Craft Maltsters Guild Recaps MaltCon2025

DENVER, CO– The Craft Maltsters Guild reported international attendance and the largest Malt Cup competition yet from MaltCon2025, the organization’s annual conference and trade expo.

The only malt industry gathering of its kind, MaltCon began with the Advance Class in Malt Production. This four-day intensive course had 14 participants hailing from Australia, France, Mexico, and the United States.

The conference, which took place in Denver this year, had attendees from nine countries (Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, and the United States) and expert speakers who represented the entire grain supply chain— from farming and malting, to brewing and distilling, and many members of the agricultural research community. In total there were 97 participants, including professionals from 30 malthouses, three breweries, one distillery, 10 industry suppliers, and eight research institutions. 

2025 MALT CUP

Each year at MaltCon, esteemed judges complete the final of three rounds of blind judging for the Malt Cup— a prestigious malt quality competition that determines the best malt in the world. This year, there were more entries into the competition than ever before (34 malthouses from seven countries submitted 112 malt samples), as well as two new categories (Distillers Malt and Unique Malt) to create a total of eight malt styles judged. 

Congratulations to Maine’s Blue Ox Malthouse, named best in show in this points-based competition. Their team returned home with the traveling Malt Cup trophy. 

The 2025 Malt Cup winners are as follows: 

PILSEN (20 entries)

Bronze: Cold Stream Malt & Grain, malted in partnership with Montana Craft Malt

Silver: Cascadia Malts

Gold: Red Shed Malting

PALE MALT (13 entries)

Bronze: Two Track Malting

Silver: Red Shed Malting

Gold: Voyager Craft Malt

VIENNA (13 entries)

Bronze: ND Malting & Hops

Silver: Murmuration Malts

Gold: Admiral Maltings

LIGHT MUNICH (12 entries)

Bronze: Two Track Malting

Silver: Root Shoot Malting

Gold: Blue Ox Malthouse

WHEAT (15 entries)

Bronze: Admiral Maltings

Silver: South Fork Malthouse

Gold: LINC Malt

CARAMEL (11 entries)

Bronze: New York Craft Malt

Silver: Root Shoot Malting

Gold: Blue Ox Malthouse

DISTILLERS MALT (9 entries) 

Bronze: Cascadia Malts

Silver: Troubadour Maltings

Gold: Root Shoot Malting

UNIQUE MALT (19 entries)

Honorable Mention: Voyager Craft Malt

Bronze: Root Shoot Malting

Silver: Red Shed Malting

Gold: Grouse Malt House

SOLES OF MALT AWARD 

The Soles Of Malt, created in memory of craft maltster William Soles, stands for selfless and philanthropic stewardship of the craft malt industry. Each year, a selection committee considers a wide range of craft malt community members to make this tough decision. Congratulations to the 2025 Soles of Malt Award recipient, Brent Manning, the Co-Founder of Riverbend Malt House. Manning was one of the founding members of the Craft Maltsters Guild who served on the Board of Directors for 10 years, four of them as President. Manning and his team have also demonstrated incredible resilience and support for their community in Western North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene. 

SPONSORS 

MaltCon is made possible by generous organizations committed to the work of the Craft Maltsters Guild. Thank you to the MaltCon2025 sponsors. 

Platinum Sponsor

Yingtai Machinery

Gold Sponsors

Kaspar Schulz

Malters Advantage

Buehler

Silver Sponsors

ABM Equipment

Walinga

Montana State University

Hartwick College

Metropolitan State University

Bronze Sponsors

Root Shoot Malting

IKA Lab Equipment

Resilient Freight Solutions

SPECIAL THANKS

The Guild extends recognition to Hannah Ulhmann, Director of the Montana State University Barley and Malt Quality Lab. Through her leadership, the lab has been the official Malt Cup partner since its inception. Thanks to Ulhmann for her ongoing dedication and work to elevate this competition year over year. 

Media inquiring about the Craft Maltsters Guild or MaltCon2025 can contact Emily Hutto at hutto at radcraftbeer dot com.

ABOUT THE CRAFT MALTSTERS GUILD

Formed in 2013, the Craft Maltsters Guild’s mission is to promote and sustain the tradition of craft malting in North America, provide services and resources to the Association’s members, and uphold the highest quality and safety standards for Craft Maltsters. Learn more about the Craft Maltsters Guild at craftmalting.com.