Celebrating 60 Years of Maris Otter: Norwich Beer Festival Honors Norfolk-Grown Malting Barley

The City of Ale beer festival in Norwich is commemorating the 60th anniversary of Maris Otter, a Norfolk-grown malting barley prized by brewers worldwide. The month-long celebration, now in its 13th year, features 60 Norfolk-brewed beers made with Maris Otter malt, including a new charity beer called Throwing Stars brewed by Grain Brewery for Wymondham cancer charity Star Throwers. Organizers have acknowledged the dedication of Norfolk brewers in crafting new brews using this exceptional malt.

Key Takeaways:

• The City of Ale festival is a month-long celebration of beer, brewing, and pubs in Norwich, now in its 13th year.
• The festival is commemorating the 60th anniversary of Maris Otter, a Norfolk-grown malting barley, with 60 Norfolk-brewed beers made with Maris Otter malt.
• Maris Otter is a versatile malt with a distinct flavor profile, often used in Champion Beers Of Britain, prized for its sweet biscuit, toffee, and light nuttiness notes.
• The rights to Maris Otter were jointly secured by Tony Banham and Robin Appel in 2000, with the support of Crisp Malting Group and loyal brewers.
• Mark Banham, son of Tony Banham, manages H Banham grain merchant, a Norfolk-based agricultural merchant, and acknowledges the significance of Maris Otter to the City of Ale, highlighting Norfolk's reputation for producing high-quality malting barley.
• The 60-year milestone highlights Maris Otter's enduring popularity, despite other barleys coming and going, with its demand expected to continue.

Statistics:

• 60 Norfolk-brewed beers made with Maris Otter malt have been produced to mark its 60-year milestone.
• The City of Ale festival is now in its 13th year, with a month-long celebration of beer, brewing, and pubs in Norwich.
• Maris Otter is used in many Champion Beers Of Britain, and its versatility is attributed to its distinct flavor profile.
• The variety was in high demand from real ale brewers in the 1970s, but its popularity dropped in the late 1980s due to the pursuit of newer varieties with higher yields and lower prices.
• The rights to Maris Otter were jointly secured by Tony Banham and Robin Appel in 2000.

Sources:

• Denise Bradley / Eastern Daily Press
• City of Ale website, without a stated date
• [Crisp Malting Group], no publication date provided
• [H Banham grain merchant], no publication date provided