Last week I got a phone call from the good folks at the Blue Ridge Distilling Company based in Golden Valley, North Carolina. We started talking about local grain production, craft distilling, and the challenges of running a small business. By the time the conversation was over, we were both excited about the idea of producing local spirits, and I made plans to visit their facility the following day. I also realized that I had a fair bit of googling to do!
This weekend we are headed to the Raleigh/Durham area for the 2011 Sustainable Agriculture Conference that is hosted by our friends at Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. They have compiled an amazing line-up of foodies, farmers, and permaculture professionals for several days of workshops and presentations.
But you know what we are really stoked about?…..the first batches of brew from Weeping Radish using Riverbend malts will be featured this weekend!!
Uli (owner of Weeping Radish) will be bringing along a sneak peak of their seasonal Doppelbock.
I spent most of last Wednesday in our Sprinter van…running the gauntlet of I-40 for close to 500 miles.
I met with our buddy Uli Bennowitz, from the Weeping Radish Brewery, by the side of the road and dropped off our first shipment of malt! Weeping Radish is located near Manteo and focuses primarily on German styles. Although their beer is not currently available in WNC, they are expanding their distribution channels and offer shipping services on their website,
Great article on Riverbend Malt in Mountain Xpress
http://www.mountainx.com/article/35411/Brews-News-new-Malt-House-and-brew-tidbits
» Read more about: Riverbend Malt House in Mountain Xpress! »
Last week was a whirlwind….final inspections (which we passed), grain deliveries, and a successful kiln test!!! A wild ride to say the least. We capped off the week by starting our first batch. We have chosen to begin at 50% capacity…just until we get things “wired”. I also envision it will take us awhile to figure out the bag sewer…nothing like the thrill of holding a high-powered needle gun next to your fingers!
The weeks ahead will be packed with preparations for a busy Oktoberfest season.
Word is getting out about Riverbend and we are fielding calls from interested farmers across the state! In the past few weeks we have spoken to farmers in Granville County (near Kerr Lake) and Polk County who are interested in growing grain for us during the 2011-12 season.
Since Polk County is just an hour south of Asheville, I scheduled a visit to meet the farmer (Bruce Edwards) and “talk shop” in his driveway.
I know you’re all asking yourselves….what is taking so long? Trust us, we are right there with you. Since our return from Canada (and even during) we have worked with our contractors, city inspectors, and spent countless hours searching for equipment on the interwebs. Along the way we’ve experience the normal cost overruns, scheduling conflicts, and logistical headaches that plague most businesses during their initial start-up….but I’m proud to say we are well on our way!
Greetings from Winnipeg! Brent and I just completed our second week of malt training at the Canadian Malt Barley Technical Centre. Our typical day starts with 3-4 hours of lecture in the morning, followed by “hands-on” work in the malt house or lab in the afternoon. The lectures have covered everything from the biochemistry of malting to world market conditions. These lectures have been presented by a variety of staff members who have decades of experience in the field of large-scale malting and brewing operations.
The development of local food systems is essential to creating a durable and sustainable economy in our region … A recent article in Grist Magazine highlights one of our key partners, Carolina Ground (aka NC Organic Bread Flour Project), who is forging their own food system for organically grown wheat in our state. They also do a little name dropping on our behalf. Check it out here.
