2019 Craft Brewers Conference

Ron Silberstein
Founding Partner
Admiral Maltings


Ron Silberstein opened ThirstyBear Organic Brewery in 1996 and is its founding brew-master. ThirstyBear Brewing Co. became San Francisco’s first and only CCOF certified organic brewery in 2007. It is now the oldest brewery-restaurant in San Francisco. Ron Silberstein founded Admiral Maltings, along with his partners Curtis Davenport and Dave McLean (Magnolia Brewing) at Alameda Point in Alameda, California. Admiral Maltings produces premium quality malt using traditional floor-malting methods and sustainably-grown (organic or no-till), locally sourced grain. With its focus on process, terroir, and grain variety, Admiral Maltings fosters a robust connection between craft brewers and distillers and their local agricultural community. Admiral steeped in its first batch of malt in August 2017. Ron, a “retired” attorney, graduated from the inaugural class of the American Brewers Guild, Craft Brewing Science and Engineering Program, and is a graduate of the Malt Academy at the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre’s (CMBTC). Its intensive Two Week Practical Course on Malt and Malting Barley is the only such program in North America. Ron is also a founding member of the San Francisco Brewers Guild, sits on its board of directors, and obtains brewery and industry sponsorships to fund SF Beer Week.

Sessions :