American Malting Barley Association releases recommended variety list, adding ABI Montana and removing three others
The American Malting Barley Association (AMBA) Board of Directors annually develops a list of recommended malting barley varieties for U.S. growers for the upcoming crop year. AMBA is a nonprofit trade organization, which represents the interests of end users of malting barley, including maltsters, brewers, distillers, and food processors. Their work seeks to maintain a stable and high quality supply of malting barley for their nearly 50 members throughout the U.S.
The AMBA Recommended List is intended to provide U.S. growers with guidance as to what varieties the industry may be contracting or purchasing in the coming year. It is not intended as a list of approved or certified malting varieties for the use by brewers, distillers, food companies, or maltsters. There may be many suitable malting barley varieties grown domestically or internationally that are not on the list, yet have quality characteristics desired by the industry. Some varieties will be used in large quantities and many others are only utilized in niche markets, so producers are encouraged to contact their local elevator, grain handler, or processor to gauge market demand for any variety grown in their region prior to seeding.
The only addition to the 2026 list is ABI Montana, brought forth for recommendation from ABInBev. ABI Montana is a spring, two-row malting barley variety intended for adjunct brewing. It is primarily adapted to dryland and low irrigation production systems in northwest Montana. It has competitive yield, test weight, and kernel plumpness with earlier harvest maturity and improved malting characteristics compared to other varieties grown in the target region. Notably, ABI Montana carries the high thermostability form of β-amylase.
Three varieties were removed from the list due to their declining acreage, all released by ABInBev: spring six-row Celebration and two spring two-rows, Conrad and Merit 57.
Photo: Field of ABI Montana barley (credit: Shawn Henderson, ABInBev)
.png)
.png)
