The US once had 22 malt plants. Today it has about six.

Industry legend Don Grambsch joins Brent to explain how craft beer, GMO corn and soaring freight costs reshaped the malt supply chain—and why the biggest brewers missed the shift to premium.

As malt production moved west and consumers remained in the east, freight became the industry's deciding factor.

Plus: Napa left 400,000 tons of grapes unpicked last year. Is beer next?

Part 1 of 2. Barley is up next.

Australia is one of the world’s leading barley producers—but what will it take to remain competitive over the next decade?

In Episode 41 of Pursuing the Perfect Pint, Brent speaks with Mark Lewis, Chief Commercial Officer at Riordan Grain Services and Chair of the Grains Australia Barley Council. They discuss Australia’s strong barley production, changing grower priorities, narrowing malting-barley premiums and the growing importance of feed markets. They also explore how improved varieties, sustainable farming practices and closer collaboration across the supply chain could shape the industry’s future.

Can Australia turn these strengths into a lasting global advantage?

Listen to How Is Australia Shaping Barley’s Next Decade? and subscribe for more insights from across the global barley, malt and brewing industries.

In Episode #40 of Pursuing the Perfect Pint, Brent is joined by Samantha Rockey, co-founder of Thompson Harrison and co-author of The Social Brain: The Psychology of Successful Groups.

They explore the human reality behind better business decisions—from choosing the right group size and facilitating productive discussions to building the trust needed to navigate complexity and make difficult decisions.

Why can sharing a meal before an important meeting lead to a better outcome? Why do smaller groups make decisions more efficiently? And why are the informal moments between meetings often where the real work happens?

The discussion also examines the role of face-to-face interaction, social rituals and beer in creating connection, strengthening teams and opening the door to new ideas.

Tune in to Episode #40 of Pursuing the Perfect Pint on Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify.

Episode #39 — Beer’s next big competitor may not be beer

The opportunity isn’t just more beer drinkers. It’s more reasons to drink beer.

What if the biggest opportunity for beer isn’t taking share from another beer — but competing with everything else we drink?

Dan Kopman of the World Brewing Alliance joins Brent Atthill to explore why non-alcoholic beer could open entirely new occasions for the category — from choosing a beer instead of a soft drink at a party to reaching for one after a run.

They discuss changing demographics, affordability, the rise of non-alcoholic beer, and why brewers increasingly find themselves competing not only with wine and spirits, but with the wider beverage category.

Dan also explains why he believes non-alcoholic beer could reach 100 million hectolitres globally — and why its growth may only be starting to accelerate.

Plus, Brent and Danielle share the latest market update and ask: if brewers are looking at the soft drinks market, what happens when soft drinks start looking back?

Tune in to Pursuing the Perfect Pint on Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify.

Regenerative agriculture is talked about a lot — but what does it actually mean in practice?

In Episode #38, Brent chats with Brooke Sauer of Boolah Farms to put Regen Ag into an understandable context — from improving soil health and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers to balancing sustainability with yield, quality and farm profitability.

Brooke also shares how Boolah Farms is putting these ideas into practice through its Regen for Real programme and scaling the approach across its grower network.

A practical look at what Regen Ag really means for farmers, barley and the future of brewing.

A lager may look simple, but getting it right is anything but.

This week, Brent Atthill is joined by John Brauer of The Brewers of Europe and the European Brewery Convention (EBC) to explore the technical side of brewing and why there is nowhere to hide behind a crisp, clean lager.

Plus, Brent and Danielle provide the latest market update, looking at the European barley harvest, quality variability, the prolonged heat across Europe and the wider influence of wheat, corn and geopolitical markets.

And ultimately, it all comes back to one goal: creating that “lip-smacking enthusiasm” for a great lager.

Pursuing the Perfect Pint – Episode #36 | Different Mix Brings Different Perspectives

Why does gender diversity matter to business?

In Episode #36, Brent Atthill speaks with Sharon Peake, Founder & CEO of Shape Talent, about the business case for bringing different perspectives into traditionally male-dominated industries such as brewing, malting and distilling.

Sharon shares research linking gender diversity with better decision-making, innovation and business performance, alongside lessons from her time at SABMiller on developing female talent and building stronger leadership pipelines.

They also explore why “every appointment matters” — and why the people businesses recruit and promote today can shape their success for years to come.

Plus, Brent and Danielle discuss the latest market picture, from European drought and geopolitical disruption to why the global grain outlook may be less bleak than the headlines suggest.

Gender diversity isn’t just good practice. It’s good business.

What does it really take to create lasting change?

In this episode of Pursuing the Perfect Pint, Brent and Danielle travel to Denmark to meet Soren, a farmer who has spent more than 25 years refining his approach to regenerative farming. His message is refreshingly simple: stop chasing every new idea, choose a direction, and commit to it.

Joined by Simon Klemmensen (DLG Group) and Karl Stokes (Viking Malt), the discussion explores how long-term thinking, collaboration across the supply chain, and the right economic incentives can help build a more resilient future for barley production.

Plus, Brent and Danielle share their latest market update, covering Europe's heatwave, geopolitical risks, crop conditions and what they could mean for grain and malt barley markets.

🎙️ In conversation with Soren, Simon (DLG) and Karl (Viking Malt).

Canada rarely grabs the headlines in brewing—but perhaps it should. This week, Brent and Danielle uncover the country's hidden role in keeping brewers supplied across North America and beyond. Joined by Tom Ryan of Richardson International, they discuss crop conditions, export demand, brewing quality, and why Canada's barley industry continues to be one of the quiet strengths behind the global beer supply chain. 

In this episode of Pursuing the Perfect Pint, Brent Atthill & Danielle Bekker visit Ørbæk Bryggeri in Denmark to meet Andreas Jakob Wedel Falkenberg, Production Manager, and uncover the story behind Denmark's first 100% organic brewery.