How is it that malt remains consistent over different growing seasons?

[Guest]

How is it that malt remains consistent over different growing seasons? The alpha content of hops is constantly changing so how is it that malt can deliver about the same extract year after year? Why did I just ask the same question twice?

[Cargill Malt]

Great question. Actually this a problem that the maltster and our barley buyer have to deal with every year.

Each year brings a new crop and with it a whole new set of challenges. With this in mind, the maltster is able to manipulate the barley in the malt house to meet the customer's exacting requirements.

The elevator manager also plays an important role in creating a "blend" from several different production pieces of malt in order to meet these specifications.