Meet Raw Materials Officer Sam Anderson, Bridge Builder
May 28, 2025
“The loyalty comes with history and relationships. We’ve worked with some farmers for 25 years, and they feel a part of the company. My role is to be a bridge between the barley side and the sales side of the business.” – Sam Anderson, Raw Materials Officer
By: Living a Stout Life
About Malteurop Malting Company (MMC)
We are a collective of craftsmen devoted to making exceptional malt. We are innovators, designers, scientists, farmers, brewers, distillers, and artists. We are your link from farm to beer, and we want you to know us as a vital part of the craft beer and distilling community.
Meet Sam Anderson
Do you know where your malts come from? Sam does! And his role at Malteurop Malting Company confirms that. While his official title is Raw Materials Officer, his actions are that of a bridge builder connecting the barley side of MMC to the sales side.
From the fields to the beverages, Sam ensures that the malts you receive are top quality from start to finish.
“My title is Raw Materials Officer, and I am in charge of the new variety development and plot planning for North America. I also work on the sustainability side of things, farmer contacts, and certifications and accreditations to essentially help our brewers have a better understanding of something called scope three, which is, the farmer’s carbon footprint. My role is to be a bridge between the barley side and the sales side of the business.”
How did you decide to build a career at a malting company?
His bridge building skills began in his hometown of Lakeville, Minnesota, where he quickly connected his childhood joys to nature, bringing them along for the ride to his current home in Helena, Montana.
“I grew up in Lakeville, Minnesota, just south of the Twin Cities. There’s a lot of corn, fishing, hunting, and really nice people, who just want to have a high quality cold one in their ice house. I didn’t grow up on a farm, but I grew up hunting and interacting with farmers all the time.”
Heading off to North Dakota State University for college, Sam studied agricultural economics. In his studies he developed a passion for supply chain, agronomy and nutrition solutions.
After college, he worked for a wheat and barley trading company, running and managing inventories for several different malting companies at elevator facilities. From there, Sam found himself in Montana, working at the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee, a nonprofit that funds barley research, market development, and education.
“I did a lot of different things with that job. I was really focused on the market development and research side of things. I was able to travel to over ten different countries, interact with buyers from all over the world to demonstrate the quality of grain that comes from Montana.”
He also assisted with research led by producer feedback that was critical to barley variety development, disease knowledge, farming practices, and more.
At Malteurop since June of 2024, Sam may be somewhat new to the company, but his skills are far from new. His extensive experience with barley inventory, farming practices, and research have been ingrained within him since his young days in Minnesota.
“I was always interested in how commodities become food at the table. My time at Malteurop is exciting because I am a vital part of the supply chain that provides beverages that bring people together and create community.”
What does your average day look like?
There’s not an average day for Sam. From being on location in the fields of Montana to analyzing barley varieties to working on sustainability solutions and more, Sam’s days are always different.
Farm Partnerships
MMC partners with over 800 farmers with each farmer focusing on different varieties of barley, and they rely on MMC’s plot data to assist in deciding which variety might perform best in their fields.
“Each farmer on average can have anywhere from 200 to 2,000 metric tons of production. So one farmer can produce enough barley to handle seven or eight craft brewers easily, and they want to know our plot data.”
Crop Reports
Sam also assists with crop reports, ensuring that you as the brewer or distiller know exactly where your grains are coming from.
“Crop reports give an update on what’s happening in terms of demand for barley and what the farmer is experiencing in terms of contracts. We’ll give them weather reports, a lot of government, NASS, USDA type reports. Through our field days we’ll share real in-depth, here’s-what’s-going-on-right-now type of communication. The entire supply chain will be there. The farmer, the maltster, the brewer. We’re all there talking.”
Barley Lineage and Heritage
Along with crop reports and farmer partnerships, Sam specializes in understanding barley heritage. While the majority of MMC’s malts come from barley grown in the U.S., its lineage began in Europe.
“[The barley] is going to have some unique characteristics because of that, but, ultimately, barley started there [Europe], and a lot of the technology is coming from Europe.”
Sam’s hands-on work with the farmers on-site in the field paves the way for quality barley to become quality malts. It’s a complete story in your glass.
Sustainability
Sustainability starts long before the seeds are even planted in the ground. Sam emphasizes this with a few questions.
“How much carbon does it take to manufacture beer? How much does it take to transport it, to malt it, to raise the barley? All of those things. And once we start to understand that carbon footprint, then we can start to implement lowering practices, to reduce that.”
The carbon footprint is much deeper than just what’s happening in your brewery or distillery. Sam and his team and all of MMC are focused on connecting efficiencies by maximizing yields, adjusting transportation methods, reducing water usage, and using less herbicides. Ultimately, more barley on less land.
What are some of your career accomplishments?
Sam has accomplished great feats within the malting and barley industry, from sustainability initiatives to selective breeding, maximizing efficiency for the entire supply chain.
He realizes that those achievements wouldn’t have happened if he didn’t have respect within the industry.
“Right now, I’m eight to ten years into my career. And I would say an achievement is just being respected within the industry and understanding how everything works. I feel really proud that I’ve gotten to where I am now.”
And with MMC, he’s got a lot going on, adding even more to his accomplishments in the industry.
“At Malteurop, I would say some of my biggest achievements are that we’re pushing the needle on the malt we’re providing to our customers in terms of sustainability, and we have a lot of cool things in the pipeline that we’re working on. One of our goals is to modernize the variety. By adding new varieties into the system, it means more barley and less land. It means profitable farmers. It means more efficiency in the brewhouse. I’m really excited about them.”
How do you work with others at MMC to consistently get brewers and distillers the specific malts they need?
Sam has a unique chance to start at the beginning working with the farmers and the breeders. With this he can ensure the heritage and the lineage that the brewers expect are exactly that.
He knows the story from start to finish and working with the farmers, he and the entire team can create a supply team that’s economical for everyone.
“We line up the brewer’s interest even before we introduce it to the farmer, meaning we line up that supply chain before we even get started. For the craft brewer, we want to have the ability to know the story of where their barley comes from, what variety it is, what is the heritage of that variety, why are we planting it here, the entire story.”
Where do you see the future of malting heading?
And that is where the future of malting lies, within the land and the barley itself.
“I see barley moving towards more of a specialty crop with every kernel of barley being grown with a particular end user in mind. That barley growing sweet spot around the world, the 49th parallel, is right along the Canadian border [in Montana and North Dakota] because of the cooler nights and warmer days. Barley farmers are able to produce the right protein levels that brewers are interested in, but also, minimize disease risk. So a lot of the reasons why barley is grown in these regions is because it’s economical for the farmer.”
And Sam sees that sweet spot shifting more northwest, which could open up possibilities for varied flavors based on the terrain.
“People talk about terroir. And, you know, I don’t know if that could be in the future, but I think it would be something really exciting and cool to recognize flavor differences based on regions. And I think brewers could definitely capitalize on that.”
Sam goes on to mention new malts at MMC. Malts such as Malta Mexico 2-Row, grown and produced in Mexico, partnered with Mexican farmers, and processed in MMC’s Mexico Malthouse.
“Should be really exciting. There’s not a lot of barley grown in Mexico, but there’s a lot of demand for Mexican lagers, so it’s going to be cool! I think it’s the first terroir of its kind.”
What’s your favorite style of beer and why? What’s currently in your fridge?
“My favorite beer is the single malt IPA from Blackfoot Brewing. It’s embarrassing because it’s not a Malteurop malt, but it’s the perfect local beer for after a long hike or bike ride.
You like what you like.
What defines you outside of work?
Sam was quick to come up with an answer.
“Loyal, creative, adventurous. In my free time you’ll find me outside with my dog, biking, hiking, or gardening with my wife. We do everything together and are totally happy just adventuring together!”
He didn’t stop there. His passions outside of work are a bridge to his career, which is important to him, too.
“In my career, I like to think differently, ask questions and challenge the status quo.”
We’re grateful for all that Sam brings to Malteurop. His passion for life is evidenced in all that he does…connecting nature to life.
Thank you!
Premium grains from field to flavor.
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About Malteurop Malting Company (MMC)
Malteurop Malting Company (MMC) is based in North America—specializing in growing and producing quality malts for the beer, whiskey, and food processing industries. With local farms and Malthouses spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Malteurop’s commitment to excellence is fully ingrained into every batch it produces, ensuring businesses of any size can create the finest beverages and food products on the planet.
Visit www.malteuropmaltingco.com to learn how we can support your malting needs.
Contact us at customersuccess@malteurop.com or (844) 546-MALT (6258) for questions or to place your order.
Malting is our passion. Quality is our promise.