Pursuing the Perfect Pint

RMI Analytics
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Journey around the world with industry expert Brent Atthill as he pursues the perfect pint all while discussing the malt supply chain within the brewing and distilling industry.

  1. 1d ago

    Episode #47 | America Grew Its Smallest Barley Crop in Years w/ Ashley McFarland (AMBA)

    America Just Grew Its Smallest Barley Crop in Years. What Does It Mean for Your Beer? Frost, drought and a wet harvest all hit the US barley crop this year. So what does it mean for the malt and beer you rely on? In Episode 47 of Pursuing the Perfect Pint, Brent sits down with Ashley McFarland of AMBA to unpack a crop season that threw everything at farmers. In this episode: 🌾 Which regions took the hit, and which got off lightly? 🌽 Why are some farmers tempted to walk away from barley, and can they be won back? 🔬 What’s being done now to breed a tougher barley for the years ahead? ⚠️ The quality question everyone will be watching into spring Plus, Danielle and Brent’s market update. Grain prices are moving, ceasefire rumours are swirling and oil is back above $100. So what does it all mean for the price of malt? Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Episode 47 00:53 Market update with Danielle and Brent 04:05 Ashley McFarland joins the show 05:11 The US crop report 06:11 A state-by-state tour 12:03 A changing climate 14:14 Breeding for the future 18:42 Keeping farmers in barley 26:39 What to watch next 28:01 Danielle and Brent’s wrap-up 🎧 Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Pursuing the Perfect Pint: Grain to Glass is brought to you by RMI Analytics. #PursuingThePerfectPint #Barley #Beer #Brewing #Malting #GrainToGlass

  2. Oct 21

    Episode #46 | Is Africa Really Beer’s Next Big Market? w/ Franz Schepping

    Everyone says Africa is the continent of growth. But what is it actually like to build a beer business there? In episode #46 of Pursuing the Perfect Pint, Brent talks to Franz Schepping, a brewer from Germany who spent his career in Namibia, Turkey, Zambia and Mozambique, and who now runs supply chain for Coca-Cola’s Nigerian bottler. Before the interview, Danielle and Brent look at North America’s wet harvest and pre-germination risk, and why the real impact may not show up until April or May next year. 🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts. 00:00 Introduction 01:09 North America’s wet harvest and pre-germination risk 03:50 Global barley markets and Black Sea disruptions 05:00 In conversation with Franz Schepping 08:04 Franz’s brewing career across Germany, Turkey and Africa 10:17 Africa’s beer market growth potential 12:13 Affordability, brand portfolios and illicit alcohol 13:26 Local barley, malting and building value chains 15:10 On-the-ground challenges: farmers and logistics 16:41 Premium brands, Heineken and consumer prestige 18:07 Currency pressures and the talent pipeline 21:36 Franz’s outlook on Africa’s growth 22:23 Franz’s perfect pint 23:59 What the conversation means for brewers and maltsters 28:10 Next week on Pursuing the Perfect Pint Want to hear more? Subscribe for new episodes each week, and let us know in the comments: how is this year’s barley harvest affecting your market?

  3. Oct 14

    Episode #45 | Canada’s Barley Has a Hidden Problem w/ Sonny Warrack

    Canada’s barley crop looked great in June. Then came 40 days of almost no rain, followed by heavy rain just as the crop reached maturity. The result: harvest delays and pre-germination levels of up to 30% in some fields. In this emergency follow-up episode, Brent heads back to Canada to see the harvest first-hand. He talks to Sonny Warrack of Bruce Farms in the heart of Alberta’s grain country. Sonny is both a grain farmer and a cattle feeder, so he sees the crop from two sides. The pre-germ may not look like a big story yet, but Brent explains why he is watching for what happens four to six months from now. Will the germ still be holding in storage? And what happens if pre-germinated barley has to go onto an export vessel? Want to hear more? Subscribe for new episodes each week, and let us know in the comments: how is this year’s barley harvest affecting your market? #PursuingThePerfectPint #Barley #Malt #MaltingBarley #Canada #CanadianBarley #GrainMarkets #BeerPodcast

  4. Oct 7

    Episode #44 | The British Pub Is Closing at a Rate of One a Day. Can It Be Saved? w/ Emma McClarkin

    Beer is holding steady in the UK. So why are pubs still closing at a rate of one a day? In episode #44, Brent and Danielle talk with Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association and Chair of the World Brewing Alliance, about what it means to be a pub, why the cost of doing business is crushing the sector, and what has to change to protect the place where communities come together. In this episode: Market update: why the world isn't short of barley, but malting barley is tightening and costs are risingWhy pubs and breweries are closing, and the energy, supply chain and tax pressures behind itWhat makes a pub a pub, and why venues are rethinking how they're classifiedThe £30 billion social value of pubs, and a new UK government pledging supportLow and no alcohol: how it's becoming a draw for the pub rather than a threatDrought, heat waves and the future of malting barleyWhy beer needs to tell its story, from farm to pint, and how to bring more women to the beer tableEmma's one wish for the industry, her five-year vision, and her perfect pint (hint: an amber ale in a field)Timestamps 00:24 Welcome and episode intro 00:47 Market update with Brent 03:23 Interview with Emma McClarkin begins 05:57 State of UK beer volumes and the on/off-trade balance 07:24 How are UK pubs really doing? 09:15 What makes a pub a pub? 11:20 Costs, supply chains and government support 13:43 Low and no alcohol as a way to bring people in 15:46 Barley, hops and the impact of drought 18:03 Beer awareness and the "beer proud" mindset 21:37 Emma's one wish and her five-year vision 25:39 The perfect pint 27:24 Key takeaways: social connection and pub survival Want to hear more? Subscribe for new episodes each week, and let us know in the comments: what does your local mean to you? #PursuitOfThePerfectPint #BritishPub #Beer #BeerPodcast #Barley #Malt #PubLife #NoAndLowAlcohol

  5. Sep 30

    Episode #43 | Barley Is the Only Grain That Dies on the Shelf | w/ Don Grambsch

    Now Live: Episode #43 The US burned 143 million tons of corn for ethanol in 2025. That's more than the normal crops of Ukraine, the EU and Argentina combined. And barley is stuck in the middle of it. In part two, malt legend Don Grambsch explains why barley is the only grain-processing industry with a perishable raw material, and why brewers now have to contract every acre. Then comes the uncomfortable question: what happens to regenerative ag when you lose half your crop to hail? Plus, Brent's on-the-ground view of the rain-hit Canadian prairies: 30% pre-germination in one farmer's last field. Rehearse your Plan B. 🍺

  6. Sep 23

    Episode #42 | 22 US Malt Plants Down to 6: What Happened to American Beer? w/ Don Grambsch

    The US once had 22 malt plants. Today it has about six. Industry legend Don Grambsch joins Brent to explain how craft beer, GMO corn and soaring freight costs reshaped the malt supply chain—and why the biggest brewers missed the shift to premium. As malt production moved west and consumers remained in the east, freight became the industry's deciding factor. Plus: Napa left 400,000 tons of grapes unpicked last year. Is beer next? Part 1 of 2. Barley is up next.

  7. Sep 16

    Episode #41 | How Is Australia Shaping Barley’s Next Decade? w/ Mark Lewis

    Australia is one of the world’s leading barley producers—but what will it take to remain competitive over the next decade? In Episode 41 of Pursuing the Perfect Pint, Brent speaks with Mark Lewis, Chief Commercial Officer at Riordan Grain Services and Chair of the Grains Australia Barley Council. They discuss Australia’s strong barley production, changing grower priorities, narrowing malting-barley premiums and the growing importance of feed markets. They also explore how improved varieties, sustainable farming practices and closer collaboration across the supply chain could shape the industry’s future. Can Australia turn these strengths into a lasting global advantage? Listen to How Is Australia Shaping Barley’s Next Decade? and subscribe for more insights from across the global barley, malt and brewing industries.

  8. Sep 9

    Episode #40 I Real Work Happens Between Meetings w/Samantha Rockey

    In Episode #40 of Pursuing the Perfect Pint, Brent is joined by Samantha Rockey, co-founder of Thompson Harrison and co-author of The Social Brain: The Psychology of Successful Groups. They explore the human reality behind better business decisions—from choosing the right group size and facilitating productive discussions to building the trust needed to navigate complexity and make difficult decisions. Why can sharing a meal before an important meeting lead to a better outcome? Why do smaller groups make decisions more efficiently? And why are the informal moments between meetings often where the real work happens? The discussion also examines the role of face-to-face interaction, social rituals and beer in creating connection, strengthening teams and opening the door to new ideas. Tune in to Episode #40 of Pursuing the Perfect Pint on Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify.

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About

Journey around the world with industry expert Brent Atthill as he pursues the perfect pint all while discussing the malt supply chain within the brewing and distilling industry.

Information

  • Creator
    RMI Analytics
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 RMI Analytics

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