In response to the growing demand for Michigan-grown ingredients for the craft beer industry, educators from MSU Extension, with support from MSU AgBioResearch, the Michigan Brewers Guild and the Institute for Sustainable Living, Art & Natural Design, are hosting the Great Lakes Hop and Barley Conference April 10-11 at the Eberhard Center on the Grand Valley State University campus in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Beginning hop management, advanced hop management and malting barley production and malthouse opportunities are the three conference tracks offered. Friday’s program will offer a wide range of presentations by speakers from across the country focusing on growing the vibrant craft ingredient industry in the state.
Featured speakers include Lester Jones, chief economist for the National Beer Wholesalers Association, and Bart Watson, chief economist from the Brewers Association. Other speakers include Derek Prell, David Gent, Sara Del Moro and Zac German. Experts from MSU will discuss best management practices for hop and malting barley production.
Friday’s program will end with a Brewers Cut Analysis Demo and Meet the Buyer event hosted by the Michigan Brewers Guild at the Fifth Third Ballpark on the opening weekend game of the Grand Rapids Whitecaps. This is an opportunity for current hop and malting barley growers and processors to meet brewers and find out what they are looking for. This event requires preregistration and is limited to growers with acreage in production, going into production this year or active brewers.
On Saturday, participants in the malting barley track will tour Pilot Malt House, Michigan’s largest craft malthouse, where they will learn about the science of malting and the quality analysis that goes into ensuring a quality product. The hop tracks will come together to learn about postharvest quality control and hear from a panel of brewers on how hop growers in Michigan can meet the current demand. The program will end at noon with lunch. An optional hop yard tour and lunch at the Hopyards of Kent is available Saturday afternoon.
Preregistration is required for that event. To learn more about the conference and to register, visit events.anr.msu.edu/hopandbarley15. Sponsorship opportunities are also available and can be accessed at the registration site.