Micro Malting Equipment

A micro maltings is a smaller-scale version of a traditional malting facility designed to produce specialty malts in smaller quantities. These maltings cater to craft brewers and niche markets seeking unique malt flavors and characteristics. Here's a breakdown of the key processes and equipment involved:

1. Grain Intake and Cleaning:

• Grain Intake: Small batches of barley (or other cereal grains) are received from local farms      or distributors.
• Cleaning: A cleaning machine removes debris, dust, and unwanted materials from the grain to      ensure a clean and consistent starting material. This might involve sieves, aspiration systems, or indent cleaners depending on the scale of the operation.

2. Steeping:

• Steeping Tanks: Grains are submerged in water to initiate germination.
• Technical Description: Micro maltings often utilise smaller steeping tanks compared to larger      facilities. Temperature and steeping time are carefully controlled to achieve optimal moisture content and even germination throughout the grain.

3. Germination:

• Germination Floor: Grains are spread on a shallow bed (floor) with controlled temperature and      humidity to encourage germination.
• Technical Description: Micro maltings might use specialised germination chambers or adapted rooms with temperature and humidity control systems. Turning the grain periodically ensures even germination and rootlet growth.

4. Kilning:

• Kiln: Germinated grains are dried in a kiln to stop germination and develop the desired malt      flavor profile.
• Technical Description: Micro maltings often utilize smaller batch kilns with precise temperature      control capabilities. Heat sources can vary, including indirect-fired (using hot air) or direct-fired (using burning fuel) kilns, allowing for experimentation with different malt types.

5. Cleaning and De-Culming:

• Cleaning Machine: After kilning, the dried malt is cleaned to remove rootlets and any remaining      debris.
• De-Culming Machine (Optional): For certain malt types, a de-culming machine might be used to separate the malt shoots (culms) from the desired malt kernels.

6. Packaging and Storage:

• Packaging: The finished malt is packaged in smaller bags or sacks suitable for craft brewers or      niche markets.
• Storage: Malt is stored in a cool, dry environment to maintain quality and prevent spoilage.

Advantages of Micro Maltings:

• Local Sourcing: Micro maltings can source barley from local farms, promoting sustainable and      local agriculture practices.
• Specialty Malts: Focus on producing unique malt varieties and experimenting with different kilning techniques to cater to specific flavour profiles.
• Flexibility: Smaller batch sizes allow for greater production flexibility and responsiveness to      market demands for specialty malts.
• Lower Investment: Micro maltings require a lower initial investment compared to large-scale      facilities, making it easier for new entrants to establish themselves in the craft brewing market.

Challenges of Micro Maltings:

• Limited Capacity: Production volume is inherently lower compared to large maltings, limiting      their reach to smaller markets.
• Higher Costs per Unit: Fixed costs can be spread over smaller production volumes, potentially      leading to higher production costs per unit of malt compared to larger facilities.
• Technical Expertise: Successful operation requires skilled personnel with a deep understanding      of the malting process and the ability to manage smaller batch sizes and  potentially diverse equipment setups.

By understanding the technical description, processing stages, advantages, and challenges of micro maltings, we gain insight into this growing segment within the malting industry. Micro maltings play a crucial role in supporting craft brewers and fostering innovation in the world of specialty malts and unique beer Flavours. 

If you are interested in setting up a micro maltings reach out and let us know about your project.