Simpsons Malting

The Simpson family has been in the malting business since 1866 and the company is the largest family-owned maltster left in the UK now. Simpsons' headquarters and largest malting plant are located at Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland. Their agricultural subsidiary, McCreath Simpson & Prentice is located nearby. Berwick lies between the Lammermuir Hills to the north and the Cheviots to the south, an area famous for its barley. The soils are derived from glacial drift, which gives the lightness necessary for the growth of high quality barley. In fact the very name Berwick is derived from the early Anglo-Saxon words for Ber(e) = barley, and wick = small town. At their Tivetshall Maltings in Norfolk, the second largest production site in the Simpsons group, all of their roasted malt is produced and also the bulk of their export tonnage. At Mistley in Essex is Simpsons' southernmost production unit concentrating on the production of lager malt. All Simpsons' malts are made exclusively from the highest quality two-row malting barleys. Simpsons store almost 100% of their annual barley requirements at harvest time in their own quality assured storage areas and are able to provide full traceability of products from seed to finished malt.

Simpsons Maris Otter
Maris Otter is an English thoroughbred and this winter barley variety is still the favored choice of many UK cask ale brewers. In the field, its yield has been surpassed hugely by more modern varieties, so it has to be grown on contract for the maltster each year by selected farmers. The resulting malt is typically described as having a rich, nutty flavor. Performance in the brewhouse is predictable and consistent with excellent run-offs.

Simpsons Golden Promise
Golden Promise, an early-maturing spring barley, is the Scottish equivalent of Maris Otter. Though brewers north of the English border claim that its sweet, clean flavor is superior to Maris Otter. Golden Promise malt has a depth of flavor that makes it the ideal base malt for both UK and USA-style IPAs. Golden Promise is also used extensively by premium whisky distilleries such as The Macallan.

Simpsons Color, Crystal and Roasted Malts
Using Simpsons' small batch process, highly-skilled roast house personnel produce Simpsons' Color, Crystal and Roasted malts using the finest premium two-row malting barley available. Following years of extensive training, the roasters bring their keen senses of sight, smell and taste to the roast house, producing each batch in accordance to Simpsons' highest standards. The result is a full-line of Color, Crystal and Roasted malts unequalled in flavor and brewhouse performance.

Simpsons Golden Naked Oats
This unique product from Simpsons has a special, sweet berry-nut flavor. Used at a rate of 4-15% of total grist by weight, Golden Naked Oats will deliver a deep golden hue with light caramel flavors to the finished beer as well as a creamy, satin finish.

Simpsons Peated Malt
This malt is lightly peated and used to enhance flavor in Scottish type ales. While the malt is in the kiln, peat moss outside the kiln is gently smoked over slow burning coals allowing its vapors to drift above the malt. Peated malt is also used in the making of some of Scotland's finest Scotch.

Simpsons Rye Crystal Malt
This malt is becoming widely used in the UK to produce popular seasonal specialty ales. Typical usage rates are around 5% by weight of the grist. Such seasonals tend to be sweet and malty with a full mouthfeel. The warm wholemeal biscuit flavors are allied to characteristic rye spiciness.

Simpsons High DP Distilling Malt
Simpsons' have developed this malt for use specifically in making grain whiskies in which the grist has a composition of 10 - 15% high DP malt and 85 - 90% wheat or corn. It will enhance the yield of any whisky mash containing unmalted cereal.