September is Craft Malt Month, and Maryland’s own maltser, Bear Branch Malt, is going all out this month with events promoting local grains. The Westminster, Maryland malthouse utilizes grains grown on their farm, as well as others from within 100 miles. Historically, beer was brewed from the fields surrounding the brewery,” owner and maltser Brad Humbert tells us. “We’re bringing that tradition back, and Craft Malt Month is the perfect time to raise a glass to what makes local craft beer and spirits truly local.” Two events are taking place in DC.
Henceforth’s inaugural Conversation Pit Discussion is “Malt: The Backbone of Beer.” It’ll be the first in a series, and what better way to kick off than with Bear Branch. Humbert will be in the house with samples of grain, and the Henceforth crew will debut an altbier made with his malt. “Pull up a seat, join the discussion and enjoy a beer. Discover how malt contributes flavor, color, aroma, body, and fermentable sugars to beer,” Monday, September 21, 6:30-9pm, free admission, but please RSVP, beer is pay as you go outside of a side-by-side malt and beer tasting.
Thursday, September 24, 6-8pm, Bear Branch is at Dupont Circle’s Heurich House for an event with Lost Lagers, “Deconstructing the Soul of Senate: Malt Sensory Workshop.” The event features a panel discussion from Pete Jones and our own Mike Stein, the Lost Lagers crew; Thor Cheston of Right Proper Brewing; and Humbert, along with Susan Hebble, also of Bear Branch. Attendees get a guided tasting and conduct their own experiments by steeping malt. $30 includes everything, additional beers available for purchase.
There are more events further afield, but the one we’re putting on your radar is at Baltimore’s Max’s Taphouse on Tuesday, September 29. Bear Branch is doing a tap takeover featuring breweries that use their malt, including Hyattsville locals Streetcar 82 and Franklins, who are bringing a Vienna-style lager and a pre-Prohibition pilsner, respectively. We’ll be there, and we think you should be, too. Free admission, pay as you go, starts at 5pm.
The beer list:
1812 Farm Brewery – Mountain Valley Amber
Checkerspot – Year Round Fairground
Diamondback – Kia Ora
Falling Branch – Old Line State
Franklin’s – Birthday Beer
Liquidity – Hashawha Hazy
Milkhouse – Oktoberfest
Monument City – Bear Branch Vienna Lager
Olde Mother / Pink Boots – Oktoberfest
Pub Dog Brewing – Honey Brown Ale
Pickett Brewing – TBD
RAK – RAKtoberfest
Streetcar 82 – Vienna Gold
Union – Doppelbock
Vanish Brewing – Fields Of Gold Harvest
We’re particularly interested in the Olde Mother collaboration with both Maryland’s Pink Boots Society and Hebble, which showcases local malt in just about the perfect beer for the season, and Union’s Dopplebock, which could be a malt bomb in all the best ways. The Brewers Association of Maryland reports that Sagamore Spirits will also be at Max’s with their 2027 Pot Still Rye Malt Whiskey, made with a grain bill that’s 75% Bear Branch.
“Craft Malt Month is about celebrating the deep connection between farms, brewers, distillers, and the communities they serve,” says Humbert. “When people enjoy a pint brewed with local malt, they’re tasting not just quality ingredients but the story of local agriculture.”
DC Beer disclosures from our co-owners: Stein is one half of Lost Lagers, Holder works for Henceforth.
