About TexMalt

We are proof that high quality malting grains can be grown in Texas.

We are a craft malt house located in Fort Worth, TX. We partner with local and regional farms to grow, produce and source high quality grains. Our mission is to connect the farm with breweries and distilleries through the malt house by providing exceptionally high quality grain and malt. We truly believe and have proven that high quality inputs result in high quality outputs.

Affiliations

How TexMalt Started


TexMalt started just like any great idea…over a beer. After a long work week Austin and Chase were visiting one of their local breweries when they asked the head brewer, “Where does your malt come from?”


The answer was a large corporate malting facility located almost 1,500 miles away. To Chase and Austin this was unacceptable because they personally knew Texas farming families located in the panhandle.


They were certain quality malting barley and other grains could be grown locally in Texas and they took it upon themselves to make it a reality.


Austin and Chase went to work learning the malting process and eventually attended the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Center in Winnipeg, Canada where they earned their malting certificate.


At the same time they began working closely with their Texas farmers to grow special varieties of malting barley and other brewing/distilling grains suited for local environment.


In the summer of 2016 TexMalt sold it’s very first batch of malting barley.


They began as a small floor malting operation capable of 1/2 ton batches. Today TexMalt offers small batch floor malting along with their precision controlled Germination Boxes capable of producing over 20 tons per week.


Austin and Chase started with the idea of connecting Texas farms with Texas breweries and distilleries.


Today, the malt and grains that TexMalt offers far surpass any large scale operation due to the hard work and local relationships that were built and continue to grow.


TexMalt will always strive to offer the best ingredients so breweries and distilleries can make the best beer and spirits possible.

A large silo with TexMalt on it

Reduce the Footprint – Buy Local


Currently, the brewing and distilling grain market is dominated by large‐scale producers located in the Northern United States and Europe. They ship millions of pounds of malted products on an annual basis to clients on every continent.


These mass operations require grain to be purchased on a global-commodities market and shipped thousands of miles. As a result, an enormous amount of fossil fuel, water, and petrochemicals are used to produce a majority of the grains used in craft beer and spirits that are consumed throughout the world.


TexMalt has grown to be the regional alternative to these practices. We have built personal relationships with our farmers and we work closely with them to implement best management practices available to benefit our environment.


By connecting our local and regional brewers and distillers with the farm, we can reduce the average number of food miles associated with each batch of malt and/or grain.


In most cases the miles driven can be reduced from 3,000 miles to 300 miles. This would equate to a reduction of 4.5 tons of carbon emissions on average for every truckload of grain.

CONTACT US
A logo for texmalt fort worth texas with a wheat ear and texas map.

Meet the TexMalt Team

Austin Schumacher

Austin Schumacher

Co-founder of Texmalt

Hometown: Houston, TX
College
: Texas Tech University, 2013


How long have you been working at TexMalt? Owner/ Business Relations Director, since 2015


Favorite beer: Vector Brewing, Bullpen Classic American Lager


Favorite Whiskey/bourbon
: Still Austin Whiskey Barrel Proof Rye


Favorite pastime: Anything outdoors, everything from professional sporting events to hunting and fishing to just floating a river with friends and family. I am also continually expanding my knowledge of beer and spirits. The history that is the foundation behind it all fascinates me. I am hopeful that it helps me refine my personal impact on quality inside the malt house.


Favorite activity at the malt house: Curing cycle on the kiln. There is nothing better than getting up to the malt house on a cold winter morning when the malt is curing in the kiln. It warms the whole room up and feels nice and toasty. The warm smell of toasted barley accompanied by a fresh cup of coffee is hard to beat. Great way to start your day.


Least favorite activity at the malt house
: Cleaning grain. It’s hot, it’s itchy, and you have to wear a respiratory mask the whole time. It just plain sucks.

Chase Leftwich

Chase Leftwich

Co-founder of Texmalt

Hometown: Lubbock, TX
College:
Texas Tech University, 2011


How long have you been working at TexMalt? Owner/ Operations Director, since 2015


Favorite beer: Celestial Brewing Jerzy Polish Lager


Favorite Whiskey/bourbon: Still Austin Bottled in Bond Blue Corn Bourbon


Favorite pastime: Relaxing at home with my wife and three kids. Nothing is sweeter than spending time with family!


Favorite activity at the malt house: Hanging out with the team over some good beer or whiskey after a hard day in the malt house. Physical days can be rough at the malt house and by the end of the day there is nothing better than some comradery and fresh cold beer alongside a pour of Texas whiskey.


Least favorite activity at the malt house: It is tough to say because almost every activity at TexMalt is rewarding in some way. However, just like a professional brewer, a maltster is a glorified janitor. All of the malt production processes can create a mess, so it is never ending!

Jase Charbonnet

Jase Charbonnet

Assistant Malster

Hometown: Granbury, TX
College:
Sprinkbank Whiskey School


How long have you been working at TexMalt? Since 2019


Jase, AKA J-Man, started at TexMalt in August of 2019. Maltster by day and whisky connoisseur by night. We may have been able to teach J-man a few things about malting but he dropped the knowledge hammer on us about single malt whiskey. 


Favorite beer: Martin House Bockslider


Favorite Whiskey/bourbon:
Springbank 12 Cask Strength


Favorite pastime: Water skiing and guitar playing


Favorite activity at the malt house: Unloading the kiln


Least favorite activity at the malt house: Cleaning out the Saladin box

Chris Martin

Chris Martin

Malster

Hometown: Wylie, TX
College:
University of North Texas, 2009


How long have you been working at TexMalt? Since 2022


Favorite beer: Belgian Styles and West Coast IPAs


Favorite Whiskey/bourbon: Big Bottom Whiskey Straight Bourbon Port Cask


Favorite pastime: Playing/Writing/Recording music with my band, Pepperoni Boys. Brewing beer with my buds.


Favorite activity at the malt house: Grabbing freshly malted grains to brew with and design new recipes based on.


Least favorite activity at the malt house: Unloading outdoor bins, dealing with the weather and the dust.

Anthony Walker

Anthony Walker

Regional Sales Representative

Hometown:   Tacoma, WA
College:
   Washington State University, United States Military Preparatory School West Point


How long have you been working at TexMalt? Since 2024


Favorite beer: Russian River Brewery Pliny the Elder. If Willy Wanka wanted to make a beer taste like the best pine tree it would taste like Elder. Sun River Brewery, Vicious Mosquito.


Favorite Whiskey/bourbon: I like an all purpose Woodford Reserve, double oaked if I'm feeling fancy.


Favorite pastime: Golfing with my triplets, and farming with my triplets.


Favorite activity at the malt house: I love when a brewer tries our malt for the first time and shares samples. We sit, taste, and talk. As a farmer, foodie, and beer guy, there's nothing better than seeing great malt turn into great beer—Kolsch, Pilsner, Hazy Juice Bombs, you name it.


Least favorite activity at the malt house: Leaving. My visits are usually fast, so I love when I have time to catch up with the team and talk about our awesome customers.