Brewers In Barley States: Connecting Mexican Craft Brewers With Producers, Maltsters In U.S.

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC), along with the Washington Grain Commission, Idaho Barley Commission, Montana Wheat and Barley Committee and North Dakota Barley Council, recently hosted a team of Mexican craft brewers in the U.S. who learned about U.S. barley and malt production and procurement, saw new barley varieties and gained confidence in U.S. barley and malt as consistent and quality ingredients.

“As craft brewing has grown, it has become more consolidated, and these breweries have increased their demand and now are able to buy by container. The purpose of this program was to connect these breweries with malt producers so they can buy directly from U.S. malsters and bypass distributors who bring malt from other origins around the world,” said Javier Chavez, USGC marketing specialist in Mexico.

More Mexican craft breweries have consolidated recently, and brewers have the potential of importing whole containers of malted barley for their larger operations. The Council hopes that through welcoming teams to the U.S., they will gain a better understanding of the consistency and ease of purchasing logistics when working with U.S. malt producers.

The team began its journey in Washington state, touring a malthouse, seeing harvest and visiting a Washington State University barley test field to learn more about the importance of barley varieties being grown there. The group also spent time with representatives from the Washington Grain Commission and Idaho Barley Commission before traveling to Montana for their next leg of the journey. In Montana, the group visited two craft malting facilities, toured a farm and visited Montana State University’s quality lab following a meeting with members from Montana Wheat and Barley. Two more malting facility tours took place in North Dakota, in addition to an educational session led by the North Dakota Barley Council, before the team traveled to Minneapolis to meet with two malting companies and round out their time in the U.S.

“I’m optimistic that all craft brewers who are members of Mexico’s Brewers Chamber will see the value of forming a buying group, thus increasing their demand and purchasing power, Chavez said.

This program, in addition to the Council’s other engagements with Mexico’s craft brewers, is a direct follow-up from a commitment made with Cerveros de Mexico, Mexico’s National Chamber of the Beer and Malt Industry, to contribute to a direct procurement program.