Golden Promise

Scottish heritage barley, soft and sweet.

What it tastes like

Golden Promise is the Scottish answer to Maris Otter — a heritage barley variety that produces a slightly sweeter, slightly softer, slightly more honey-forward malt. It's the traditional malt for Scotch ales, wee heavies, and traditional Scottish brewing. Some American craft brewers have started using it in IPAs for its rounded malt character.

honeysoft sweetnessbiscuitsubtle floral

Best in these styles

Scottish ale wee heavy English bitter Scotch ale

For brewers — technical profile

Color (Lovibond)

2.2–3.0 °L

Color (EBC)

5.0–6.5

Max Use

100% of grain bill

Diastatic Power

Moderate (~50°L)

Where to source

Maltsters that produce or distribute this grain:

Simpsons Malt

United Kingdom · Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland

Crisp Malt

United Kingdom · Great Ryburgh, Norfolk

History

Golden Promise was bred in 1956 from Maythorpe barley and registered as a Scottish variety in 1968. It became the dominant Scottish barley until the 1980s and is also famous in single-malt Scotch whisky production.

Lineage & family

How Golden Promise connects to the wider barley family — its parents, and the varieties bred from it. Explore the full pedigree in the Malt Lineage explorer →