There are many great people who have contributed to the art of beer brewing. The man of the day is John Mallett. The question now is, who is John Mallett?
John Mallett has been part of the brewing scene since 1986 in several positions. He founded and ran SAAZ (a provider for breweries), was the Director of Operations, and later the Vice President of Operations at Bell’s Brewery. He has also been part of several boards, such as the Brewer’s Association.
Keep reading to learn more about John Mallett and what he has done for brewing.
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Who is John Mallett?
John Mallett is an expert at managing all levels of brewing. His expertise comes from formal education and his various job experiences in his 35+ years in the brewing industry. He was educated at the Siebel Institute of Technology, where he received a diploma in brewing technology.
Though he has worked at several breweries, he was at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, Michigan for 21 years. During this time, he was instrumental in many of the brewery’s successes, including Two Hearted Ale.
Mallett is renowned for his skill in all things related to brewery operations.
What is he up to now?
John Mallett is currently the Vice President of Brewing & Quality at New Belgium Brewing. He entered this position after Lion, who owns New Belgium, acquired Bell’s Brewery. He also serves as a Chairperson & Boardmember of the American Malting Barley Association (AMBA).
Outside of his brewing jobs, he also volunteers as a ski patroller with the national ski patrol.
Homebrewing Background
Although John Mallett is not known for his homebrewing experience, he has worked with many homebrewing associations. Additionally, he wrote Malt: A Practical Guide from Field to Brewhouse, which is a great resource for homebrewers.
Check out John Mallet’s book here!
Mallett has done some homebrewing early in his brewing career but has primarily been involved in professional brewing.
Professional Brewing Experience
Mallett has a long list of professional experience in the brewing world. He has worked with breweries across the country, been a teacher, and served as president and board member at several associations.
John Mallett’s professional experience includes:
- Head Brewer – Commonwealth Brewing Company (1986-1989)
- Brewmaster – Old Dominion Brewing Co. (1991-1995)
- Extended Faculty and Consultant – Siebel Institute of Technology (1994-2018)
- President – SAAZ Brewing Equipment & Services (1995-2003)
- Director Of Operations – Bells Brewery Inc. (2001-2019)
- Chairperson – American Malting Barley Association (2009-present)
- President – Hop Quality Group (2011-2020)
- Board Member – Brewers Association (2011-2020)
- Vice President of Operations – Bell’s Brewery Inc. (2019-2022)
- President – Master Brewers Association of the Americas (2020-2021)
- VP Brewing & Quality – New Belgium Brewing (2022-present)
Awards and accolades
While John Mallett has primarily served on judging panels, he has also won a couple of awards over the years.
In 2002, John Mallett was awarded the Russell Schehrer Award from the Brewers Association for innovation in craft brewing. More recently in 2021, he received the Brewers Association Recognition Award.
Published Works and Media
During Mallett’s 35+ years of brewing experience, he has written many technical papers and a book.
John Mallett has written over 40 papers on various aspects of the brewing process. His book was released in 2014 and is titled Malt: A Practical Guide from Field to Brewhouse.
His book details the malting process as well as an in-depth exploration of malts throughout history. It is the fourth in the Brewing Elements series.