New South Wales based craft maltsters ‘Voyager Craft Malt’ awarded world’s best Pale Ale Malt

Stu Whytcross and Brad Woolner of Voyager Craft Malt

Riverina based Voyager Craft Malt - who grow, source, and process the essential ingredient in beer and whisky-malt - have been announced as Malt Cup winners in the Pale Ale category for 2022 in Bozeman Montana, USA February 18th thanks to the Craft Maltsters Guild.

This is the first time that the Gold Award has been awarded to a maltster outside of the USA and represents a significant achievement for the small Whitton-based maltsters.

The competition saw 58 entries from malthouses around the world compete through a rigorous analysis process over several months, where their malts were judged through a combination of lab and sensory panel evaluations.

“We’re absolutely stoked to have taken out this award with our Organic Veloria Pale Ale malt. We know the high quality of malts we were up against, particularly from the USA, so to have made it through to the final rounds is an honor in itself; so to win it gives us tremendous satisfaction.” -Voyager Co-Founder Stu Whytcross said.

“We get a great sense of pride and enjoyment when beers or spirits that contain our malts win awards, but the Malt Cup is awarded on the quality of the malt alone, so it gives us, and our growers a great sense of achievement to take out the Gold.”

“I’d like to think that it also serves as great recognition for the many brewers and distillers around Australia that have chosen to use this malt to produce quality beers and spirits.”

Co-founder Stu Whytcross says the quality of the barley used is a major factor in malt quality, and to celebrate this achievement alongside their growers has been something quite special.

“Making great malt, starts with amazing barley. The Riverina has such a great climate for producing quality barley year in year out.”

Another factor that makes this win fulfilling for Voyager is that the particular parcel of Schooner barley that took the title, was grown on the regenerative farm of Chris and Samantha Greenwood in the small Riverina town of Coleambally.

“It makes the award that little bit more satisfying and reinforces our commitment to move towards sourcing all our grain from regenerative agricultural practices.” Whytcross said.

Visitors to the Whitton Malt House – award winning tourism facility and restaurant situated along side Voyager’s processing facility - can try a vast selection of craft beers and whiskies that have been made with this gold medal winning malt.

For more information please contact Voyager Craft Malt Co-Founder, Stu Whytcross 0427683272 sales@voyagercraftmalt.com.au or Whitton Malt House Manager, Diana Williams 0438 777 078