Know Your Malt Barley Specs: What Maltsters Want in 2025
In the barley world, quality matters—especially if you’re hoping to get selected for malt. Hitting malt barley specs isn’t just about bragging rights; it’s about premiums, contracts, and getting your crop into a beer can instead of a feed trough. Doug Munro, North American Merchandising Manager at Boortmalt / Prairie Malt in Biggar, SK reviewed the specifications maltsters are looking for in the 2025 malt barley crop in a recent webinar hosted by the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC).
Malt Barley Specs:
1. Protein Content: 10-12.5%
Low enough to avoid haze and filter issues in the brewery, but high enough to provide enzymes for malting.
2. Germination: ≥95%
The absolute non-negotiable. If the kernel doesn’t grow, it can’t malt.
3. Moisture: ≤13.5%
Prevents storage issues and spoilage risk. Dry “low and slow,” keeping temperatures under 42°C.
Read: FAQs on Grain Storage & Drying from PAMI
4. Plumpness: ≥85%
Plump kernels provide more starch for brewing.
5. Peeled & Broken:
Keep damage minimal to ensure malting potential.
6. Green or Immature Kernels: ≤2%
Immature kernels don’t germinate well and can hurt sample quality.
7. Disease Tolerance:
- Fusarium/DON: Max 0.5 ppm
- Ergot: Max 0.02%
On-Farm Tips to Meet Malt Specs:
- Scout regularly for pests and disease.
- Harvest early if drying is possible.
- Handle grain gently during harvest and transport.
- Store cool and dry, with good aeration.
- Maintain accurate varietal records.
Meeting malt specs isn’t luck—it’s the result of targeted management at every step of production. For more on-farm tips and harvest considerations to maintain malt quality, watch the full webinar:
