As the craft brewing segment goes, so goes the allied trade. As craft beer begins to slow, it would be expected that suppliers of products and services to the industry will slow as well.
Not necessarily directly tied to the slowing craft brewing industry, but perhaps a bellwether, Skagit Valley Malting, located in the northwest Washington town of Burlington, has ceased all operations and is now closed.
The small malting company has sold specialty malts, mostly from local grains, to craft brewers across the region for the last 12 years.
The company had recently announced plans to expand operations but closed suddenly with no announcement to its customers. There was no indication of their closure on their Facebook page, which had a recent post from a week ago.
More on the story here.