The barley mutant TR49 and the cultivar from which it was derived, Troubadour, were grown in Scotland and Spain and harvested in 1991 and 1992. The development of β-glucanase together with the breakdown of β-glucan and the reduction in milling energy were followed during malting. While similar amounts of β-glucan were found in samples from both sites, TR49 showed less response to environmental conditions. Grain from Spain showed higher levels of β-glucanase activity, differences being apparent after steeping and 1–2 days of germination. The milling energy of grain was the same, but, during malting, samples from Spain showed a greater reduction in milling energy than those from Scotland. The most extreme environment in the study was the 1991 season at the Spanish site and was the driest and hottest. But even in the cooler, wetter season of 1992, Spanish grown material showed a greater production of β-glucanase than Scottish grown samples. These findings have important implications for plant breeding as well as the growing and trading of malting barley on a European scale.