Joel Alex and David Brand of Blue Ox Malthouse pose for a portrait at the company's facility in Lisbon Falls.

Alex examines barley from Aroostook County that he and Brand will turn into malt and sell to breweries

Alex and Brand work to hook up an ultrasonic fogger to help maintain moisture inside their unimalter.

Alex prepares barley that he is in the process of malting for a moisture test.

Alex, maltster of Blue Ox, walks through the Lisbon Falls warehouse.

A shaft of light illuminates barley inside a unimalter at Blue Ox Malthouse. This barley is in the germination stage, the second stage of processing.

Alex and Brand use the malt they create to brew an American pale ale.