SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Interested in becoming part of the exploding New York State craft beverage scene? On December 13-14, the inaugural Empire State Barley and Malt Summit will convene at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Liverpool, NY. This premier event will bring together leaders in the New York State malting barley supply chain to:
- Provide research-based technical updates.
- Share successes and best practices.
- Encourage networking throughout the supply chain.
The Summit kicks off at 5 p.m. with a panel highlighting the “ingredients for success,” and will feature a malting barley grower, malt-house operator and farm-brewer. Following the panel will be a tasting, featuring several breweries pouring samples of craft beer that highlight the use of New York State grown hops and barley. Wrapping up the program on Wednesday will be dinner and networking.
Ivan MacKinnon, founder of MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Co., and eighth generation on Miller Seed Farm, will serve as Thursday’s keynote speaker. Bringing a wealth of knowledge, practical expertise and enthusiasm, Ivan will share his insights on lessons learned about growing barley and making craft beers from local ingredients in Ontario, Canada.
The rest of the day’s program will be a combination of joint sessions between malting barley growers and malt-house operators, as well as a breakout session to focus on the technical aspect of each industry. Speakers include Jacqueline Moody-Czub, Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets; Gary Bergstrom, Professor and Chair of the Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section of the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University; Mark Sorrells, Cornell University Plant Breeding Professor; Aaron MacLeod, Director of the Hartwick College Center for Craft Food and Beverage; Cornell Cooperative Extension Field Crop Specialists Mike Stanyard and John Hanchar; Paul Leone, Executive Director of the New York State Brewers Association; Stefan Fleming, Assistant Director of Industry Development at Empire State Development; as well as a handful of malting barley growers and malt-house operators with firsthand knowledge of the opportunities and challenges associated with growing and malting barley in New York State.
Funding for this Summit has been graciously provided by the New York State Farm Viability Institute, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and the Genesee Value Regional Market Authority. Conference hosts are Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY. Full Summit details can be found at Cornell University’s Field Crop webpage: https://fieldcrops.cals.cornell.edu/small-grains/malting-barley/empire-state-barley-and-malt-summit
Registration for the event ends Sunday, Dec. 10.
Empire State Barley & Malt Summit: Sharing the Ingredients for Success
December 13-14
Holiday Inn Syracuse/Liverpool: 441 Electronics Pkwy, Liverpool, NY 13088
Contact: Cheryl Thayer, cbt32@cornell.edu, 607-592-9507
—Cornell Cooperative Extension
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