s Account Manager. Goering comes to the malthouse with 12+ years of experience in the New England brewing industry and with a diploma from the American Brewers Guild and experience at breweries in Maine and New Hampshire— most notably as Head Brewer at Tributary Brewing Company. He was most recently the head of production at Aprés. “He is an amazing knowledge resource for our customers,” says Alex. In total, Blue Ox Malthouse now has a team of six skilled malthouse professionals. 

2023 was a year of notable collaborations for Maine’s first malthouse. Maine breweries from across The Pine Tree State made collaboration beers featuring Blue Ox malt in support of the Maine Brewers Guild. In Delaware, Dogfish Head selected Blue Ox Vyenna Malt to create The Most Comfortable Logger In The Woods Vienna Lager with other Maine-grown ingredients, including wild blueberries, turmeric, ginger, and sage. 

Also in 2023, Blue Ox made the switch to entirely solar-generated power. The malthouse is proud to work with Perch Community Solar on this eco-friendly solution. 

Looking forward, Blue Ox is excited to build capacity to meet the growing demand for North American malt for craft breweries and distilleries. More details about the expansion will be announced in coming months. 

Media inquiring about Blue Ox Malthouse can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT BLUE OX MALTHOUSE

Launched in April 2013 by community organizer and homebrewer-turned-maltster Joel Alex, Blue Ox Malthouse is Maine's first malting operation and was founded with the mission of creating more robust, resilient, and equitable regional food systems.. Blue Ox Malthouse seeks to push possibilities in craft beer and spirits by supporting shorter supply chains and thoughtful farming practices.. Reinvigorating a centuries-old floor malting techniques and tradition, Blue Ox is committed to these community-focused methods while constantly innovating to serve as a model for sustainable rural economic development. Learn more at blueoxmalthouse.com.

Billy Goat Hop Farm Wins Cascade Cup For Second Consecutive Year

MONTROSE, CO— In January, Billy Goat Hop Farm was named the first place winner of Hop Quality Group’s 2024 Cascade Cup for the second consecutive year. They are the first farm to ever win the award in back-to-back years. 

The Cascade Cup is the ultimate challenge for the best Cascade hops in the country. It’s an annual competition for growers all over the United States to showcase their best Cascade crop that is judged by an expert panel of brewing professionals in the Hop Quality Group who blindly pick a winner based on appearance, aroma, and hop analysis. Cascade was chosen because it is the most widely grown variety and not proprietary, allowing most farmers nationwide to participate.  

Last year, Billy Goat Hop Farm entered the Cascade Cup for the first time and won first place, making the farm the first outside of Washington and Oregon to ever win this prestigious award. 

“We are surprised, appreciative, and very grateful to win the Cascade Cup again. What an honor and an amazing industry to be a part of,” say Co-Founders Chris DellaBianca and Audrey Gehlhausen. “We share this victory with all of our fellow craft hop farmers across the country. I guess it’s time to start using craft hops in craft beer,” Gehlhausen adds with a smile. 

More than 50 breweries across the country have utilized this crop of Billy Goat’s award-winning Cascade hops, with their largest purchasers being Steel Bender Brewyard in Albuquerque, Wren House Brewing in Phoenix, and Tree House Brewing in Massachusetts. Although Billy Goat has already sold out of Cascade for this season, all of their varieties— including Chinook, Comet, Columbus, and Magnum, to name a few — are grown and processed with the same hands-on care, and now available for purchase. 

At 32 acres, Billy Goat Hop Farm is able to stay more hands-on in every aspect of farming and processing than the typical 500+ acre farm. Their smaller size also allows them to catch pests and disease early, dramatically decreasing the need for chemical inputs. Using multiple soil health practices, Billy Goat takes pride in creating a vital living ecosystem sustaining its plants, animals, and humans— while also conserving water. 

Learn more about Billy Goat Hop Farm and their craft hops at billygoathopfarm.com. Breweries interested in purchasing hops can contact billygoathopfarm@gmail.com and media inquiring about the farm and their recent Cascade Cup win can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT BILLY GOAT HOP FARM

Billy Goat Hop Farm is the largest hop farm in the Southwest, providing superior quality fresh, whole cone, and pelletized hops directly to craft brewers. Starting in 2017, they've grown to 32 acres that produce 9 varieties of craft hops. In 2022, they began sourcing different varieties of whole cone hops from other quality growers, and then processing themselves in order to offer more varieties to their brewers. 

Owners and farmers Chris and Audrey pride themselves on creating genuine farmer-brewer relations and bringing true craft into their process. Combining traditional hands-on practices and state-of-the-art technology, they use less water and chemicals which transcends into a healthier ecosystem, soil, and hop plants. Brewers enjoy the bright aroma and subtly unique aroma profile imparted from Colorado's terroir, and the passion poured into every step of the process. 

Know your farmer, Love your beer. 

Ely Cartwright To Release One Take Sessions

NATIONAL– The first of three volumes, titled Was It You, on Ely Cartwright’s new album One Take Sessions will be available across music platforms on Friday, February 9. 

One Take Sessions is an album in three volumes: Vol. 1: Was It You, Vol. 2: My Little Heart, and Vol. 3: Never Tame. Each volume represents an era of writing and an era of the heart. From the heartbreaking breakup songs in Was It You, through the growing love and longing found in My Little Heart, and closing with a nostalgic wistfulness in Never Tame, Durango, Colorado-based singer-songwriter Ely Cartwright uses One Take Sessions as an opportunity to share story and song in a raw, real, and stripped-back format. It captures that feeling of an intimate, in-the-moment performance as if they’re being performed right there in the room: One guitar. One voice. One take.

Below is a release calendar for each volume of One Take Sessions, available everywhere*. 

(*More specifically: Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Instagram/Facebook, TikTok & other ByteDance stores, YouTube Music, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer, Tidal, iHeartRadio, Claro Música, Saavn, Boomplay, Anghami, KKBox, NetEase, Tencent, Qobuz, Joox, Kuack Media, Yandex Music (beta), Adaptr, Flo, MediaNet)

Contact Emily Hutto hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media requests, and booking@elycartwright.com for booking inquiries.

Friday, February 9: Vol. 1: Was It You release

When it comes to shared human experiences, heartbreak is one of the most fundamental. In Was It You, the first volume of Ely Cartwright’s One Take Sessions, Cartwright explores the landscape of the broken heart. Using down to earth imagery from daily life, these songs get inside some of the darkest moments felt through the loss of love, and yet, there remains a tenor of hopefulness in the melodies and lyrics. Was It You is a collection of songs rooted in the belief that beauty can carry us through whatever life throws our way.

Friday, March 8: My Little Heart single release

Friday, March 22: Vol. 2: My Little Heart release

Love and longing, the push and pull of desire, and falling in and fighting for love  are the themes of My Little Heart, volume two of Ely Cartwright’s One Take Sessions. Many artists have fallen prey to “losing their edge” when moving from heartbreak songs to love songs, but Cartwright manages to hold together both the levity and the vulnerability of falling in love. My Little Heart approaches love as the wild animal that it is, beautiful and alluring, but don’t approach too quickly or risk scaring it off. In this volume, Cartwright explores the discovery of love and the hope that it might actually go the distance.

Friday, April 19: Never Tame single release

Friday, May 3: Vol. 3: Never Tame release

Never Tame, the third volume of Ely Cartwright’s One Take Sessions, is an exploration of time. Containing songs written as far back as fifteen years prior to recording, Cartwright is looking back to some of his favorite songs as well as those that have connected with his audiences most consistently over the years, none of which have been previously released. The title track and single from this volume, ‘Never Tame,’ depicts the heart of Ely’s wild and loving rescue dog, an inquiry into the delicate balance between freedom and boundaries. Staying content and awake in the present while striving for growth is the creative tension depicted in this third volume of Cartwright’s One Take Sessions.

ABOUT ELY CARTWRIGHT

From his midwestern roots to his home in the Southwest, Ely Cartwright explores the beauty and loss of everyday life in the pursuit of connection. Described as falling “somewhere between indie-folk and the singer-songwriter sounds of 1970s Laurel Canyon,” Cartwright has spent the last twenty years honing his craft as a songwriter and storyteller. His current project, One Take Sessions, explores those sounds and stories with a raw and real approach, capturing intimate performances of songs he’s written throughout his journey as an artist.

Lone Tree Brewing To Open Second Location In Parker, CO

John Winter (left), Jerry Siote, Andrew Barnett (right) at current Barnett & Son Brewing Co.

LONE TREE, CO— Lone Tree Brewing is ecstatic to announce its second location in neighboring city Parker, Colorado— slated to open in March.

After years of searching for the brewery’s next location, Lone Tree Brewing will open another taproom in the former Barnett & Son Brewing Co. location at 18425 Pony Express Drive in Parker, Colorado. Barnett & Son Owner Andrew Barnett, a long time friend of Lone Tree Brewing, will soon retire; Transforming this location into Lone Tree Brewing 2.0 was the perfect fit. 

“The acquisition of Barnett's brewing assets and tap room will allow Lone Tree to research and develop new and innovative recipes that will be served at both locations for the immediate future,” says Jerry Siote, Lone Tree Brewing Co-Owner and Director of Brewhouse Operations. “The flexibility and versatility of brewing on a smaller system in Parker can provide much-needed customer feedback for scaling up newer recipes and further experimentation.” 

The Lone Tree Brewing team will take over operations at the end of February 2024, and target a public grand opening for March 1, 2024. More details about the opening will be announced in coming weeks.

Media inquiring about Lone Tree Brewing’s new location can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@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.

Florida SMaSH Beer Festival Returns For 8th Year, Feat. Riverbend Malt & Yakima Quality Hops

LONGWOOD, FL— The eighth annual Florida SMaSH Beer Festival is the official kick off event for 2024 Orlando Beer Week. Thirty breweries will serve single malt, single hop beers made with malt from Riverbend Malt and hops from Yakima Quality Hops on Saturday, February 17th at Reiter Park.

The 2024 beers on tap at Florida SMaSH were made with Riverbend Avalon Pilsner malt. “With subtle notes of melon, honeysuckle and a mouthfeel reminiscent of coconut water, Avalon Pilsner can excel in a wide range of styles from American Lager to Belgian Farmhouse ales,” says Riverbend Malt House Co-Founder Brent Manning. “Avalon barley is a new variety bred to support the needs of brewers and distillers. We’re beyond excited to sample what will undoubtedly be a full-color spectrum of expressions of Avalon from so many different brewhouses at Florida SMaSH.”

Last year, the Florida SMaSH Beer Festival raised $16.027.74 for A Spoon Full of Hope. These funds support Second Harvest’s no-cost 16-week Culinary Training program, which provides qualified, economically challenged adults with the culinary and life skills training to pursue a sustainable career in the food industry. ‘This donation was over 42% higher than our previous highest donation. We were thrilled, to say the least,” says Eric Garbarczyk of Hourglass Brewing Co. “We aim to top our donation to A Spoonful of Hope again in 2024!”

Florida SMaSH  is presented by the Brewers Establishing Altruistic Regional Development (B.E.A.R.D.) nonprofit organization, Hourglass Brewing, and the City of Longwood. This festival was created to celebrate the creativity and camaraderie of breweries in the Sunshine State. Each year, a people’s choice beer wins the coveted, ever-evolving Florida SMaSH Festival Champions Lamp; and the Judge's Choice competition awards first, second, and third place medals. 

Tickets to the festival are available via Eventbrite, and festival details can be found at www.flsmash.com.

ABOUT B.E.A.R.D.

Brewers Establishing Altruistic Regional Development (B.E.A.R.D.) is a non-profit organization created by brewing industry professionals with a mission to serve their communities. Over 7 years, B.E.A.R.D. has successfully donated more than $60,000 to local charitable organizations such as A Spoon Full of Hope.

ABOUT HOURGLASS BREWING

Hourglass Brewing is now serving their 11th year, producing Seminole County’s first small batch craft beer. With two locations in the Orlando area and no less than 30 beers on tap they continually push for innovation while holding on to nostalgia, with a thirst for good times. Visit Hourglass online at hourglassbrewing.com.

Contact Bill Murphy at bill@hourglassbrewing.com with media inquiries about Hourglass Brewing.

ABOUT RIVERBEND MALT HOUSE

Riverbend Malt House is on a quest to connect Southeastern family owned farms and fermenters. Co-Founders Brent Manning and Brian Simpson launched Riverbend, the first craft malt house east of the Mississippi River, in Asheville, North Carolina in 2010. Buoyed by a 70,000 square foot production facility and state of the art equipment, Riverbend Malt House helps breweries and distilleries large, small, and in-between stand out with flavor, locality, and community in an increasingly competitive landscape— all the while challenging the status quo of corporate, big-agriculture malt. Learn more at riverbendmalt.com.

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Riverbend Malt House.

ABOUT YAKIMA QUALITY HOPS

YQH is a family-owned business focused on quality and service. Founded in 2013, Yakima Quality Hops provides the highest quality hops to breweries throughout the United States and abroad. Based in Yakima, WA, we work directly with growers, allowing us to offer the best pricing and quality control. We work with breweries of all sizes and in all stages of growth. Whether you’ve been brewing for decades or are just getting started, let’s connect so we can get to know your hops needs. Learn more at yakhops.com.

Mortal Becomes First Kombucha In 16oz Aluminum Bottles

NATIONAL— Mortal now fights death with aluminum. The beverage innovator is the first in the world to package its kombucha brand in aluminum bottles.

Mortal’s same great, better-for-you kombucha flavors are now way better for the planet— available in infinitely recyclable, resealable, and lighter aluminum bottles. 

Since 2017 Mortal has offered its array of kombucha flavors in glass bottles. Now, the beverage innovator is proud to add this groundbreaking packaging for the kombucha category: 16oz Aluminum Bottles. This new revolution in kombucha packaging is made possible by Mortal’s partnership with SPROUTS Market. “Sprouts has a commitment to innovation and sustainability and we are so thankful they were with us to bring it to market,” says Mortal Founder Becca Schepps. 

Mortal is now the first kombucha brand in the world to package in aluminum bottles. Beyond the reduction on Mortal’s carbon footprint, this new packaging format has the benefit of resealability— unlike many other kombucha brands that have switched to aluminum in cans. That means more kombucha-sipping opportunities at concerts, on hikes or the slopes, in the mountains, on beaches and golf courses, in backpacks and just about everywhere else you can think of. 

“Using premium ingredients and top-notch manufacturing, we’ve ensured the same great taste from our glass product in aluminum Earth-friendly packaging,” adds Schepps. Four mainstay flavors (Basillion Strawberries, Black Sage, Black Magic, and Marg Simpson) of Mortal Kombucha are now available in 16oz aluminum bottles at all SPROUTS markets nationwide, with more retailers to come in 2024. Also available in its aluminum bottle is the Mortal’s new SPROUTS exclusive Peaches Be Crazy, a Peach Bellini kombucha. Since launch it’s been time and time again described as the best kombucha flavor ever. 

To inquire about carrying Mortal and its 16oz Aluminum Bottle at your retailer send inquiries to hello@drinkmortal.com.

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Mortal. 

ABOUT MORTAL 

Founded by Becca Schepps and Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, Mortal makes beverages that fight death. Mortal is currently available across all 50 states, in retailers such as WholeFoods, Sprouts, Central Market, King Soopers, Foodtown, Mother’s, Lassens, Weis and Natural Grocers. Mortal Kombucha is a big, agro, juiced up, supersized, scoby slashing, fruit-fist of fury that wants to hook you up with some bada** bro-biotics. 

Learn more about Mortal at drinkmortal.com, or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and X at @drinkmortal.

Bowl of 'Zole Returns to Denver in 2024

DENVER, CO – Mexican Spirits Expert Arik Torren of Lot001 Brands, Chef and Mezcal de Leyendas Partner Danny Mena, and Food Karma Projects’ Founder Jimmy Carbone present the extraordinary Bowl of ‘Zole Denver at SKYLIGHT on Thursday, March 28, 2024.

“I call it industry-style. It’s an insider, guided taste of mezcal and pozole,” says Carbone. Denver’s up-and-coming chefs and award-winning restaurants will offer dizzying takes on the iconic Mexican entree, ranging from innovative to traditional interpretations of seafood, vegetarian, and pork pozoles. The Mile-High City’s best chefs will also offer familiar favorites like tacos and other classic dishes, ready to pair with incredible samples of more than 100 vibrant agave expressions like mezcal and tequila at the all-inclusive event.

Bowl of ‘Zole Denver showcases a stunning selection of spirits from both independent producers and multinational brands. “Finding the stories and these makers and going beyond just the usual gets us excited by the breadth of what Mexico has to offer,” says Torren.

There will be the smooth allure of top shelf tequila from Amatiteña Tequila, Don Fulano Tequila, Tequila Fortaleza, Tequila ArteNOM, smoky sips of artisan mezcal from Mezcal de Leyendas, the distinct charms of raicilla and sotol from artisan producers, and renowned Mexican wines and beers. Bowl of ‘Zole Denver is “a really wonderful cultural event that brings together... aspects that are deeply ingrained in Mexico... whether it’s tequila, mezcal, or even wine,” extols Mena.

The lineup for Bowl of ‘Zole Denver is still being finalized and attendees can expect an impressive list of participants. Last year’s festival featured an illustrious roster of talent including Jose Avila of La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal, Geoff Cox and George Lomotan of Hop Alley, Dana Rodriguez of Work & Class, Super Mega Bien, Cantina Loca, and Casa Bonita, Brian Rossi of Palenque Cocina y Agaveria, Antonio Tevillo of Tamayo, and Amos Watts of Fifth String.

Every Bowl of 'Zole Denver ticket is an all-access pass to the celebration of pozole and agave spirits.Attendees can choose from value-driven Early Bird Tickets ($55 + fee) or widely-accessible General Admission Tickets ($65 + fee).

A limited number of VIP Tickets are also available for $85 (+ fee). A sensational collaboration with Anova Culinary featuring an incredible gift, each VIP Ticket includes early admission, the opportunity to mix and mingle with chefs and spirits distillers, and an Anova Culinary Swag Bag with Anova Precision® Cooker Nano. This sous vide cooker alone usually retails for $149 and is just a taste of the luxury experience awaiting VIP Ticket Holders.

Tickets for this indoor event are on sale now at TicketTailor for ages 21 and up. The lineup and offerings for Bowl of ‘Zole Denver are subject to change and no refunds are offered.

Read more about Bowl of ‘Zole Denver and the entire 2024 Bowl of ‘Zole Tour at www.BowlofZole.com. For all the latest updates, follow Bowl of ‘Zole on Instagram @bowlofzole.

Bowl of ‘Zole Denver 2024

SKYLIGHT; 833 Santa Fe Dr. - Denver, CO 80204

5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Tickets

Ticket Options:

● VIP Ticket - $85 + fee

○ Early admission at 5:00 p.m.

○ Anova Culinary Swag Bag

○ Meet and Greet with chefs and distillers

○ First bites and drinks before General Admission doors open

● General Admission Ticket - $65 + fee

○ 6:00 p.m. admission

○ All-inclusive pozole and spirits tastings all evening

● Early Bird General Admission Ticket - $55 + fee

○ General Admission ticket at a special price

○ Available for a limited time

For media inquiries, please contact Jimmy Carbone at jimmypotsandpans@gmail.com. High-resolution photos are available and interviews can be arranged upon request.

Colorado College and Goat Patch Brewery Raise a Toast to 150 Years with Exclusive Brew

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO– In honor of Colorado College's upcoming 150th anniversary, the institution has collaborated with Goat Patch Brewing Company to rebrand its popular blonde ale as a CC beer, creating a unique and celebratory beer, fusing tradition with innovation.

Inspired by Vice President and Director of CC Athletics Lesley Irvine, who recognized the trend of colleges crafting their own signature beers, this collaboration became an inevitable choice. Goat Patch brews were made available at Ed Robson Arena nearly two years ago and have become extremely popular with the community attending events there. As Irvine aptly put it, "Why not us?"

“This is such an exciting and fun partnership for Colorado College with a high-quality local business,” said Irvine. “Goat Patch aligns with our own values of commitment to community and their competitive spirit is reflected in their high-quality outcomes, which aligns so seamlessly for us. This helps build community, pride, brand, and loyalty in a highly visible way. We are grateful for their willingness to partner, and we are excited to bring the CC community their very own beer - particularly in celebration of our 150th anniversary!”

Over the past 18 months, this collaboration has evolved from Goat Patch products first being served in Ed Robson Arena in 2022, to hosting various CC community gatherings at the brewery, to a now more strategic partnership. This effort supports local community building through high-quality, value-driven brands and organizations.

Cate Baze from Goat Patch Brewery eloquently captures the essence, stating, "Partnering with Colorado College on this special brew for their 150th anniversary is more than crafting a beer; it's our way of raising a pint to their legacy. This collaboration embodies our shared dedication to innovation, community, and a celebration of tradition. It's more than just a drink; it's a flavorful tribute to 150 years of excellence and the vibrant spirit of CC."

The timing of this launch, coinciding with Colorado College's landmark sesquicentennial celebration, holds profound significance. Beyond the beverage itself, this unveiling symbolizes shared values, dedication, and the promise of a vibrant future. It stands as an ode to the past while raising a collective glass to the exciting journey ahead.

Colorado College community members and the public will have the chance to decide the first-ever CC beer’s name through an online voting site from January 19 – February 18. The winning name will be announced at the end of March. The newly branded beer will be served along with other Goat Patch beers at CC events, Goat Patch Brewery, and other Colorado Springs dining and bar establishments.


ABOUT COLORADO COLLEGE

Colorado College is a nationally prominent, four-year liberal arts college that was founded in Colorado Springs in 1874. In 1970 the college created the Block Plan, in which its approximately 2,300 undergraduate students take one class at a time in intensive 3½-week segments. A Master of Arts in teaching degree also is offered. The college’s vision is to ignite students’ passion and potential in order to create a more just world. For more information, visit www.coloradocollege.edu.


ABOUT GOAT PATCH BREWING COMPANY

Goat Patch Brewing Company started like all great ideas - good friends with a common passion sitting around a kitchen table dreaming about the future. Even before their name (which eventually became a nod to the beard style of co-owner and head brewer Darren Baze), they all agreed on a shared set of values: balanced brews, community engagement, and adventure. Now with 2018 and 2020 GABF medals, a World Beer Cup medal in 2022, and numerous other recognitions, they are proud to play a part in bringing award-winning craft beer to their community. Find the brewery online at goatpatchbrewing.com.

Crafting Community Crescendo: Goat Patch Brewing Company and Rocky Mountain Highway Music Collaborative Present MeadowGrass 2024 Unveiling

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO— Goat Patch Brewing Company is proud to announce a special Bleating Heart Night event in collaboration with Rocky Mountain Highway Music Collaborative, featuring an evening of live music, giveaways, and the launch of MeadowGrass 2024 tickets.

Join us at Goat Patch Brewing Company on January 16, 2024 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm for an unforgettable evening of entertainment, community, and craft beer. The highlight of the event will be live music by local favorites, Grass It Up, performing from 6:00 to 8:30 pm.

As part of Goat Patch’s commitment to supporting local initiatives, $1 from each pint sold during the event will be donated to Rocky Mountain Highway Music Collaborative. This donation will aid in their mission to promote and nurture the local live music scene.

The evening will also mark the launch of MeadowGrass 2024 ticket sales, featuring headliner announcements and exciting giveaways for swag, weekend passes, and daily tickets. Don't miss the chance to be part of this exclusive ticket launch experience.

Rocky Mountain Highway Music Collaborative is dedicated to bringing the best in roots music to their community. They serve as a vital connection between musicians and venues, fostering a stronger, more vibrant local music scene. Learn more about their impactful work at www.rockymountainhighway.org.

In addition to supporting their mission, attendees can participate in giveaway drawings between 7:30 and 8:00pm. You must be present to win, so be sure to stick around for a chance to score some fantastic prizes.

Goat Patch Brewing Company and Rocky Mountain Highway Music Collaborative invite the community to join us for an evening of music, camaraderie, and celebration of the cultural foundation that music provides to our community.

EVENT DETAILS:

DATE: January 16, 2024

TIME: 5:00 - 9:00 pm

LOCATION: Goat Patch Brewing Company- 2727 N. Cascade Avenue #123, Colorado Springs, CO 80907

LIVE MUSIC: Grass It Up, 6:00 - 8:30 pm

DONATION: $1 from each pint sold supports Rocky Mountain Highway Music Collaborative

MEADOWGRASS 2024 TICKET LAUNCH:

The event will feature the exciting launch of MeadowGrass 2024 ticket sales, with headliner announcements and exclusive giveaways. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the MeadowGrass experience.

NOTE - GIVEAWAY DRAWINGS:

Exciting giveaways for swag, weekend passes, and daily tickets will take place between 7:30 and 8:00 pm. Attendees must be present to win.

ABOUT GOAT PATCH BREWING COMPANY

Goat Patch Brewing Company started like all great ideas - good friends with a common passion sitting around a kitchen table dreaming about the future. Even before their name (which eventually became a nod to the beard style of co-owner and head brewer Darren Baze), they all agreed on a shared set of values: balanced brews, community engagement and adventure. Now with 2018 and 2020 GABF medals, a World Beer Cup medal in 2022, and numerous other recognitions, they are proud to play a part in bringing award-winning craft beer to their community. Find the brewery online at goatpatchbrewing.com.

For all awards and accolades, please visit www.goatpatchbrewing.com/story

ABOUT ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY MUSIC COLLABORATIVE

Rocky Mountain Highway Music Collaborative is a non-profit organization committed to promoting and supporting the local live music scene. Through events, festivals, and community engagement, they connect musicians and venues, creating a more vibrant and flourishing musical community. Discover more at www.rockymountainhighway.org

Living The Dream Brewing To Relocate To Sterling Ranch and Highlands Ranch Locations

LITTLETON— After nine years in its current location, Living The Dream Brewing is moving into two new locations in the area that will accommodate their expanding customer base and staff and build capacity for the Littleton craft brewery’s increasing beer production. The move will be complete by January 2024.

The Living The Dream Brewing brewery and taproom will be relocated to 9150 Commerce Center Cir #300 in Highlands Ranch in mid-January, shortly after Living The Dream begins taproom operations at its second location in The Sterling Center in Sterling Ranch at 8155 Piney River Ave, Littleton, CO 80125.

“Littleton and Highlands Ranch are home base for us, and it was critical for us that we stay in the area,” says Living The Dream Founder Jason Bell. “We’ve been searching for a new space for a while now, looking for more seating, parking, and overall accessibility. We want to make our customers more comfortable and create opportunities for our growing staff.”

Living The Dream’s new Highlands Ranch location is more accessible to foot traffic, with more indoor seating and brewing capacity than the brewery currently occupies.

Guests can sign up for the brewery newsletter for the most up-to-date information on its migration to Highlands Ranch and Sterling Ranch.

Media can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com for more information about Living The Dream Brewing Co.

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 have imagined. Visit Living The Dream online at livingthedreambrewing.com.

Living The Dream Brewing Comes To Sterling Ranch

LITTLETON, CO— Living The Dream Brewing is excited to announce that beginning on December 29 it will become the brewery at The Sterling Center in Littleton’s Sterling Ranch neighborhood. 

This taproom is located at 8155 Piney River Avenue in The Sterling Center, home to a variety of businesses that serve the Sterling Ranch community.

Founder Jason Bell has been on the lookout for a second taproom that can accommodate his growing customer base and team; not to mention the brewery currently has many regulars from Sterling Ranch. He and the Living The Dream team are looking forward to offering new events and specials at The Sterling Center. “It’s going to be a season of big change and festivities for us,” he says. “Stay tuned.” 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Living The Dream Brewing. 

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 have imagined. Visit Living The Dream online at livingthedreambrewing.com.

Bruz Beers Takes Gold in European Beer Star Competition

INTERNATIONAL— Bruz Beers, Colorado’s premier Belgian-style brewery, has just won a Gold Award at the European Beer Star competition in Germany. The European Beer Star is the largest beer competition in Europe and a major worldwide competition, with entries from 47 countries.

Bruz Beers won gold in the Wood & Barrel-Aged Sour Beer category for its Oak Marionette on Peaches– a Belgian-style Flanders Red-Brown ale aged on a copious quantity of Palisade peaches grown in Colorado.

According to Bruz Beers Co-Founder Ryan Evans, “This is a huge honor for us. The European Beer Star is Europe’s premier beer competition. For a small, boutique brewery in Denver to take gold here is something we could only dream about a few years ago.” 

Oak Marionette on Peaches is the brainchild of Head Brewer Dave Olson. “We have made a lot of fruit beers before, but what made Oak Marionette special is the base beer– a Flanders ale aged in one of our oak fouders (large, vertical oak fermenters). For this special beer, we insisted on using Colorado’s famous Palisade peaches, which we brought in fresh and added to the fermenter with minimal processing. The sour ale and the flavorful Colorado peaches are a match made in heaven!”

Started in 2004, the 20th Anniversary European Beer Star competition honors the world's best beers. Breweries and judges from 47 countries worldwide come together each year to hold this world championship of beer. While not the world’s largest competition, many beer professionals consider the European Beer Star to be the best and most prestigious. For 2023, there were 2,356 entries from 550 breweries– two-thirds of them from outside Germany, the competition’s home country. Only the top three beers in each category win the coveted awards, which are judged by 150 international beer experts.

For more information about Bruz Beers and their latest accolade, contact Charlie Gottenkieny at charlie@bruzbeers.com or 469-964-0319.

ABOUT BRUZ BEERS

The acclaimed Bruz Beers was named one of the 13 Best Craft Breweries in America by Hop Culture, has won countless awards and medals, and is dedicated to brewing traditional Belgian-style beers and innovative Belgian-inspired brews. It offers a wide range of Belgian-style seasonal and limited releases on tap at its two Denver area locations or for takeaway in crowlers, bottles and cans. Visit Bruz online at bruzbeers.com.

MaltCon2024 Registration Open and Speakers Announced; Dr. Patrick Hayes and Dr. Xiang Yin To Keynote

Photo courtesy University of California, Davis

NATIONAL— Early bird registration is now open for MaltCon2024, the largest international gathering of malt professionals that will take place on February 23-24, 2024. 

The Craft Maltsters Guild is pleased to announce that Dr. Patrick Hayes of the Barley Project at Oregon State University (OSU) and Dr. Xiang Yin of Boortmalt/Prairie Malt will keynote the conference. Hayes, who just transitioned to Professor Emeritus of Barley Breeding and Genetics after working at OSU since 1986, was integral in the establishment of the OSU Research Malthouse and the development of the Thunder and Lightning, and now Lontra barley varieties, among many other milestones. Yin, whose experience in the industry includes working as the Global Director of Brewing Raw Materials Global Technical Director with Prairie Malt/Cargill Malt, is a past president of American Society of Brewing Chemists (ASBC), and is a fellow of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. Early in his career, he taught malting and brewing at China's Jiangnan University. Yin will share sustainable malting practices and technologies to reduce environmental impact while producing high-quality craft malt. 

Hayes and Yin will be joined by more than 20 other speakers who are slated to present their expertise across all segments of the grain supply chain— from seeding and breeding to malting, brewing, and distilling. The full schedule will be announced on maltcon.online over the coming weeks. 

MaltCon2024 will kick off with a Welcome Reception at The Rake at Admiral Maltings. Guests at this event can take a tour of the malthouse, sample thirteen collaborative beers made with craft malt from all over the country for the occasion, and enjoy a meal with friends. Multiple ticket types for this event include dinner, transportation to and from the event from Davis. Purchase tickets at maltcon.online.

Craft Maltsters Guild member, non-member and student pricing for both in-person and virtual conference participation is available on maltcon.online. All are encouraged to register early. Again this year, the Guild is offering a Malt Conference scholarship program to provide equitable access to education and opportunities in the craft malt industry. Applications for the in-person scholarship are due December 5, 2023, and applications for the virtual scholarship are due January 15, 2024. Learn more and apply at craftmalting.com. 

Entities interested in sponsoring the conference can contact Alice Blayne-Allard at director@craftmalting.com. 

Media interested in participating in MaltCon2024 can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@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.

Lone Tree Brewing Cans Winter Seasonal Brownie Stout

LONE TREE, CO— Lone Tree Brewing released its new winter seasonal pastry Stout in cans this week. Brownie Stout is now available in canned 12oz. 6-packs in Colorado and Kansas. 

Inspired by a favorite brownie recipe and the nostalgia of licking batter from the bowl, Brownie Stout has just the right amount of chocolate flavor. It’s a sweet Milk Stout made with lactose for a creamy mouthfeel and supreme drinkability. At 6.2% ABV, it’s approachable but warming— a drinkable dessert that’s perfect for the oncoming cold months. 

“The concept of Brownie Stout is an easy-drinking yet decadent beer to provide warm vibes during cold weather,” says Lone Tree Sales & Marketing Director Dennis Stack. “Our brewers nailed it, and the can looks great too.” 

The brewing team at Lone Tree crafted several batches of Brownie Stout to dial in its complex flavors. The final product is now on tap at the brewery, and available in kegs and cans across Lone Tree’s distribution footprint in Colorado and Kansas. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com about Lone Tree Brewing and its seasonal beer offerings. 

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.