Two Track Malting Is Fired Up for the New GABF Craft Malt Category
The Brewers Association’s decision to introduce a one‑time Craft Malt category at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival is a huge moment for small, independent malthouses, and we couldn’t be more excited to see it happen.
For years, craft maltsters have been quietly reshaping the supply chain with local grain, fresh malt character, and real relationships between farmers, maltsters, and brewers. The BA recognizing that work on the GABF stage is a milestone for all of us.
At Two Track Malting, this hits especially close to home. We’ve built our entire model around traceability, growing the grains on our family farms, and small‑batch malt that gives brewers something truly distinct to work with. Seeing the BA shine a spotlight on that effort is energizing.
What This Category Means
Beers entered must contain at least 50% malt from a craft maltster, as defined by the Craft Malt Guild—fewer than 10,000 metric tons per year and more than 50% of grain sourced within 500 miles of the malthouse. Brewers can declare a base style, but judges will expect the beer to lean into the character of the malt itself.
This is exactly the kind of creative space where craft malt shines. It rewards collaboration, intentional recipe design, and the kind of brewer/maltster partnership we love being part of.
We’re Stepping Up: Two Track Will Cover 50% of Your Entry Fee
To help brewers jump into this category, we’re covering 50% of the submission cost for Brewers Association members who enter a beer brewed with Two Track malt. This equates to $92.50 taken off your invoice for those wanting to submit. We want to see this category thrive. We want to see more brewers experiment with our Field to Pint craft malt. And we want to help lower the barrier so more of you can get your beer, and your maltster, on that awards stage.
Why We’re So Excited
The BA getting more involved with small malthouses is a big deal. It validates the work happening in fields, malthouses, and brewhouses across the country. It encourages innovation. And it gives brewers a reason to explore ingredients that tell a story.
This category follows the path set by the Vera Hop category in 2025, and it leads into the Thora hop category coming in 2027. It’s clear the BA is intentionally highlighting the supply‑chain partners who make independent beer so dynamic.
How to Enter
Registration for the 2026 GABF competition opens June 23, 2026. Brewers Association members save $240 per entry, and with our support, your cost drops even further.
If you’re thinking about entering, or want to talk through recipe ideas, we’re here and ready to collaborate. More information can be found here.