NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – There’s a new, first-of-its-kind facility in New Mexico, which some beer-makers hope will make the state more self-sufficient when it comes to brewing beer.
Third-generation farmer Ryan Schwebach is starting a new endeavor on his farm near Estancia: growing barley, and then malting it, which is a critical step in processing the grain to prepare it for brewing beer.
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Schwebach said the idea goes back years. After speaking with some in the beer industry, other farmers, and learning from a New Mexico State University study about growing and malting barley, he realized it was possible to do just that in the state.
“Our water resources are declining, our markets, the dairy forage markets have been changing, so we were looking for alternative things to grow within our land,” said Schwebach.
After five years of growing barley and sending it all the way to Wyoming for the malting process, his team decided it was time to have their own facility. In 2022, they purchased equipment from a distiller in Wyoming, including three germination tanks and one steep tank.
The malting facility officially opened in January, it’s the first one in New Mexico. According to Schwebach, they’ve had some setbacks when it came to building the facility; when they were pouring the concrete for the facility, a bad hailstorm devastated their barley crop and the flooring of their building. They didn’t let that stop them.
His facility creates different varieties of malt used to brew different types of beer. Now, they’re working with several breweries including Beer Creek in Santa Fe, a company who has supported the Schwebachs from the beginning.
“When you think about those ingredients coming from closer to you, we all know the science behind farm to table. We’re saving money, we’re being sustainable by buying products less than 100 miles away,” said Founder of Beer Creek Brewing Company Richard Headley.
Schwebach added that his family is excited to bring this facility to New Mexico so that brewers won’t have to source their malted grain from out of state.
The New Mexico Brewers Guild sent KRQE a statement about the new facility:
The opening of the Schwebach Malz malting facility is a game-changer for our beer community. Having access to high-quality, locally-sourced malt not only supports our commitment to sustainability but also allows brewers to craft beers with a unique sense of place. This will undoubtedly elevate the creativity and quality of brews across our state.
Ebbie Edmonston, Executive Director of the New Mexico Brewers Guild.
