Malting barleys for 2006-2007.

Representatives from the Brewing, distilling and malting industry have been working together for over fifty years; to evaluate new barleys and to decide if they can join the list of those varieties that are preferred by the maltster, to meet the brewer and distillers different needs. When a barley variety is judged to be suitable for use by the malting industry it is included on the Internationally recognised Institute of Brewing recommended list. Barleys are given 'Provisional Approval' status when the industry thinks that the barley has malting potential, but would prefer to see the results from another season's crop before a final decision is made.

As barleys become outclassed, they are replaced by varieties that can more closely match the market. The removal of such a varieties from the list does not mean they are no longer suitable for malting; some may very well serve a valuable niche market, like the variety Maris Otter. Farmers who have grown such varieties well for many years, may prefer to continue supply customers who request them.

Barleys are not only evaluated for a malting purpose, they are also judged against their performance in for final needs. Barleys are no longer categorised by geographical area, but by whether they are suitable for either brewing and/or distilling.

For more background information on how the IBD Malting Barley Committee and its sub-committees work to evalaute new barley varieties, and review the IBD Malting Barley Recommended List each year CLICK HERE

The publication Malting Barley Update, including The IBD approved list for the 2005-2006 season is available for download below, and is divided into winter sown and spring sown varieties:

Click here to download the IBD approved malting barley list for harvest 2006

Click here to download the IBD approved malting barley list for harvest 2007

If you would like to discuss market needs with your local maltsters, click here for a list of all MAGB members malting sites

If you would like to see the tonnage of barley varieties bought by MAGB members in Scotland and England for the last year of finalised records, please click here.