Photo by Emilie LutostanskiOwner Brandon Ade sifts through a sack of barley before it is made into malt.
After five months of construction on its malthouse in Leander, Blacklands Malt produced its first batch of malt in November, owner Brandon Ade said.
"We finally have something to sell, which feels really good because for so long, this has been an abstract dream," he said.
The business is the first of its kind in Texas and creates malt primarily from barley to sell to local bakeries, distilleries and primarily home brewers and commercial breweries such as Jester King in Austin.
"My love for brewing and being a craft-brewing junkie was what got me into the business," Ade said. "In February 2012, I woke up one day with a word in my head: Wnderbarley, or wonderful barley. It got me to thinking, 'Where does barley come from?'"
Ade spearheaded research through Texas A&M Agrilife Extension to find out which types of barley would best grow in Texas. The study ultimately led Blackland Malts to hire farmers to plant barley on about 55 acres.
"We pilot-malted 10 varieties, the best agronomic performers from our research," Ade said "Of those 10, three varieties were the best performers, and that's what we moved forward with planting in the fall."
The company's first crop of barley will be ready for harvest in the spring. It's expected to yield 50–55 tons, which will then be harvested, malted and sold.
"As long as I'm malting, I will be doing barley research in Texas," Ade said.
Blacklands Malt, 11880 W. Old FM 2243, Ste. 304, Leander, 530-289-6258, www.blacklandsmalt.com
