Local favorite malthouse and taproom, Admiral Maltings and The Rake, have announced permanent closure. Both businesses will close in October 2026 after the team said it could no longer produce and sell malt economically.
Admiral Maltings and The Rake Say Goodbye
Admiral Maltings is one of California’s first floor-malting facilities since Prohibition. The company describes itself as California’s only certified organic malting operation. The Rake is part of the malthouse and serves the community with beers, lunch, dinner, and a welcoming dining and drinking experience.
Located at 651A W Tower Avenue, Alameda, California, both facilities are preparing to permanently close. The malthouse will close on October 2, after its final batch comes out of the kiln, while the taproom will close its doors on October 18.
The company announced the closures in a statement shared on social media. They wrote a long emotional message and said, “We’ve treasured the connections and community we’ve created with California farmers, the breweries and distilleries we’ve worked with, and everyone who helped us revive and innovate the craft of floor-malting.”
In the post, the team explained, “Despite our best efforts, we couldn’t make and sell malt economically.”
In recent years, the team contacted potential buyers and industry professionals in an effort to find a path forward for Admiral Maltings, but those efforts were unsuccessful. “We no longer possess the resources to push forward,” said the team.
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About Admiral Maltings and The Rake
Opened in 2017, Admiral Maltings is operated by two San Francisco-based brewing industry experts, Ron Silberstein of ThirstyBear Brewing Company and Dave McLean of Magnolia Brewing Company. Together, Ron and Dave partner with local Californian farmers, source quality grains, and produce high-quality, hand-crafted malts.
The 20,000-square-foot Admiral Maltings building was originally constructed as a World War II-era naval dry goods facility.
The attached pub and taproom, The Rake, is situated on the top floor of the malthouse. It is well-known for its rotating selection of more than 20 taps. Along with that, it offers a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy a glass of beer and classic pub fare like house-smoked BBQ, sandwiches, salads, and more.
In the closing announcement, the team invited the community to visit the brewery one last time. They also encouraged the community to support local farmers and craft maltsters. As Admiral Maltings and The Rake enter the last chapter of their journey, they are grateful for the opportunity and support they received from the community.
