Each crop year is distinctive and offers a teaching moment. Our intake process remains the same, the results are always different.
In previous years, we’ve seen warm, dry springs drive rapid growth and early harvests. Mother Nature delivered a long, cool spring across the Southeast this year. These conditions supported steady stand growth and maturation. This slow growth pushed harvest back to late June in some spots across our network.
In lagers, brewers ask the raw materials to do the heavy lifting.
All over the craft beer landscape, we are seeing a steady expansion and exploration of the many classic lager styles and I couldn’t be happier!
This Wet Hopped Kellerbier from DSSOLVR and Wooden Robot is my personal favorite combination at the moment.
This topic is always a fun one to have with our customers.
After more than two months of quarantine, the good people of North Carolina are gearing up to enter Phase II. I wish I could tell you I’ve had loads of time for deep introspection and reflection on our way of life and what the road ahead looks like for craft beer….it hasn’t happened.
I’ve spent the last few months reaching out to our customers throughout the Southeast.
This time of year, we get a chance to take a breather and look back. I spent close to 2 months on the road this year covering conferences, sales, grower relationships and everything in between. A wild ride to say the least!
This year’s list of my favorites (presented in chronological order) was driven more by experiences than by an individual pint or bottle. Let me explain…
Steinbock – Fonta Flora/Zillicoah collaboration
I waited patiently for this one to be released.
Last night was special. Once a year we open our doors to our friends across the Southeast for some beers, cocktails, and delicious food. It is a small gesture of thanks for all the support we’ve received in our efforts to build a food system for local malt.
Many that showed up brought beers to share, stuff that they were proud of…..think of it like a local malt themed bottle share!
I feel like those inside the craft beer industry have been pushing for the “Year of the Lager” for quite some time. I don’t think we’re there yet, but forward progress is being made. Enter the inaugural edition of Lager Fest hosted by Resident Culture Brewing and Casita Cerveceria. This year’s lineup featured some heavy hitters…..Suarez Family, Russian River, Hill Farmstead, Heater Allen, just to name a few. As I made my way around the event,
Non-GMO Malt Ideal for Mexican Lagers, Cream Ales, Craft Bourbons and Moonshine
Asheville, NC – June 25th, 2019. Riverbend Malt House today announced the immediate availability of its new non-GMO Cumberland Corn Malt™. Sourced from grain grown on local, family-owned farms, Cumberland is malted from food-grade dent corn and delivers superior flavor when compared to traditional flaked material.
“As summer heats up a number of our customers are brewing lighter beers such as Mexican lagers,
» Read more about: Riverbend Malt House Announces New Cumberland Corn Malt™ »
Flaked Products Ideal for Hazy IPAs, Farmhouse Ales
Asheville, NC – May 21st, 2019. Riverbend Malt House today announced the immediate availability of its new Flaked Wheat and Flaked Rye. Sourced principally from grain grown on local, family-owned farms, these flaked products join Riverbend’s expanding product line of base and specialty malts.
Responding to increasing demand from craft brewers for new ingredients which complement hazy IPAs and barrel-aged sours, these new flaked materials have been specifically designed to help head retention and to provide velvety body in highly attenuated styles.
» Read more about: Riverbend Malt House Announces New Flaked Wheat and Flaked Rye »
Lighter 1.8-2.2L malt ideal for IPAs and Lagers
Asheville, NC – April 9th, 2019. Riverbend Malt House today announced the immediate availability of its new “Base Camp Extra Pale” 2-row malt. Sourced from grain grown on local, family-owned farms, Base Camp joins the expanding family of 2-row base malts in the Riverbend craft malt product line. Responding to increasing demand from craft brewers for a light base malt in the 1.8 to 2.2 Lovibond color range,
» Read more about: Riverbend Malt House Announces “Base Camp Extra Pale” Malt »
There is no playbook, there is no map, and there is no net. We have been growing this business steadily since 2011 while navigating tumultuous seas of shifting market demands, agricultural infrastructure development, and crop failures. 2018 brought us face-to-face with the challenges of scaling each of these simultaneously and we did what we always do, make the road by walking.
The 2018 harvest was the most painful we have experienced to date.