Sara Pletcher, Author at Beer Now Conference

Get to know Bell’s Light Hearted Lo-Cal IPA

November 2, 2020 by Sara Pletcher

When the idea of Light Hearted was first introduced, not even the beer itself, the reception from so many was nothing other than incredible.

It was truly astounding to see that reaction, how eager people were. Unfortunately, the beer wasn’t due out for a few more months. When January arrived and so did Light Hearted, that enthusiasm was still there.

So, what is Light Hearted? Find out for yourself this Thursday, Nov. 5 for an At-Home Virtual Tasting at the Beer Now Virtual Summit! In the meantime, here’s Thursday’s virtual tasting co-presenter, John Mallett:

More on Light Hearted, including nutritional data, can be found here.

And if you’re hungry, we have plenty of recipes that pair well and are perfect to share with others.

You can join Bell’s Brewery at the Beer Now Virtual Summit on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 8pm for their At-Home Sensory Experience with Bell’s Brewery. For a full Agenda, please click here.

Malteurop will #MakeMaltSexy

September 25, 2019 by Sara Pletcher

Hops, yeast, and even adjuncts often create distinctive flavors that overpower the senses in the craft beer world, but at the end of the day, there is one key element at the foundation of all beer…

Malt.

Without malt, there is no beer.

While the craft beer world is often viewed through the lens of the latest sexy hop or what decadent dessert can be immersed in the fermentable liquid or which bug can be harvested from thin air, malts are the building blocks upon which this ancient beverage is built.

Malt is often overlooked by the casual observer, whose senses are often overwhelmed by the citrus, pine, floral and spice aromas and flavors of hops. Or perhaps the malt is mired in a mass of adjuncts and non-fermentable sugar in a big, boozy stout.

There’s nothing wrong with that. After all, craft is called craft for a reason. If all beer was made to be the same, the craft movement would not exist. Beer would simply be another product of manufacturing. Many of the wild styles that come to the fore as more and more drinkers flock to craft beer are what attracted these new drinkers in the first place.

But as innovation of new styles and new flavors in beer go wild, there is now an evolving crowd of experienced drinkers – and brewers – that define craft not solely by the never-before-seen styles of beer or the latest, greatest hops.

There has always been an intense focus on quality in craft beer. After all, better, more flavorful beer, is what has drawn most of us to the craft community. As this community matures, even more focus is being put upon the key ingredient that forms the basis of beer.

“I’m seeing a little bit of an increase in how malt is perceived and people are appreciating it a little bit more,” said Dustin Craft, Craft Sales Manager for Malteurop, one of the world’s largest commercial malting companies.

“I think malt is kind of the next frontier, now that we’ve seen the you-can-put-anything in your Juicy, Hazy, New England, whatever-term-you-prefer IPA and you can put whatever you want in your Pastry Stout,” he added. “As people are kind of coming back to, I don’t want to say more traditional beers, but to that core of sometimes I just want a beer, I don’t want something super crazy.”

While hop suppliers have been tuned to the needs of the craft brewing community a bit longer than some maltsters, that is beginning to change. Small craft malt houses have been popping up across the United States over the past decade or so, but the craft market has now grown to a point that even the bigger players that have predominately supplied macro brewers are taking notice of craft brewers as well.

Craft (isn’t his name perfect for this job?!) says Malteurop’s entry into craft malting is two-fold: to refine some of its more mainstream malts and to develop some new proprietary varieties, both of which add nuance and depth to the character of any beer style.

“[We’re working on] malts that aren’t ideal for folks that are brewing tons and tons of beer and trying to maximize every dollar, but malts designed for people who really want flavor and character and some uniqueness, but not necessarily in specialty malt,” said Craft at the 2019 Beer Now Conference in Great Falls, Montana.

“We’re kind of working on both fronts,” he said. “There are the barley varieties that can lead you to a base malt or a specialty malt with a different character. We’re also working on different ways to make specialty malts that are unlike anything else. It’s two avenues with the same goals.”

While Malteurop isn’t likely to be all things malt to all brewers, it doesn’t need to be. The size of the company allows it to drive innovation in quality and variety at a larger scale, while smaller malthouses fill the gaps of the micro and nano markets.

Malteurop’s entry into the world of craft malting is likely to benefit smaller brewers like JC McDowell at Bandit Brewing in Darby, Montana, who like to source ingredients from nearby suppliers as m ore and more of the craft segment goes hyperlocal.

McDowell buys from Malteurop in Montana, but primarily relies upon it for base malt, as specialty malt varieties have tended to be limited or transported too far away for them to be cost effective in the small quantities he needs.

“We do get our base two-row malt from Malteurop. It’s a Montana barley. It’s a great quality product and it’s pretty affordable,” said McDowell. “I think Malteurop is doing a good job, but definitely on the craft side, we have to have a wide variety of specialty grains.”

Like most craft brewers, Bandit keeps a certain number of flagship beers on tap, but also relies upon variety and experimentation to drive new customers and keep regulars coming back. That’s one of the tremendous upsides of a small brewhouse: there isn’t a lot of risk in developing a new recipe, even if it doesn’t go over so well.

One of the curses of that flexibility is having to source grains from numerous suppliers, as there isn’t one that meets all the needs that variety requires.

“We get (our specialty grains) from Great Western out of Washington. On the craft beer side, reality is that you don’t have a choice. You have to get Canadian, some American, German, and English grains because you can’t get that wide of a variety here, domestically, kilned,” McDowell explained. “And there’s no way you can reproduce an ESB unless you have an English grain. You just can’t get that same flavor profile.”

That’s not likely to change to the point where all grains for any craft brewer will be supplied by one source, but that’s also a part of what keeps craft so different from macro brewers.

With a faction of the craft world gravitating toward more timeless, balanced beers, lagers and session beers are becoming more and more popular. These are particularly the styles that would rely heavily upon quality malts to give them a flavor profile that doesn’t come across as to thin or watered down.

Like McDowell, Graham Hart, owner and head brewer of Bonsai Brewing Project in Whitefish, Montana, relies upon the quality and variety of malts available to him to produce an ever-rotating line-up of quality small batch brews in his taproom centric brewery.

Hart relies upon Malteurop for his base malts, but sources much of his specialty grains from smaller maltsters like Farm Power Malt in Montana and Proximity Malt, a regional maltster that has a location in Colorado. The combination provides him with all the variety necessary to create unique brews that draw new customers.

“I like Malteurop’s [base] malt, it’s super clean. Ryan at Power is trying to hit niches of flavor characters that other malteries aren’t hitting. So, he’s pulled out some really neat stuff,” said Hart. “Proximity [Malt] has a lot of character to it, so that’s a lot of fun. From all the suppliers out there, I probably haven’t gone through 10-percent of [the varieties] that are available, probably. There’s a bunch of new stuff to play around with.”

But in an age when the focus on hops and adjuncts has reached a fever pitch, like many other brewers, Hart is pleased to have suppliers that not only provide variety, but malts that allow him to add depth to his recipes.

“Everybody is all hops, hops, hops. Everybody is focused on the new hop, so it’s good to see these malteries coming through with just good, fresh, well cared for ingredients,” Hart added. “That’s really nice. People see the difference.”

It’s not clear that malt will ever have the same sex appeal with consumers as hops do, but there is no doubting that the renewed focus on malt isn’t going unnoticed in the brewhouse, which means better beer, spotlight or no spotlight.

This post was written by Ken & April Pishna of Living a Stout Life after experiencing their first Beer Now Conference in Great Falls, MT in June 2019. Malteurop was a #BeerNow19 sponsor.

From Field to Flavor

June 6, 2019 by Sara Pletcher

Malteurop welcomes the 2020 Beer Now Bloggers conference to Great Falls, Montana, home of one of Malteurop’s four North American Malthouses. We look forward to hosting the Beer Now attendees for an afternoon picnic on the Malteurop front lawn, Thursday, June 6^th. Join us to learn more about Great Falls barley and malt produced for Craft Brewers.

At Malteurop, we’re champions of the hard work that goes into farming barley, creating exceptional malt and brewing uncompromising beers. And as craftsmen ourselves, who come from a rich heritage of barley farmers and old-world malt artisans, we’re innovators and seekers of what malt can be. We’re also down-to-earth—we still believe in rolling up our sleeves and taking the time to do it right.

Great Falls Barley

Montana is where some of North America’s best barley is grown and malted. The region has an abundance of natural resources and excellent growing conditions, including the clean air of big sky country and quality water sources like the Giant Springs of Great Falls. Pair those outstanding natural resources with the time-proven commitment of the local growers and the result is some of the highest quality malt you’ll find anywhere. The barley growers of Montana are repeatedly recognized for their high level of dedication and excellent farm practices.

Barley Breeding

Malteurop is the only commercial maltster with its own Barley Breeding Program. Based in Great Falls, our North American Barley Breeding Program is constantly creating new barley varietals that produce higher yields, require less irrigation, and meet the distinct needs of our craft brewers. Great Falls growers collaborate to grow trials and support the development of each new generation of barley varietals.

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of Malteurop’s efforts in the Malthouse. Our sustainable water practices—giving preference to non-irrigated barley, reducing water consumption during malting, and ensuring quality of water after malting.—are just one example. Investments are also made into smart energy systems and recyclable materials for malt bags, all in an effort to improve our sustainability model.

Making Great Beer, Every Step of the Way

As a farmer-owned Malthouse, we take pride in developing lasting customer relationships that start in the field. Our unique perspective and appreciation for the craft of growing exceptional barley has instilled in us a healthy respect for the uncelebrated hard work that goes into making great beer, every step of the way.

About Malteurop Malting Company

Malteurop Malting Company is a leading supplier of craft malt for brewers across North America.

As a farmer-owned company, Malteurop believes in controlling our complete barley and malt supply chain—from farmer to brewer—and collaborating and innovating with our growers to create malt that exceeds the exacting standards of craft brewers.

The result is a portfolio of premium base and specialty malts that enable craft brewers to deliver the quality they demand in every beer they brew.

www.MalteuropMaltingCo.com

Sponsored post: This post was written and submitted by our conference sponsor, Malteurop. Check them out on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @Malteuropmalt

The TOP 22 Reasons to Drink Beer in Great Falls, Montana

May 16, 2019 by Sara Pletcher

I LOVE drinking beer! I am guessing you know the feeling. Allow me to further encourage you to join me at the 10^th Annual Beer Now Conference being held in Great Falls, Montana.

I’m Rebecca Engum, the CEO of Great Falls Montana Tourism. I have lived in Montana since I was 5 and in Great Falls for the past 13 years. I love being a Montanan! It’s truly a way of life, as diverse as the Montanan that lives it.

Here is a glimpse into why this Montanan loves drinking beer! I enjoy having a locally crafted brew after:

Gazing up in Sluice Boxes State Park
Riding River’s Edge Trail
Hiking Sulpher Springs Trail
Kayaking Sun River
Paddleboarding Broadwater Bay
Fishing the Missouri River
Visiting Ryan Island Park
Shopping downtown boutiques
Cowboying at Rodeos in Augusta, Belt, and the State Fair
Attending the Lewis & Clark Festival
Listening to the Great Falls Symphony perform
Exploring First People’s Buffalo Jump
Witnessing Bird Migration at Freezeout Lake
Cheering on the Great Falls Voyagers
Learning during a Historic Trolley Tour

I especially enjoy drinking a beer:

On a pedlet in downtown Great Falls
Inside Montana’s Best Irish Pub
At GQ’s #1 bar on Earth worth flying for
Amid the modern industrial décor of the Mighty Mo Brew Co
At Whittier Park during Montana Brew Fest
Anywhere that serves Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company
On the streets during Downtown Summer Jam

Let me know what recommendations I can make regarding beer, locations, and adventures to build your thirst. This small list is just the beginning of big experiences in Great Falls, Montana.

I’ll see you soon!

Sponsored post: This post was written and submitted by our conference sponsor, Great Falls Montana Tourism. Check them out on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and the App Stores: Visit Great Falls Montana!

Craft Beer Week, Beer Obstacle Course, & MT Brew Fest all During BeerNow19

April 30, 2019 by Sara Pletcher

Like all good ideas, Great Falls Craft Beer Week was thought up by a few people sitting around drinking a beer! There was already had a Brew Fest in the community that took place the first weekend in June, so we thought “why not make a whole week out of it?” That decision was made with about 2 months of planning lead time and a whole lot of beer meetings to get it rolling, but by golly we got it done. The first annual Great Falls Craft Beer Week was such a hit with the community that knew we were on to something. So as we wrapped up the first year and said “cheer’s” to our success, we quickly began brainstorming year 2!

Craft Beer Week is hosted by The Downtown Great Falls Association, which is a non-profit organization that is the marketing arm of downtown Great Falls, Mighty Mo Brewing Co., Jeremiah Johnson Brewing, and Black Eagle Brewery. The team was quick to start planning the 2019 events. As we approach the much anticipated week we are excited to share a few of the events we have planned and additions we’ve made, such as the launch of our website, www.gfcraftbeerweek.com. We also were able to design a pretty stellar passport that will be the official guide and prize entry form for all that is Craft Beer Week.

The kick-off event to Craft Beer Week is a fun, but challenging Beer Obstacle Course. Local gyms, climbing centers, and even furniture stores provide the obstacles and we provide the “hydration stations” between the obstacles. Attendee’s get to have a taste of some local beer to help get them through the course while the “spectator section” enjoys live music, food, and a selection of local brews as well.

During the rest of the week we partner with local restaurants to provide Dinner and Beer Pairings, letting the chef’s get as creative as they want with our local brew’s – either pairing or cooking with the best beer around. We offer a few educational sessions for those that want to learn more about the growing culture. One of the new events this year will be the Craft Beer Olympics to be held on Thursday, June 6th. We are closing the street and having an Olympic Style Block Party! Two person teams will compete to beat the clock on several challenging activities like keg rolls, tray carries, and of course a stein hold challenge, plus more. We are excited to welcome the Beer Now Conference to Great Falls and hope that attendees will take advantage of the fun beer-centric activities happening around the city. Register for the Beer Olympics here!

To round out the week, we invite several of the breweries that will be attending the MT Brew Fest on Saturday to come a day early and host Tap Takeovers at 18 different locations around the city. For the “Hop On Craft Beer Tour” we provide a couple of buses to transport folks to the various locations around town, while offering a self guided walking tour of the downtown locations. This is a fun way to showcase some of the breweries that will be attending the MT Brew Fest that takes place on Saturday, June 8th. Many of the breweries in town Friday will also be participating in the Live Blogging Event that will kick off the VIP hour of the Brew Fest. The MT Brew Fest will have 40+ breweries from across the state and for the first time will have all BJCP Certified Judges, including a Grand Master Judge. This is the first BJCP Sanctioned event in the state of Montana and we are beyond excited to provide this level of judging to the attending breweries. The Judges, along with a few local judges will name the “MT Brewery of the Year” and “Best in Show”, while the public chooses the “People’s Choice” award.

As the planning wraps up and we get ready to launch Great Falls Craft Beer Week and the MT Brew Fest we couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to visit with all of the beer lovers in our community, meet the guests we will have in Great Falls for the conference and provide a fun-filled week for everyone!

Sponsored post: This post was written and submitted by our conference sponsor, Downtown Great Falls Association. Check them out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!