Why Malt Deserves More Credit in Beer
When people talk about beer, hops usually steal the spotlight. They’re flashy, aromatic, and easy to identify. But during my recent live stream on Rod J BeerVentures , I sat down with Ian Goering, Director of Operations at Blue Ox Malthouse , to talk about the ingredient that truly forms the backbone of beer: malt . This conversation was all about peeling back the layers of beer and helping drinkers understand what’s really happening before the hops ever show up. Malt: The Foundation of Beer Malt plays a critical role in beer, influencing nearly every aspect of the final product. From sweetness and body to color and mouthfeel, malt is responsible for much of what we experience when we take that first sip. Ian explained how different malt varieties contribute flavors ranging from bread and cracker to caramel, chocolate, and roast—often without beer drinkers realizing where those flavors originate. One of the biggest takeaways from the conversation was just how much intentional decis...
