Why we love Voyager Craft Malt

May 06, 2019

Stuart Whitecross was born and raised on his family’s farm north of Barellan in the Western Riverina region of New South Wales where his family have been farming for 4 generations. On his 12th birthday, he was gifted 50 acres to farm as he pleased and has been experimenting and growing a wide range of cereal grains there for more than 20 years. Moving away to University during the millennial drought, Stuart developed a keen interest in home brewing. Working closely with his childhood mate and farming neighbour Brad Woolner, Stuart and Brad established the Barellan Beer Company, a not for profit community organisation that took locally grown Barley and had it turned into a community beer - ‘Golden Grain Ale’- One of the first beers in the country to have full product traceability. We are proud to be brewing the Barellan Golden Grain Ale here in Tumut. Stuart and Brad established Voyager Craft Malt, Australia’s first on farm craft malthouse, creating the world’s most sustainable, single origin artisan malts for craft brewers and distillers. Stuart and Brad focus on working closely with craft brewers to create malts with unique flavour profiles, which for them starts in the ground where they are growing a diverse range of heirloom, heritage and alternative grains for use in the craft brewing and distilling industries.

The fact that the barley ending up in our beer is grown by farmers in our region is a big deal to us because it means we are supporting other local small businesses. Each Voyager malt bag is branded with a batch number which you can use to trace back exactly where the grain came from.

Over 80% of the grain used in the production of our beer comes from Voyager and we love working with the guys to develop more flavour and complexity in our own beer range. It also helps that Stu and Brad are top blokes who are like minded and enjoy a beer or two themselves !