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March 10, 2026
Great Lakes Malting Company (GLMC) is an independently owned malt house in Traverse City. Since 2016, the company has produced and supplied an assortment of malted grains to the brewing and distilling industries across the Midwest. Their mission is to supply the highest quality malt while providing unmatched service and a commitment to supporting local agriculture.
Malting barley and other small grains provide an optimal crop rotation opportunity for Michigan farmers. And when craft beverage makers source locally grown and processed grains, they support sustainable agriculture. However, currently more than 95 percent of malt used by Michigan craft beer and spirit producers is sourced from outside the state and even outside of the U.S. GLMC aims to strengthen Michigan’s farm-to-glass economy by boosting in-state production of malted grains for brewing and distilling.
In 2022, GLMC received a $40,000 Food and Agriculture Investment Program Grant (FAIP) from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). GLMC used the $40,000 from the FAIP grant to purchase necessary equipment to meet the escalating demand for locally produced and malted grains within the Michigan craft beverage industry. With the added equipment, the company immediately doubled their production capacity from 200 to 400 tons per year. This expansion solidified GLMC’s position in a supply chain that connects Michigan-grown grains supplied by regenerative agriculture practitioners with craft beverage makers throughout the state.
The expansion also allowed GLMC to add 10 to 15 new high-volume customers, and the company became the primary malt supplier for Short’s Brewing Company’s seasonal Pure Michigan beer releases. Increased sales enabled GLMC to hire two new personnel, bringing GLMC to five total staff members.
“Michigan breweries and distilleries deserve the finest Michigan-grown ingredients. That’s why we at Great Lakes Malting Company are proud to be their connection to Malt That Matters,” said Jeff Malkiewicz, Founder, Great Lakes Malting Company.
Going forward, GLMC hopes to become a pillar of regional leadership. After the initial project, the company completed a follow-on expansion which significantly increased their production volume and capability to over 1.5 million pounds of grain annually. That investment positions GLMC as a premier craft malting company in the Great Lakes region. They hope to work with MDARD in the future to continue growing the reach of their business and the craft beverage industry in Michigan.
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