Malting
& Brewing
TAKING PITCHERS
A quick snapshot of the malting and brewing industry
indicates there is a lot brewing in Alberta; over the last few years the maltsters have
increased their consumption of malting barley and a number of new microbreweries have
sprung up. A microbrewery is a brewery that produces less than 60,000 hectolitres of the
golden beverage per year. All this activity adds up to healthy malting barley sales for
producers.
MALTSTERS
Canada Malting
This firm has been in the press recently because of the friendly takeover by
ConAgra, an Omaha-based food giant with annual sales of $24 billion US. Total purchase
price was $405 million Cdn. Canada Malting is the world’s largest producer of malt,
with sales last year of $367 million. In 1993, construction of the Calgary Tower Malthouse
was part of their expansion of the 80 year-old complex in southeast Calgary. The company
uses about 350,000 tonnes of barley a year from Alberta producers to produce the fine malt
for local and export markets.
Rahr Malting Canada Ltd.
From its site in the village of Alix, this maltster ships malted barley to brewing and
food customers in North and South America, and the Pacific Rim. Since its beginnings in
April 1993, it has been expanding to increase its production capacity to exceed 120,000
tonnes. In the last twelve months it has spent over $2 million to increase production
volume. Future expansion plans will allow for the attainment of its design capacity:
180,000 tonnes/year.
BREWERS
Big Rock Brewery
If the names Warthog and Magpie mean anything to you, it’s because you are one of the
many fans of Big Rock’s fine ales (and of course, the Alberta barley used to make
them). Established 10 years ago by a former rancher, this microbrewery has grown to
boulder-like proportions. Owner Ed McNally was recently honoured with a national
Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Prairie division. The latest news for this
expanding Calgary company: it will also act as agent and distributor for Ireland’s
Guinness beers.
Bow Valley Brewing Company
Based in Canmore since its beginnings in 1995, Bow Valley was born out of a desire to
pattern a lager in the same lager style known throughout the world as Munichner Helles.
Helles is the everyday drinking beer in Bavaria. The BVB Premium Lager is brewed in small
batches, using three types of malt, including one made from Harrington. Brewed in the
Canadian Rockies, the Bavarian-style lager is available on tap and in bottles at fine
establishments in southern Alberta.
Banff Brewery
German ales and lagers are the products that are putting this microbrewery on the map. It
is based in Calgary, though its name elicits the pristine images of one of Canada’s
national parks, which is part of its market corridor. The first products hit the market in
April of this year: White Horn Pilsner, Dancing Bear Pale Ale, and Two Jack Ale. All beers
are Krausen brewed (double fermented), unpasteurized, and malt is purchased from Canada
Malting.
Alley Kat Brewing Company
The two owners will soon be celebrating Alley Kat’s first year in business, in
Edmonton. Alberta two-row barley is used for all their unpasteurized brews: Alley Kat
Amber, Alley Kat Aprikat (an apricot fruit beer), Full Moon Pale Ale, and their Christmas
spiced ale. Olde Deuteronomy Barley Wine is a new item, for Alley Kat and the Canadian
brewing industry; with 8% alcohol. Products are available throughout Alberta.
Labatt Breweries
Since 1963, Edmonton has been the Alberta production site for one of Canada’s oldest
established brewers. Since its beginning in London, Ontario in 1847, John Labatt Ltd. has
grown to become one of the nation’s largest brewers. Last summer, Labatt was acquired
by Interbrew SA, a Belgian brewery, and is now part of the world’s 4th largest
brewing group. The Alberta site uses 11,000 tonnes of malted barley a year to make such
brands as Labatt Blue, Labatt Ice, and Budweiser.
Molson Breweries
"We... are... Canadian" is the rallying message in the latest Molson ads. Canadian
refers, of course, to one of their top-selling brands, Molson Canadian. This brewer
holds the largest market share in the province, and is well-known for Molson Special Dry
and that silver bullet, Coors Light. Established in 1786 in Montreal, the firm holds
nearly half the Canadian beer market and is Canada’s largest brewer. Alberta barley,
as well as Saskatchewan and Manitoba barley, is used to fulfill production requirements.
They use primarily two-row, and note that the ‘95 barley crop is substantially better
for brewing than last year’s. Edmonton is one of their production sites.
- Excerpts reprinted from Barley Country, Winter 1995
Related Links:
Rahr
Malting Canada Ltd.
Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre
Prairie
Malt Limited
Canadian Grain Commission
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada - Cereal Research Centre
National Research Council - Plant Biotechnology Institute
University of Manitoba - Department of Plant Science
University of Saskatchewan - Crop Development Centre
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