Entries by Scott Hickman

Craft Malt Converts: Bear Chase Brewing Company

We’re back, with another iteration of our Craft Malt Converts series. This one zooms in on our friends at Bear Chase Brewing in Virginia. Meet them and their beers made with Riverbend malt below.

From Farm to Foam in the Heart of Virginia

For Bear Chase Brewing Company, nestled in the rolling, wooded hills west of Loudoun, Virginia, the path to craft brewing started out as just a crazy idea hatched by five close friends in the middle of 2017.

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Made With Riverbend: Make Way For The Mighty Maibock!

Maibock lagers made with Riverbend malt

Maibock season has arrived, and in 2025 we’ve noticed an uptick in the number of Maibocks we’re seeing out there. This beer style is a brewer’s favorite, and often what we reach for in early spring when the evenings are still crisp. We’re ready for patio beers, but need something with a bit more heft than traditional Pilsners or Mexican Lagers. Thankfully, the Maibock is here to fill that gap in the “shoulder” season.

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Changes coming for Riverbend malt shipping in 2025

Transparency is a cornerstone value at Riverbend Malt House, not just for our sourcing but also in our communication to our customers. As the market shifts, we want y’all to be the first to know about pending changes that will impact our shipping process and pricing. 

We ship Riverbend malt through a broad array of Less Than a Truckload (LTL) carriers to destinations throughout the Southeast every day. These LTL carriers are governed by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA),

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Mainstays Made with Riverbend Great Chit Malt

Riverbend Great Chit malt

 

Chit malt is barley that has started germinating but has not yet fully sprouted. It’s used in brewing to enhance enzymatic activity, which helps break down starches during mashing, making the malt more fermentable. This style of malt was originally developed to sidestep the Reinheitsgebot regulations in Germany.

At Riverbend, we use Southern-grown 2-row barley coupled with a brief germination stage and gentle kilning regime to create our chit malt.

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Riverbend Malt House Debuts Certified Regenified Malt

ASHEVILLE, NC— After becoming the first malt house to become third-party certified for regenerative agriculture in 2024, Riverbend Malt House is delighted to introduce Regenified™ Southern Select. This malted 2-row barley product is crafted from Southern grown Certified Regenified™ Avalon barley.

Regenified is a practice and outcomes-based land verification and product certification program. Its framework recognizes the impact farms and brands have by growing and sourcing regeneratively grown products, supporting practices that restore ecosystems,

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Winners Circle: Business of the Year Awards and Total Domination at the US Open Beer Championship

When it comes to beer and spirits competitions, the reign of craft malt is undeniable. In 2022, numerous brewers, all using Riverbend malts, clinched top honors in industry competitions across the nation. The following year, 2023, Tennessee-based Riverbend user Chattanooga Whiskey was crowned Craft Producers of the Year by American Whiskey Magazine, a testament to their quality and craftsmanship. This success story was echoed by many others who brought home a slew of distinctions. 

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Made With Riverbend: 2024 Beers Of The Year

The end of the year is a time of reflection for us, when we always wind up raving about the beers and spirits made with Riverbend that stood out to us the most. This year, some of our favorite creations came out of inspired collaborations between brewery friends; Craft Malt Month in September being the catalyst for several of them. Here are top picks from your friendly malt sales folks Brent, Shawn, and Tyler! 

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Craft Malt Converts: Savage Craft Ale Works

Savage Craft Ale Works uses mostly Riverbend craft malt

In this competitive marketplace, making and serving beer is just one part of the consumer experience. We tip our hats to the newest Riverbend Craft Malt Converts Savage Craft Ale Works in West Columbia, South Carolina, where world-class craft beer is the star of the show, joined with other characters like location, community, food, and story. Now, they can add local ingredients to that cast of characteristics! 

 

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