Dive into the world of craft malt, regional ingredients, and sustainable agriculture as we chat with Brad Humbert, owner of Bear Branch Malt in Maryland. Discover how local grains and farming practices shape the beer landscape in the Mid-Atlantic.

Main Topics:

• The journey of local and craft malting in Maryland
• Bridging agriculture and brewing through regional ingredients
• Sustainability and farm-to-brew relationships
• Challenges and opportunities for grain and hop growers in the Mid-Atlantic
• Upcoming events and collaborations for craft malt month>

In this episode:

• Brad shares his background and the history of Bear Branch Malt, a family farm with roots dating back to 1937
• Discussion on the transition from engineering to craft malting, and love for regional ingredients
• The significance of local grains like Avalon barley and their terroir impact
• How farm practices, including growing soybeans and cover crops, support sustainable malt production
• The relationship between local brewers and maltsters, and the importance of supporting regional grain economies
• Challenges faced by hop growers in Maryland and the scalability issues of hop cultivation
• Strategic growth and expansion plans for Bear Branch Malt, including collaborations with breweries outside Maryland
• Highlighting upcoming craft malt and beer events, Oktoberfest releases, and the return of Sally Gaster
• The importance of community support and supporting local ingredients in the craft beer scene>

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome to the DC Beer Show and introductions

00:14 - Mike Stein shares his drink: Liquidity Aleworks Patapsco Pale

00:34 - Jordan's Canadian triple hazy IPA from Colorado

01:09 - Brandy’s smoked beer from Elder Pine

02:00 - JB’s concentration on Port City Schwarzbier and West Coast IPA

03:01 - Introduction to Bear Branch Malt and Brad’s drink: German-style red lager

03:25 - Brad shares his journey from engineer to maltster and farm-to-brew philosophy

04:46 - The evolution of the farm’s malting system—from half-ton to 8-ton setup

05:10 - Brad discusses what drives his passion for local agriculture and malting

07:01 - Discussion on supporting local malting and regional ingredients

07:32 - Clarifying that Bear Branch Malt sells malt, not animals

08:21 - Connection between spent grain, livestock, and sustainability practices

08:45 - The farm’s integrated approach with cattle, sheep, and crop rotation

09:19 - Potential differences in beef fed on malted grains

09:39 - Local breweries’ use of spent grain and farm practices involving malting byproducts

10:36 - Exciting crops like Avalon barley for next year’s harvest and terroir studies

11:14 - The farm’s crop cycle, planting seasons, and interesting cover crop experiments

12:08 - The challenge of growing spring vs. winter grains like barley and wheat

14:00 - The competitiveness of malting industry and regional grain support

15:02 - The impact of commodity malt prices and value of local grains

16:11 - The scope of grain farming and malt production in Maryland and neighboring states

16:40 - The scale of craft brewing versus large-scale barley and hop production

17:04 - Industry competition and collaboration among craft maltsters

19:05 - Family farm history and historic ownership since 1937

20:10 - Community and event plans for Craft Malt Month and collaborations

21:17 - Potential for regional hop growing and the limitations faced in the Mid-Atlantic

22:25 - Challenges of growing proprietary hop varieties in Maryland

23:39 - Yields and considerations for hop farming at small and larger scales

25:42 - The significance of regional grain and malt industries across Maryland, DC, Virginia

27:29 - Growth plans for Bear Branch Malt and expansion into neighboring states

28:51 - Collaborations with local breweries like Monument, Union, and Guinness

29:07 - Upcoming events at Other Half and local craft beer highlights

30:36 - The role of cocktails versus beer and local bar culture

31:12 - Celebrating Oktoberfest releases and upcoming beer festivals

33:45 - Sally Gaster returning and upcoming fall events including the World Cup final

34:17 - Closing remarks and support for local ingredients and community engagement

Resources & Links:

 • Bear Branch Malt - Maryland-based craft maltster and farm

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