Saggar kiln debris. Modern saggars are made of alumina ceramic, cordierite ceramic, mullite ceramic silicon carbide and in special cases from zirconia. By far the largest number of UK pottery manufacturers were based in and around Stoke-on-Trent in a region known as The Potteries. Their businesses, locally known as potbanks, fired their wares in distinctive bottle ovens. At the turn of the twentieth century over 4,000 of these were in use, although by 2014 only 47 survive, all of which are no longer in production but are listed buildings. The saggars were used for the biscuit and the glost firing. They
Craft malting Craft malting Craft malting, also called micro-malting, is an agricultural practice of creating malting barley in relatively small quantities for craft beer. One guide says that craft malt must include 50% locally sourced grain, the figure endorsed by a trade industry group. In addition to beer, craft malt can be used for whiskey (peat malting), or as specialty grains for baking. The craft malt may be heirloom varieties that are not commercially viable for large growers; of tens of thousands of barley varieties, only 10 or so are produced in great quantity for beer. Craft malting also appeals to local