FOUR NEW malting barley varieties have been added to the updated 2006 Institute of Brewers Approved list, it has been announced.

After successful micromalting trials from the 2004 crop, the winter variety Flagon and spring barley NFC Tipple have both gained provisional approval for brewing use, according to the Maltsters Association of Great Britain (MAGB).

In addition, the spring variety Westminster has provisional approval for brewing and distilling and Oxbridge (also a spring barley) has been granted provisional approval for distilling.

The spring variety Carafe was the only variety to be removed from the list after failing to progress from provisional to full approval.

It is important for barley growers to check the list sooner rather than later in order to see what varieties the market is demanding, suggested the MAGB’s Jennie Richards.

“We will have a stand at this year’s Cereals Event as part of the HGCA, so growers can come to discuss reasons for choosing a particular variety.”

Recent improvements to the lists mean the 2006 version more clearly reflects the suitability of individual varieties for brewing and or distilling, rather than their suitability to particular geographical areas she noted.

Details of the Approved list for harvest 2006 can be found at the MAGB website www.ukmalt.com.