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Master Brewers Program

Focus Session - Alternative Grains and Cropping Systems: Potential for the Malting and Brewing Industries

Friday, August 15, 2025
10:45am - 12:00pm PDT
Location: Springs Ballroom F
Description: Sustainable agricultural systems will be critical to the long term future of the brewing industry as climate change threatens the existing barley supply chain. Maltsters and brewers are already looking towards alternative grains and/or agronomic systems for resiliency. This session brings together growers, agronomists, and researchers working in this space to discuss the potential for new barley cropping methods as well as a number of grains other than barley that may contribute unique flavors to beer. The goal of this panel is to offer an look into our existing agricultural system and how it impacts malting and brewing; the potential for new systems such as winter barley and conservation-/no-tillage; and how other grains fit into it all.

Relevance: There are many buzzwords surrounding sustainable agriculture and this panel aims to provide a real discussion of the opportunities and challenges of many of them.

Brewing Summit 2025 Theme: Agriculture systems of grain need to evolve along side the malting and brewing industries. There is no future if there isn't sustainable grain acreage feeding into our supply chains.

Learning Objectives:

  • Define winter barley and conservation-/no-tillage agriculture systems.
  • Understand how alternative grains like rye, rice, and Kernza can fit into malting and brewing.
  • Understand the challenges facing our existing barley supply chain related to drought, heat, and disease stress.