2021 was the first time the Craft Maltsters Guild has hosted their annual conference virtually, and the first year the guild opened up the awards competition to international malthouses. 28 malthouses from seven countries, 17 states, and one province submitted a total of 46 entries spanned 29 different malt barley varieties.
The 2021 Malt Cup awards evaluation took place in three phases over two months. Malthouses sent samples to Montana State University’s Barley, Malt & Brewing Quality Lab, where researchers conducted quality control analysis to ensure that each entry meets the competing category criteria. The qualifying samples then underwent hot steep sensory evaluation at 17 different judging locations across the United States and Canada. Judges reported sensory data such as aroma, flavor, and aroma via DraughtLab, a sensory software. The DraughtLab team is an on-going partner in the competition.
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In total, 83 judges worked together to determine the following winners:
PILSEN MALT
Gold – Gold Rush Malt (Baker City, OR, USA)
Silver – Malteria Italiana Artigianale (Gualdo Cattaneo, PG, Italy)
Bronze – Admiral Maltings (Alameda, CA, USA)
PALE MALT
Gold – Gold Rush Malt (Baker City, OR, USA)
Silver – Troubadour Maltings (Fort Collins, CO, USA)
Bronze – Root Shoot Malting (Loveland, CO, USA)
2021 MALT CUP WINNER
Gold Rush Malt was awarded Best of Show and became the first malt house to win two gold medals in a single season.
SOLES OF MALT AWARD
The Soles of Malt Award is an award that honors individuals who stand out for their leadership, selflessness, and philanthropic stewardship of craft malt. The award is named in memory of William Soles, co-founder of Grouse Malt House. The recipient of the 2021 Soles of Malt Award is Paul Schwarz, professor of Malting Barley Quality in the Department of Plant Sciences at North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND.
More details here.