Quick - what is the person next to you talking about when he says this:

To get a representative recheck sample you need to probe your bins. Of course, the design of some bins can make this a challenge. That's why it's important to choose bins that can be easily probed when you are dealing with...

UK trash cans? No! This and more is all about managing your malting barley crop and brought to you by the good folks at the Canadian Wheat Board. We - you and I - take our malting barley for granted. Be honest. We talk about this hop or that, this adjunct or the other and even the odd yeast strain or two. But barley malt? We never mention it except for the better home brewers and those few beer nerds who can tell their Golden Promise from Maris Otter. Are you that nerd?

It is really too bad as there is a difference in malting grains that is more than whether the brew is made of two or six row barley or even if it has wheat or oat malt thrown in. But we rarely get beers made with the focus on the malt these days - its one of those subtleties that are totally obliterated in those beer concentrates most are chasing these days. It really can't stand up to those fancy pants crystal or chocolate malts either. Isn't even Burton too much? The English ordinary bitter or pale ale surely is the apex of pale malted barley presentation. Sadly, it is far too rare around these parts despite all the pales that I have had the chance to try. What I'd give for a regular supply of something like Pitchfolk.