Root Shoot Malting harvests 3 million pounds of barley and rolls out new winter varieties, chocolate malts, and nationally distributed spirits — all grown regeneratively on their 100-year-old Colorado farm
Three million pounds of Colorado-grown barley are now in storage at Root Shoot Malting — and the 2025 harvest is setting the tone for what’s been a dynamic year on their 100-year-old family farm. With a focus on regenerative agriculture, the Root Shoot team reported exceptionally high grain quality, ideal protein levels, and strong yields across their winter and spring varieties.
Among the standouts: Magic and Thunder, two winter barley varieties that not only delivered on yield but hit the sweet spot for malting specs. Thunder clocked in at 11.4% protein, while Magic delivered high alpha-amylase and low turbidity. Their spring workhorse, Genie, held steady at 11.6% protein.
The protein parade continued with heritage and white wheat. Oland Heritage Wheat measured a whopping 16.2% protein. Huffman White Wheat, meanwhile, averaged a robust 13.9% protein with yields in the 85–90 bushel range. All this — and without herbicides or fungicides applied to their winter crops.
“Every harvest is an opportunity to balance yield, quality, and soil health,” said Todd Olander, founder and farmer at Root Shoot Malting. “2025 has been an exceptional year, and we’re proud to deliver malts that reflect the care and dedication of our team, while continuing to pioneer regenerative agriculture practices on our family farm.”
A short grain-to-glass journey: Root Shoot’s single malt spirits earn global acclaim
That same malted grain is fueling not just brewers and distillers across the country, but Root Shoot’s own award-winning spirits. Their American Single Malt Whiskey earned top honors as American Single Malt Whiskey of the Year at the 2025 London Spirits Competition and second place at the 2025 International Spirits Award. Made entirely from Root Shoot grain, the whiskey is bottled-in-bond and aged four years in American white oak barrels.
New for 2025, the High Rye Straight Malt Whiskey, made in collaboration with Boulder Spirits, was released as a limited edition featuring bold notes of fresh rye bread, spice, apricot, and ginger snap. Every Root Shoot bottle is distilled just miles from the farm, completing a uniquely hyper-local supply chain that keeps all ingredients within a 30-mile loop — from soil to spirit.
Fresh roasted, finely tuned: New malt offerings for brewers and distillers
Root Shoot’s reputation for high-quality, small-batch malt is well earned — with 15 major awards since 2019, including four wins at the 2025 Craft Maltsters Guild Malt Cup. That includes Gold for Light Munich 4 Distillers Malt, and multiple silvers for Munich 10 and CaraRuby Caramel Malt.
Among the newest entries: Buck Naked Chocolate Malt, roasted in collaboration with Troubadour Maltings. Made from hulless 6-row Buck barley, this malt delivers smooth, tannin-free notes of chocolate, coffee, and toasted bread — ideal for black lagers, IPAs, stouts, and porters.
Root Shoot is also continuing its deep dive into pilsner varieties, offering six unique pilsner malts including the new Magic Pilsner and Thunder Pilsner, each with their own flavor nuance tied to Colorado soil and regenerative techniques.
