Murphy & Rude Malting Co. Joins Forces With Carolina Malt House in Strategic Partnership

CLEVELAND, NC—Murphy & Rude Malting Co. and Carolina Malt House are thrilled to announce a strategic partnership and merger of operations, combining Murphy & Rude's specialty malt, roasting equipment, and roasting expertise with Carolina Malt House's world-class, custom-designed base malt and high-kiln malting machinery.

These two time-honored craft maltsters from Virginia and North Carolina believe this partnership will greatly benefit brewers and distillers in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions with more product diversity and more affordable pricing of the thoughtfully grown and sourced ingredients that both companies already prioritize. It not only retains both brands' deep commitment to regionally grown grains and the distinctive flavors of craft malt, but also leverages each respective maltster’s expertise and equipment to form a one-stop shop with more diversified product offerings and a wider geographic footprint.

Murphy & Rude’s roasting equipment will be relocated to Carolina Malt House in Cleveland, North Carolina, where all of its malts will now be manufactured. Customers can expect the same high standards they are accustomed to, including the continued production of Murphy & Rude’s Virginia Pils, which will continue to be crafted with 100 percent Virginia-grown barley. Other Murphy & Rude Malting products, including English Pale, five Crystal malts, and eight dry-roasted malts, will soon be offered alongside Carolina Malt's variety of base and high-kilned malt selections to form a diverse portfolio of 32 total malt products.

“I could not be happier with the partnership we were able to architect with the superb team at Carolina Malt House,” says Jeff Bloem, Founder and Head Maltster of Murphy & Rude Malting Co. “While our brand quality, industry reputation, and tailored customer experience has always been a strong point for us, our ability to scale, expand our customer reach, and offer more competitive pricing has proven difficult over the last two years in the face of continuous economic and business headwinds. Given the correction market currently facing craft beer and spirits, we believe we are in a much better position working collaboratively than continuing to go it alone. My hope is that the efficiencies gained from a dually beneficial partnership like this will lift all boats and prove to be the innovative business structure that lights the path forward.”

“We're excited about adding Jeff's valuable knowledge to our combined organization and offering an even wider selection of malt products to create local, world-class flavor and freshness,” adds Aaron Goss, Carolina Malt Co-Founder.

Moving forward, customers will see continued quality and value improvements as these two teams combine their knowledge to produce the best malt possible.

To place an order of Murphy & Rude malt, contact Jeff Bloem at jeff at murphyrudemalting dot com.

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto at radcraftbeer dot com with media inquiries about Murphy & Rude Malting Co.

ABOUT MURPHY & RUDE MALTING CO.

Murphy & Rude Malting is Virginia’s first and only maltster creating radical malts for differentiating products, leveraging processes rooted in traditional methods (their ol' dog Murphy) and then combined with innovation and adventurous creativity (Rudy, or Rude...the puppy). Opening as a specialty-focused malthouse in 2018, Murphy & Rude is committed to providing a diversity of character malts to craft breweries and distilleries as traceably and thoughtfully as possible. Find them online at murphyrudemalting.com.

ABOUT CAROLINA MALT HOUSE

Carolina Malt House also hit the market in 2018. Co-Founded by Aaron Goss and built DIY by local millwrights and smiths, this world-class malting facility makes it possible for craft breweries and distilleries to claim that their beverages are truly local. The capacity of this state-of-the-art malthouse supplies malt with the consistency of macro-producers, with the creativity, attention to detail, and personalization of a small, local supplier working with family farmers. Learn more at carolinamalt.com.