What Montana Craft Malt does

Montana Craft Malt is a craft malt producer headquartered in Butte, Montana, operating a 50,000+ sq. ft. malthouse on 9 acres with 10,000-tonne annual production capacity across 30+ tanks and four germination vessels. The company produces European-style malts (Bavarian Pilsner, Munich Light, British Pale, Vienna), specialty malts (Melanoidin Gold, Cara 20, Dextrin, Pale White Wheat, Oat Malt), and base malts (Pilsner, 2-Row), utilizing traditional European malting techniques including decoction mashing. Its identity-preserved barley program is built around Bavarian heirloom varieties Steffi and Francin, marketed on full seed-to-bottle traceability and Montana terroir — features designed to differentiate from commodity maltsters such as Briess, Rahr, and Country Malt.

The company serves craft brewers, craft distillers, and food makers across the Mountain West and Pacific Northwest, with direct regional sales teams and a West Coast wholesale partnership via Linc Malt extending distribution reach. Customer logos span enterprise-scale craft brewers (Jack's Abby Craft Lagers, Russian River Brewing Co.), regional craft brewers (MAP Brewing, Pure Madness Brewery Group, Lewis and Clark Brewing, Headframe Spirits for whiskey, and others), and the homebrew/prosumer segment served through direct facility pickup in 1lb to 55lb packages. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the company has referenced a flat-rate all-in commercial model, and revenue is generated primarily through malt sales across these channels.

The business is privately held with no disclosed external investors per company commentary, though a 2018-09-28 funding event of $9,950,000 with unknown investors appears in the data and predates the 2019 founding date reported in the company history, creating a data conflict that should be resolved before any transaction. Co-Founder Jen O'Brien (prior Google and Washington Post) leads commercially; Director of Malt Operations Bryan Taylor (ex-Cargill Malt, Stone Path Malt) leads production. An Innovation & Resource Center anchored by the Montana State University Barley and Malt Quality Lab, plus supplier relationships with Bos Hay & Grain and Coldstream Malt and Grain, support R&D and supply continuity.

Name

Montana Craft Malt

Legal name

Montana Craft Malt

Website

https://montanacraftmalt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Montana Craft Malt is a craft malt producer in Butte, Montana, manufacturing European-style, specialty, and base malts from heirloom Bavarian barley varieties for craft brewers, distillers, and food makers. The 10,000-tonne facility serves Mountain West, Pacific Northwest, and broader West Coast customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Butte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Craft Malt Sales (Commercial): Sale of premium craft malts to commercial breweries, distilleries, and food makers. Products include European malts (Bavarian Pilsner, Munich, Vienna, British Pale), specialty malts (Melanoidin Gold, Cara 20, Dextrin, Wheat, Oat), and base malts (Pilsner, 2-Row). Production capacity of 10,000 tonnes annually.
2. Homebrew Malt Sales: Sale of malt in smaller quantities (1lb, 5lb, 10lb, 55lb) to homebrewers with 10% discount for pickup at facility.
3. Innovation & Product Development Services: Collaboration with customers through Innovation & Resource Center to develop custom malt flavor profiles and new products, working with Montana State University Barley and Malt Quality Lab.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Montana Craft Malt produces premium craft malt from Montana-grown barley at a 10,000-tonne malthouse in Butte, Montana, using traditional European malting techniques. The company offers three product categories: European Malts (Bavarian Pilsner, Munich Light, British Pale, Vienna), Specialty Malts (Melanoidin Gold, Cara 20, Dextrin, Pale White Wheat, Oat), and Base Malts (Pilsner, 2-Row). Customers include craft breweries, distilleries, food makers, and homebrewers across the Mountain West, Pacific Northwest, and broader North America.

Product overview

Montana Craft Malt produces premium craft malts as a single unified product line consisting of three malt categories: European Malts (Bavarian Pilsner, Munich Light, British Pale, Vienna), Specialty Malts (Melanoidin Gold, Cara 20, Dextrin, Pale White Wheat Malt, Oat Malt), and Base Malts (Pilsner, 2-Row). All malts are produced at their 10,000-ton malthouse facility in Butte, Montana using Montana-grown barley, with an Innovation & Research Center collaborating with Montana State University for product development. The company offers products in packaging sizes from 1lb to 55lb for homebrewers and commercial quantities for brewers and distillers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MCM Bavarian Pilsner German Style Pilsner Malt made from European barley varieties grown in Montana, malted in traditional German fashion with light-yellow straw color and clean, grassy, straw-like characteristics with undertones of honey and bread crust.
• MCM Munich Light European-style Munich Malt with rich aroma featuring notes of light caramel, honey and bread, with clean, rich, and malty flavor. Used in dark lagers, Munich-style lagers, bock styles, and German festival beers.
• MCM British Pale Pale malt that goes through an intense final curing cycle to drive light melanoidin flavors of bread crust, toast and biscuity baked goods. Well suited for session beers, IPAs and stouts.
• MCM Vienna Malt with a more intense kilning cycle than British Pale, used at 100% without being overbearing. Great for dark lagers, amber ales, or at lower percentages to add complexity to pale lagers, IPAs, and pale ales.
• MCM Melanoidin Gold Employs traditional German recipe producing high level of complex malt characteristics with decoction attributes including honey, hints of stone fruit and biscuity undertones. Lower in color than most melanoidin malts.
• MCM Cara 20 High air recirculation in the kiln produces similar effect of saccharification rest found in mashing. Copper in color with flavors of sweet graham cracker and hints of caramel.
• MCM Dextrin Used to enhance head retention, haze and body in any style of beer. Higher protein barley undergoes a short germination process to ensure a higher level of dextrins and molecular proteins.
• MCM Pale White Wheat Malt Made from low protein soft white winter wheat with low enzyme package, high extract potential, and high haze development. Flavors are clean and doughy, becoming bready and sweet in the boil. Well suited for all wheat beer styles and hazy IPAs.
• MCM Oat Malt Used to develop haze in many beer styles, mainly New England IPAs. Imparts soft earthy and grainy flavors and creates a silky smooth mouthfeel.
• MCM Pilsner Traditional North American style pilsner malt, fully modified for single infusion mashing. Kilned to maintain low color and drive off DMS. Creates wort that is yellow in color with flavors of straw and slightly sweet honey notes.
• MCM 2-Row Base malt slightly higher in protein, color, and enzymes, with quick runoff. Wort is sweet and yellow in color, well suited for quick single infusion style mashing.
• Homebrew Malt Packs Craft malts packaged in 1lb, 5lb, 10lb, and 55lb quantities for homebrewing enthusiasts, available for direct pickup at the Butte, MT facility with a 10% discount.
• Innovation & Research Center Services Precision test kitchen and extended science center where Montana Craft Malt collaborates with customers to develop custom malt flavor profiles and new products, working in tandem with Montana State University's Malt Quality Lab.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gold Medal at Washington Craft Beer Awards for Postdoc Brewing Fellowship Porter

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Oregon Brewshed AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontana Craft Malt provided discounted Salmon-Safe certified ingredients for the 4th Annual Wild & Scenic Earth Day Collaboration Series, supporting watershed protection awareness and the River Democracy Act advocacy.
• Montana State University Barley and Malt Quality LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Innovation and Resource Center, serving as a precision test kitchen for customers and collaborators. Partnership with MSU Barley Breeding Program for expert guidance on farming operations and barley variety development.
• Bos Hay & Grain (Independent Grower)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExperienced independent growers across Montana regions (Gallatin Valley, Golden Triangle, Beaverton Valley) who care deeply about grain quality and traceability from seed to bottle.
• Pure Madness Brewery Group (Roadhouse Pub and Eatery, Melvin Brewing)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMountain states collaboration to craft West Coast Pilsners showcasing Montana-grown Bavarian-style malts and Flathead Valley Hops. Brewed at Roadhouse Pub and Eatery and Melvin Mothership in Alpine, WY.
• Flathead Valley HopsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily-owned hop farm in Flathead Valley, MT specializing in high-quality hops for craft brewers with focus on sustainable practices. Partner in mountain states collaboration for West Coast Pilsners.
• Ogden Beer Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned craft brewery in Ogden, Utah known for innovative and flavorful brews. Collaborated on West Coast Pilsner using Montana Craft Malt Bavarian-style Pilsner malt.
• Jack's Abby Craft LagersflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily-owned brewery in Framingham, MA renowned for lager expertise. Collaboration on 'Down Yonder' German Helles beer using Montana-grown Bavarian-style Pilsner malt made with Esma barley, employing decoction mashing technique.
• Coleman AgricultureminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvided discounted Salmon-Safe certified ingredients for Oregon Brewshed Alliance Earth Day Collaboration Series.
• Yakima Chief HopsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvided discounted Salmon-Safe certified ingredients for Oregon Brewshed Alliance Earth Day Collaboration Series.
• Indie HopsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvided discounted Salmon-Safe certified ingredients for Oregon Brewshed Alliance Earth Day Collaboration Series.
• Country Malt GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvided discounted Salmon-Safe certified ingredients for Oregon Brewshed Alliance Earth Day Collaboration Series.
• Admiral MaltingsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvided discounted Salmon-Safe certified ingredients for Oregon Brewshed Alliance Earth Day Collaboration Series.
• Coldstream Malt and GraincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington-based supplier of Identity Preserved Steffi Barley used by Montana Craft Malt for Steffi Pilsner products, available on West Coast through Linc Malt.
• Headframe SpiritsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading American Single Malt Whiskey producer in Butte, MT. Partnership for Kelley American Single Malt Whiskey using Montana Craft Malt output, contributing to local economy and growth.
• MAP Brewing Co.flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontana brewery producing M8 Mountain Lager using Montana Craft Malt. Team members volunteer at MAP Brewing canning line, showcasing deep community integration.
• Tioga-SequoiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Valley, CA brewery. Montana Craft Malt sponsoring malt for 'Homegrown Hero' homebrew competition with proceeds going to Kevin Cox Memorial Scholarship Fund supporting brewing industry education.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Briess Malt & Ingredients Co. Family-owned US maltster offering a broad portfolio of base and specialty malts to craft and home brewers. Directly comparable to MCM as a domestic craft malt supplier with comparable product categories (Pilsner, Munich, Vienna, Caramel).
• Great Western Malting: One of the largest North American maltsters producing base and specialty malts for breweries and distillers. Comparable to MCM in product range and brewery/distillery customer base, though at significantly larger scale.
• Admiral Maltings: West Coast craft malthouse based in Alameda, CA serving craft brewers with premium specialty malts. Highly comparable craft malt positioning, customer overlap on West Coast, and similar 'craft vs. commodity' narrative.
• Linc Malt: West Coast craft malt distributor/maltster that already distributes Montana Craft Malt's Steffi Pilsner. Direct peer on West Coast craft malt distribution and similar craft brewery customer base.
• Country Malt Group: North American distributor and supplier of malt and brewing ingredients to craft brewers and homebrewers. Comparable go-to-market (multi-brand malt supply to craft customers) and identified as a partner of MCM in industry collaborations.
• Coldstream Malt and Grain: Washington-based identity-preserved barley and malt supplier; already a strategic supplier to Montana Craft Malt for Steffi barley and a Northwest craft malthouse serving similar craft brewery customers.

Broad incumbents

• Cargill Malt: Global commodity maltster within Cargill's broad agricultural portfolio. Overlaps with MCM on base malt supply to large brewers; less differentiated on specialty European-style malts but represents the kind of scaled competition MCM faces.
• Weyermann Specialty Malts: German family-owned maltster and global leader in specialty/European-style malts (Bavarian Pilsner, Munich, Vienna, Melanoidin). Most direct international competitor to MCM's European-style product line; the import alternative MCM explicitly positions against.
• Viking Malt: Pan-European maltster producing base and specialty malts for breweries and distillers worldwide. Comparable European-style malt portfolio and serves similar craft and traditional brewer/distiller customers.

Emerging players

• Stone Path Malt: Small New England craft malthouse. Comparable craft-scale malt production model and craft brewery customer focus; represents a regional craft malt peer rather than a direct national competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/montanacraftmalt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/montana-craft-malt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Montana Craft Malt