Cryer Malt last night launched its latest product Border Malt at Hellsby’s Ale House in Brisbane.

Made from premium Australian two-row barley, Border Malt is malted in Queensland and is specifically designed to cater for the burgeoning craft beer sector along the border region between south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales.

Border Malt is described as being “a pale malt that imparts a light, golden colour to the beer, and gives it a clean malty flavour suitable for any beer style”.

General Manager of Cryer Malt David Cryer, said Border Malt would be produced at Barrett Burston Malting’s Pinkenba facility on the edge of the Brisbane River.

“There is major growth underway in craft brewing in Queensland and northern NSW with some well-known craft brands growing strongly and a significant lift in the number of exciting new startups,” Cryer said.

“Border Malt will underpin that growth by providing premium barley, malted in Queensland for the entire region.”

“Border Malt is malted with exclusively Australian two-row barley and is a typical Australian malt that gives a light, golden colour and a lovely clean malty flavour and it can be used to brew a wide variety of beer styles.”

“A locally-produced product is key to enabling breweries to produce beers with unique local character, which can in turn build recognition and new markets.”

“Cryer Malt is proud to support this high-quality product and the growth of a great local industry, which already generates tens of millions of dollars in regional communities throughout Queensland and NSW,” Cryer said.

Queensland Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning The Honourable Cameron Dick, who was due to launch the malt, was delayed and unable to attend but said in a media release that the project sees Barrett Burston retool its facility to package malts in smaller 25-kilogram bags, specially prepared to improve efficiency for local craft brewers.

“The Border Malt Project highlights the confidence that major industry suppliers have in Queensland’s craft brewing industry, which is worth around $62 million per year to our economy,” he said.

“Australia produces over 30 per cent of the world’s malting barley trade, around 2.5 million tonnes each year, with a significant percentage of this barley grown in southern Queensland.

“We want Queensland’s local craft brewers taking advantage of this opportunity to help them achieve and market a local product brewed using local crops, and for Queensland’s barley farmers to keep prospering in this tough, dry climate.”

Dick said Queensland’s craft brewing industry is continuing to grow on the back of the development of the Palaszczuk Government’s Craft Brewing Strategy.

Border Malt will be available in 25 kilogram packaged bags, bulk bags and in bulk.

You can order by emailing orders@cryermalt.com.au.