Montana Craft Malt and Jack's Abby Craft Lagers Collaborate on German Helles Beer

Montana Craft Malt and Jack's Abby Craft Lagers Collaborate on German Helles Beer

In a celebration of craft brewing, Montana Craft Malt (MCM) has partnered with Jack's Abby Craft Lagers to create a unique German Helles beer using Montana-grown Bavarian-style Pilsner malt. This collaboration showcases the exceptional quality of Montana Craft Malt's domestic Bavarian Pilsner base malt and Jack's Abby's expertise in brewing traditional and modern European lagers.

This particular collaboration beer was brewed at Jack's Abby's facility in Framingham, MA, using a hand-selected batch of Montana Craft Malt's Bavarian-style Pilsner malt using a German barley grown in Montana called Esma. This batch was specifically designed for traditional German decoction brewing that is still commonly used by small family run artisanal breweries found throughout the countryside of Franconia and Bavaria. Decoction mashing enhances body and mouthfeel to add complexity to lager beer.  Jack’s Abby employs this technique frequently for many of their well-known beers.

"We're thrilled to collaborate with Jack's Abby Craft Lagers on this German-style Helles," said Bryan Taylor, Director of Malting at Montana Craft Malt. "Our Bavarian Pilsner malt is a high-quality domestic alternative to imported malts, offering North American brewers a more sustainable and cost-effective option – without compromising on flavor and performance."

The decoction mashing process employed by Jack's Abby involved two separate decoctions combined with Montana Craft Malt's exceptional Bavarian-style Pilsner malt, resulting in a beer with a rich, malty flavor and a silky-smooth, full-bodied mouthfeel.  Esma barley requires a lower proteolytic modification to provide adequate beta-glucan degradation.  This Pilsner malt results in allowing longer protein rests without the risk of losing head retention and body without sacrificing lautering performance.

When researching lager beer traditions, ingredients, and processes for my book Modern Lager Beer my co-author and I knew we needed to capture the full lager picture including modern-day brewing practices. I reached out to a long-time expert in malt, Bryan Taylor, to learn more about Bavarian barley growing in the United States. A few years later now, we're excited to showcase the potential of their Bavarian-style malts in this German Helles beer and share it with our fans.

The collaboration not only champions Esma Bavarian Pilsner Malt, or the varied techniques of brewing used at Jacks Abby, but also fosters the vital community and knowledge-sharing among beer industry peers. By combining their expertise and passion, Montana Craft Malt and Jack's Abby have created a unique beer that embodies the essence of traditional German brewing techniques while showcasing the potential of domestically sourced ingredients.

"At Montana Craft Malt, we're always seeking to help brewers find new ways to push the boundaries of craft beer," said Bryan Taylor. "Collaborating with Jack's Abby has allowed us to explore the potential of our Bavarian-style malts, and we believe they’ve truly captured the essence of the German Helles style."

As the demand for high-quality, locally sourced ingredients continues to grow, Montana Craft Malt's Bavarian-style Pilsner malt offers a domestic solution that meets the needs of discerning brewers while supporting more sustainable practices. This collaboration showcases the potential of Montana-grown malts, inspiring brewers across the country to explore the unique flavors and possibilities they offer.

About Montana Craft Malt

Montana Craft Malt is a leading producer of premium malts, headquartered in Butte, MT. With a commitment to quality and sustainability, they work closely with local growers to source the finest barley and craft exceptional malts that capture the essence of Montana's rich agricultural heritage. 

About Jack's Craft Lagers

Jack's Abby Craft Lagers is an independent and family-owned brewery operating out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Renowned for their expertise in crafting lager-style beers, Jack's Abby has earned acclaim through a portfolio of award-winning beers and serves as the official craft brewery of the Boston Celtics.