“The Spring has Sprung…”

by The Maltstar | Mar 13, 2026 | Hot off the Kiln

“The Spring has Sprung…”

“The Spring has sprung…” and it’s all around us.

Never mind that the cherry blossom in the garden and the flowering oilseed rape in the fields are particularly early this year, following our dreary winter they are both hugely welcome. As will be Easter in two weeks’ time, if the sun keeps shining.

At last an end to hibernation, and the news that the Great British Public are returning to the Great British Pub (Morning Advertiser 10/03/26).

Our malt sales appear to reflect this; they are blossoming too. They could yet improve even more.

With the current turmoil across the wider world, it is not surprising there is talk that ‘staycation’ might boom again this year.

Any signs of a repeat of last year’s glorious summer will surely only serve to encourage this. That would also be most welcome because, if we are so lucky, there will be at least two winners that we at Warminster Maltings will be rooting for. After all that they have been up against of late, they would deserve this break.

We are of course talking about the Great British Pub and Great British Beer!

Robin Appel

“Reasons to be Cheerful…”

by The Maltstar | Feb 12, 2026 | Hot off the Kiln

“Reasons to be Cheerful…”

Our order book for malts is presently under performing. We are told, for one reason or another, everyone has stopped drinking alcohol. For the time being perhaps. But we believe there are still reasons to be cheerful.

Number: 1

The explosion of publicity surrounding our pubs is quite astonishing and ongoing. Commentators are keen to highlight the community, social and heritage values of our hostelries, with attention grabbing headlines every week. It is widely reported that the public are now responding.

Number: 2

For every report of a pub closure, there is another of niche pub groups buying them up with exciting and enlightened plans for re-openings. Even JDW expects to open new venues in 2026.

Number: 3

Whisky market experts tell us the current downturn in global demand is cyclical, not structural. The halving of tariffs into India and now China, will improve bulk sales. 2026 is expected to be better than 2025.

Number: 4

Wage inflation currently exceeds the CPI (Consumer Price Index). This should increase spending money. The continuing trials and tribulations in Whitehall will provide the excuse.

Number: 5

At Warminster, all our 2025 customers are still ordering our malts, but not quite as frequently as last year. But Easter is early and this traditionally kicks off the ‘staycation’ tourism surge.

As Field Marshall Viscount Slim famously said

“Things are never as bad, …as at first they seem”.

Robin Appel

The Last Artisan Maltster

by The Maltstar | Feb 2, 2026 | Hot off the Kiln

The Last Artisan Maltster

The last Maltings in the West Country, and the “Last Artisan Maltster”. At Warminster Maltings this is a responsibility we acknowledge with pride as well as the resolve and determination to ensure we carry on.

Today, more than ever, in the eyes of artisan brewers and passionate distillers, malt represents the opportunity of unique added value to their respective beverages. Whether it be the variety of barley, it’s provenance, unique flavour profile, or the hand crafted malting process, raising awareness of these virtues is clearly capturing the attention and the imagination of those who are looking for something special in their glass. More to the point, something special which can only be accomplished at the ‘Craft’ level of production. The ultimate seal of Craftsmanship.

But this is something that we at Warminster can only go on providing if we can maintain the current level of support for which we have been so grateful up to now. We have always had enormous confidence in our customer base, who have consistently proved themselves to be far more resilient than the industry as a whole. We like to think, at last, this steadfastness is on the cusp of being rewarded. But our own survival, of course, depends on remaining part of this achievement.

At the Maltings we are doing absolutely everything we can to ensure we carry on. We are very fortunate in that we have completed the repairs to our malthouses, and we have upgraded all our infrastructure. So, going forward, we really can concentrate our focus on the quality and the story of our malts. And we can assure everyone, we are absolutely dedicated to remaining the “Last” and not becoming the “Lost Artisan Maltster”.