This Pint Has 20 Ounces

This episode we sit down with Spencer Hilton of Hilton Family Farms to discuss the world class Alberta barley they produce. After the break we chat with Derek Skaggs, a member of the Calgary Fire Department and owner of Skaggs Design Co. For longtime listeners of This Pint Has 20 Ounces Hilton Farms may already be a familiar name. Spencer’s son in law Kyle Geeraert has previously appeared on the podcast to discuss Origin Malting & Brewing, which is the other half of their seed to glass beer operation. The Hilton farm was founded just outside of Strathmore in 1910 and has been growing barley for over 40 years. Growing barley before 2012 looked a lot different than it does today, when the Canadian Wheat Board was still a mandatory part of the sales process rather than the option it is today. When the Canadian government finally opened up the wheat market in 2012 Hilton Farms and 5 other Alberta farms became the first startup suppliers of barley to craft beer giant Lagunitas. Another 5 years later they decid