AMBA Welcomes Athletic Brewing Company as New Member
Leading non-alcoholic brewer joins AMBA to help advance barley research The American Malting Barley Association (AMBA) today announced that Athletic Brewing Company, America’s largest dedicated non-alcoholic brewer, has joined the organization as an Associate member. Launched commercially in 2018, Athletic Brewing has rapidly grown from one of the smallest breweries in the country to the sixth-largest craft brewer and the 15th-largest brewing company in the United States. Founded by Bill Shufelt and John Walker, Athletic pioneered a proprietary method for producing non-alcoholic beer, re-engineering nearly every step of the brewing process through hundreds of small-batch trials. This innovative approach has made Athletic the most highly awarded non-alcoholic brewer of the past decade, earning more than 190 prestigious taste awards. Athletic Brewing produces full-flavored non-alcoholic beer at its custom breweries in Milford, Connecticut, and San Diego, California, relying on high-quality barley to deliver the taste and consistency for which its brews are known. Cody Rice, Athletic Brewing’s Director of Brewing Process Improvement and R&D, emphasized the importance of engaging directly in barley research and supply chain development through AMBA membership. “As a brewer, having a voice in how barley research is prioritized is critical,” said Rice. “Securing a high-quality, sustainable supply is becoming increasingly complex due to climate pressures and competition from other crops. It can take up to a decade to bring new barley varieties to market, and as a dedicated non-alcoholic brewer, our needs are distinct. Through AMBA, we can play a role in future malting barley production by helping guide research investments and supporting the development of more resilient barley varieties that can better withstand drought and heat stress.” AMBA is excited to welcome new members like Athletic Brewing, which supports its mission to advance a resilient supply of quality malting barley by unifying stakeholders to leverage innovative research, development, and advocacy efforts. This is accomplished by building a network of engaged barley interests so that the best available research informs the development and production of the U.S. malting barley crop. Learn more about joining AMBA today: https://ambainc.org/membership.php
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