VOLNEY, NY--(Marketwired - November 03, 2016) - Construction has begun on a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art malted grain production facility on the former Miller Brewing campus in Volney, N.Y., also home to the Sunoco Ethanol Plant. Commissioning of the initial malt systems are expected to begin in late March 2017, with the facility being fully operational in July 2017. The 40,000 square foot facility will be equipped with the latest in malting technology, as well as proven systems and personnel to support the reliable and consistent production of the highest quality malt. At full production rate, the facility is expected to supply 60 tons of malt per week, or 2,000 tons of malt annually, making it one of the largest craft malting facilities in the United States.

The company is to be known as the 1886 Malt House, a name that commemorates the year that the Statue of Liberty was given to the United States, which resonates with a sense of pride to NY. Moreover, it is a throwback to a time when New York State had a craft brewery in every town and the idea of being local was not new, it was a way of life.

"We are very excited about this project and the opportunity to support the craft beverage industry across New York State," said Noel McCarthy, Maltster, 1886 Malt House. "We are making a considerable investment in the best production technology, quality control procedures, and experienced personnel to support an operation that will ensure we deliver the highest quality malt."

A 2012 New York State law has led to considerable growth of the craft brewing and distilling industry in New York State. The law requires that an escalating percentage of New York grown and produced ingredients, including hops and malt, be used by the more than 120 breweries and 90 distilleries that carry the "farm" designation. In total, New York currently has over 300 active breweries and over 140 active distilleries. The growing demand for craft malt has outpaced the growth of the New York State malt supply. The 1886 Malt House will play a critical role in supplying product to meet this increasing demand.

"While the growing craft beverage industry needs more malt production facilities like the 1886 Malt House to ensure breweries and distilleries can meet the requirements of the law, our goals for the 1886 Malt House go well beyond just delivering more volume to the industry," McCarthy said. "The 1886 Malt House seeks to distinguish itself across New York State as the producer of the highest quality, most consistent malt in the industry. We will achieve this by working with some of New York's best small grain growers, by maintaining a full service, in-house American Society of Brewing Chemists malt lab, and by promoting a passion for quality grain equal to that of our artisan beverage partners."

The key to producing quality malt in sufficient volume to satisfy the demand begins with securing the finest malting grains. To that end, the 1886 Malt House continues to contract with malting barley producers from across New York State to secure more than 2,000 acres it needs to satisfy production yields in 2017.

Construction of 1886 Malt House was made possible, in part, through the pledge of a $700,000 Central New York Regional Economic Development Grant as part of Governor Andrew Cuomo's $1.5 Billion Upstate Revitalization Initiative announced in late 2015. The 1886 Malt House has assembled its leadership and facilities management teams. Hiring of key quality control and operations personnel will be completed by the end of 2016.

For more information about the 1886 Malt House visit 1886malt.com. For specific inquiries concerning prospective barley production partners or malted barley purchasers, contact Noel McCarthy, Maltster, at 315-558-2493 or noel@1886malt.com.

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