craft maltsters
The Craft Maltsters Guild is a non-profit industry trade association founded in 2013 that promotes and sustains craft malting in North America. It serves 100+ craft malthouses, hundreds of craft breweries and distillers, and small-grains researchers through the Craft Malt Certified™ Seal, the MaltCon conference, and the Malt Cup competition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersShiloh, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What craft maltsters does
The Craft Maltsters Guild is a non-profit industry trade association founded in 2013 by eight craft malthouses to promote and sustain the tradition of craft malting in North America. The Guild defines craft malt using explicit criteria — Small (5–10,000 metric tons of annual production), Local (50%+ of grains sourced within a 500-mile radius), and Independent (76%+ majority ownership) — and operationalizes that standard through the Craft Malt Certified™ Seal launched in September 2019. Its core offerings include the annual MaltCon conference, the Malt Cup quality competition (co-managed with Montana State University's Malt Lab and DraughtLab), the Craft Malt Finder online directory, the Craft Malt Month consumer campaign launched in September 2024, and applied research partnerships with universities including Virginia Tech, UC Davis, Oregon State, Hartwick College, and Glynwood.
The Guild serves craft malthouses (100+ members), craft breweries (300+ of which have signed onto the Pouring For Neighbors initiative), craft distillers, and small-grains researchers across North America, with growing international reach into Australia, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Ireland. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: recurring membership dues from malthouses, allied trade members, and individual members; conference and event registration fees (e.g., $300 member / $500 non-member early-bird pricing for the 2022 virtual MaltCon, which drew 233 attendees); and certification fees for the Craft Malt Certified™ Seal program. The organization is incorporated in Massachusetts, maintains a contact address in Shiloh, New Jersey, is governed by an elected Board of Directors, and transitioned executive leadership from Jesse Bussard to Steve Kurowski in late 2024.
craft maltsters firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- craft maltsters
- Legal name
- Craft Maltsters Guild
- Website
- https://craftmalting.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The Craft Maltsters Guild is a non-profit industry trade association founded in 2013 that promotes and sustains craft malting in North America. It serves 100+ craft malthouses, hundreds of craft breweries and distillers, and small-grains researchers through the Craft Malt Certified™ Seal, the MaltCon conference, and the Malt Cup competition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
craft maltsters industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industry Trade Association - Malting
- NAICS
- Malt Manufacturing (311213)
- SIC
- Malt Beverages (2082)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Malting Barley Production (Brewing/Distilling Supply) (AFAGAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Craft Distilleries & Microdistilleries (THAFALAH)
Keywords
Where craft maltsters is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shiloh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
craft maltsters business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: The Guild generates revenue through membership fees from craft malthouses, allied trade members, and individual members. Membership provides access to resources, certification programs, and community events.
- Conference and Event Revenue: Revenue from MaltCon annual conference registration fees, including virtual and in-person attendance options, and the Malt Cup competition entry fees.
- Certification Fees: Fees for the Craft Malt Certified Seal program participation, available at company level or individual product level.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | One time | Guild member conference registration |
| Subscription | One time | Non-member conference registration |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
craft maltsters product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Craft Maltsters Guild is a non-profit trade association that supports craft maltsters and the broader craft beverage industry. It was founded in 2013 by eight craft malthouses and offers certification, conferences, education, and community-building programs to advance the craft malting industry.
Product overview
The Craft Maltsters Guild is an industry trade association, not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of member services and programs including: the Craft Malt Certified™ Seal certification program (launched September 2019); the annual MaltCon conference and trade expo with the four-day Advance Class in Craft Malt Production; the Malt Cup annual quality competition with sensory judging; the Craft Malt Finder directory; and Craft Malt Month (annual September celebration). The Guild defines Craft Malt as small (5 metric tons to 10,000 metric tons per year), local (over 50% grains grown within 500-mile radius), and independent (76% majority ownership).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Craft Malt Certified Seal: A certification program launched in September 2019 designed to provide differentiation for Guild Member Malthouses and the brewers and distillers they work with. A brewery or distillery can participate at a company level or through individual products.
Products and services
- Craft Malt Certified Seal
- MaltCon
- Malt Cup
- Craft Malt Finder
- Craft Malt Month
- Advanced Class in Craft Malt Production
- Membership
Quantifiable outcome
- Malt Cup competition provides Certificate of Analysis valued at over $100 per entry
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use craft maltsters
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
craft maltsters technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
craft maltsters partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Virginia Tech Small Grains Breeding and Genetics ProgramcoreLong-term research partnership for developing malting barley varieties specifically bred for Eastern U.S. climate. Collaborated on Avalon barley variety, the first publicly released winter malt barley for the Eastern US. Dr. Nicholas Santantonio and researchers provided variety analysis and harvest data supporting craft malt operations.
- Montana State University Barley, Malt & Brewing Quality LabcoreHannah Turner, Lab Director, co-manages the Malt Cup competition and provides Certificate of Analysis testing. The lab provides quality testing services and educational outreach including field days and facility tours for the craft malt community.
- Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (The Malt Academy)coreAwarded 2022 Soles of Malt Award. The Malt Academy in Winnipeg developed North America's first malting workshop and provides research and testing services. Has trained graduates who shaped the North American craft malt movement.
- University of California DavisminorDr. Maany Ramanan conducted doctoral research on malting barley quality in California trials. Research focused on genotype and environment interactions affecting barley quality for craft malt applications.
- DraughtLabcoreSensory software company co-manages Malt Cup judging using the Hot Steep Method, the first malt sensory method validated by the American Society of Brewing Chemists (ASBC). Lindsay Barr, CSO, oversees sensory evaluation rounds.
- Hartwick College Center for Craft Food & BeverageminorResearch partnership on malt quality topics including gibberellic acid use in malting. Contributed research on 2021 cereal crop issues including pre-harvest sprout damage mitigation.
- Glynwood Center for Regional Food and FarmingminorJune Russell, Director of Regional Food Programs, delivered keynote at 2022 Craft Malt Conference. Glynwood works on regional grain economy development supporting craft malt supply chains.
- Oregon State University Barley ProjectminorResearch collaboration on barley variety development. OSU's Small Grains Breeding Program contributes to craft malt quality through regional variety adaptation research.
- Crafted For AllminorDEI consulting firm engaged by the Guild for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mission development. Principal Dr. J Jackson-Beckman led DEI training and town hall facilitation.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
craft maltsters competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Brewers Association: The US trade association for craft brewers—the same end-customer segment the Craft Maltsters Guild serves. Both operate as member-driven non-profit associations with conferences, advocacy, and quality programs (e.g., the BA's seal of independence mirrors the Guild's local/independent craft malt definition).
- American Craft Spirits Association: Trade association serving craft distillers—a core Guild member segment. Operates with a parallel structure: membership dues, annual conferences, and certification/distinction programs aimed at the craft spirits producer community.
- American Malting Barley Association: US trade association representing malting barley interests across breeders, growers, and maltsters. The most direct upstream analog to the Guild's craft malting mission, focused on the broader malting barley supply chain.
- Master Brewers Association of the Americas: Professional association for brewing professionals that runs educational programming, technical conferences, and quality-related initiatives—structurally similar to the Guild's MaltCon and Malt Cup offerings, but for brewers rather than maltsters.
- American Society of Brewing Chemists: Scientific society that validates brewing analytical methods including the Hot Steep Method used in the Guild's Malt Cup. Highly comparable in mission (technical standards, quality benchmarking) and audience overlap.
- Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre: Winnipeg-based malt research and training center that was a 2022 Soles of Malt Award recipient and has trained many North American craft maltsters. Operates adjacent R&D, training, and technical service capabilities that complement the Guild's community programs.
- National Barley Growers Association: US association representing barley producers—an upstream constituency whose members supply raw grain to the craft malthouses the Guild represents. Operates in a parallel fashion: advocacy, conferences, and grower-focused education.
Broad incumbents
- Distilled Spirits Council of the United States: Larger trade association representing the broad distilled spirits industry. Overlaps with the Guild on the distillery member segment but operates at a national lobbying scale well beyond the Guild's craft-focused scope.
- Beer Institute: National trade association for the broader US beer industry, including major brewers. Overlaps with the Guild on advocacy for the brewing value chain but does not specialize in the craft malt segment.
Regional players
- Independent Brewers Association: Australia-based independent brewers association. Geographically distinct but highly comparable in function—membership-driven trade body supporting craft beverage producers—and represents a model the Guild could leverage for international expansion.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
craft maltsters social profiles
Digital presencecraft maltsters financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
craft maltsters leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
craft maltsters funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
craft maltsters M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about craft maltsters
What does craft maltsters do?
The Craft Maltsters Guild is a non-profit trade association that supports craft maltsters and the broader craft beverage industry. It was founded in 2013 by eight craft malthouses and offers certification, conferences, education, and community-building programs to advance the craft malting industry.
Is craft maltsters a public or private company?
craft maltsters is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was craft maltsters founded?
craft maltsters was founded in 2013.
Where is craft maltsters based?
craft maltsters is headquartered in Shiloh, United States, in the North America region.
How does craft maltsters make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are conference and Event Revenue and certification Fees.
Who are craft maltsters's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Brewers Association, American Craft Spirits Association, American Malting Barley Association, Master Brewers Association of the Americas, American Society of Brewing Chemists, Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre and National Barley Growers Association. Broad incumbents are Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and Beer Institute. Independent Brewers Association is listed as a regional player.
Does craft maltsters have an API?
No public API is recorded for craft maltsters.
What industry is craft maltsters in?
craft maltsters's product category is Industry Trade Association - Malting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAAAJ, Malting Barley Production (Brewing/Distilling Supply), with a secondary code of THAFALAH, Craft Distilleries & Microdistilleries. Its NAICS code is 311213 and its SIC code is 2082.