2024 Oktoberfest Recipe Planning Guide By Riverbend Malt House

Image courtesy South Main Brewing

As summer fully blooms, we know brewers are already thinking into the next season– more specifically, Oktoberfest. It’s time to get those German-style lager recipes going!

Our sales team is here to help you craft the perfect recipe, so please feel free to reach out. We can share stats on individual batches to help ensure you hit your target color, flavor profile, and ABV!

You can also design a malt blend to create signature flavor profiles. Please reach out to your Riverbend representative or email sales@riverbendmalt.com for more information about our custom malt program. 

Without further ado, here is our Oktoberfest planning guide to our standard malt offerings to help plan all of your 2024 recipes. Scroll down for sample grain bills!

 

Czech-Style Pilsner (<2 SRM)

This product was inspired by the malts hailing from the Hana valley in the eastern portion of the Czech Republic that remain truly under-modified and low in color. In order to reign in these traits, we reduced our steep out moisture and reduced germination temperatures, and coupled this approach with a cool, gentle kiln recipe to ensure minimal color development. The result is a malt with a distinct flavor and color of 2 SRM or less. The lack of modification opens the door for brewers to utilize step mashing or multiple decoctions to increase efficiency and build flavor. Don’t have that capability in your brewhouse? Not to worry– we aimed for a level modification that doesn’t require these steps.

 

Chesapeake Pilsner (2 SRM)

One of our best selling flagships, this malt has been featured in a wide array of lagers around the Southeast. Produced using 100% VA-grown barley, this malt contributes notes of fresh-baked crackers, melon, and honeysuckle. 

 

Cumberland Pilsner (2 SRM)

This Pilsner is produced using 100% Calypso barley. Calypso imparts a breadier, doughier profile when compared to the Chesapeake Pilsner Malt. Perfect for lightly hopped lagers.

 

Vienna Malt (4-6 SRM)

We kiln this style similarly to our Light Munich malt, with a cooler curing temperature to minimize color development. Vienna Malt helps to create full body and smooth mouthfeel, with honey-like sweetness and light toast in the finish.

 

Light Munich (8-12 SRM)

Producing a high-quality Munich-style malt requires a completely different approach to the process. Higher kilning temperatures and extended times combine to create the rich, bready flavor profile that these malts are known for. We use a proprietary blend of 2-row barley varieties as the base for this product. Try it as a base malt for your next Doppelbock recipe or in smaller percentages in a Helles!

 

Dark Munich (25-35 SRM)

A continuation of the Munich-style, this product is crafted using an intense 30+ hour kiln cycle that utilizes high temperatures and different air flow management techniques. The result is an aromatic malt that delivers notes of baker’s chocolate, toast, and dark fruit. 

 

Double Kilned Munich (50 SRM)

As its name suggests, Double Kilned Munich makes two trips through the kiln, a process that helps develop the complex flavors and increases color to approximately 50 SRM. This malt will contribute a beautiful, ruby red hue and notes of dark fruit and toffee with a touch of fresh roasted coffee flavor. Use in low percentages in your Oktoberfest recipe to impart that satisfying dry, toasty finish.

 

Sample Grain Bills

Festbier 

Cumberland Pilsner – 70%

Vienna Malt – 22%

Dark Munich – 8%

 

Oktoberfest 

Chesapeake Pilsner – 36%

Light Munich – 23%

Dark Munich – 23%

Vienna Malt – 18%

 

Mainstays Made With Riverbend Base Camp Malt

Our Base Camp is produced using a proprietary blend of regionally grown 2-Row barley varieties and kilned at lower temperatures to create a slightly sweet, grainy profile that will complement all manner of hoppier beers perfectly. Taste it in these mainstay beers made across the Southeast. 

Big Lick Brewing Co. Casey’s Kölsch, Virginia

Base Camp

Love us some Dan! And we’re in luck. Big Lick Brewing’s summer seasonal, Casey’s Kölsch, features Dan Casey, columnist for the Roanoke Times, among a gaggle of other locals. 

Base Camp 2-Row makes up the majority of the grist, with a hand-ful of Chesapeake Pils thrown in for a bit of “biscuity” goodness and a touch of body and golden color. Casey’s is a light bodied, dry and malty Kölsch with a touch of yeast derived fruitiness for a beautifully balanced flavor profile.

Fireforge Crafted Beer 80’s Sax, South Carolina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 80s are back, and Fireforge Crafted Beer’s 80’s Sax is the craft beer answer to that nostalgia.

This bready, malty and earthy pale lager is brewed with 100% Riverbend Base Camp 2-Row malt and German Tettnang hops, creating one of Fireforge’s lightest beers and adding a crisp, dry finish courtesy of the absence of any corn, rice, or sugar. It’s easy drinking and downright delicious.

Southern Growl RIGHT DOG RED, South Carolina

This Irish Red Ale has pleasant caramel and honey sweetness balanced by an elegant roast character and a bite of herbal hops.

Asheville Brewing Co. Perfect Day IPA, North Carolina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most popular beer at Asheville Brewing Co., Perfect Day IPA is the ultimate blend of old and new school IPAs! This brew started as a limited release, but quickly became a year round beer thanks to all of its fans. Perfect Day IPA is also available in cans so you can have the perfect day anywhere!

You can expect citrus and tropical fruit flavors and aroma from big kettle and dry hop doses of Citra, El Dorado, Mosaic and Nelson Sauvin hops.

DSSOLVR The Hustle is Broken, North Carolina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This seasonal West Coast IPA by DSSOLVR is brewed with our Base Camp and Munich malts, and is packed with malt-forward flavor with some notes of grapefruit pith and blueberry muffins. The Hustle is Broken is also made with Columbus and Mosaic hops, along with DSSOLVR’s American Ale Yeast.

Lookout Brewing Co. Native Sun, North Carolina

Native Sun is a summer seasonal Pale Ale with slightly malty flavors, but with a bright base and white wine grape essence. This Pale Ale also contains Idaho Gem and Nelson Sauvin hops. Native Sun is the perfect beer for you next trip to the mountains!

Fonta Flora Brewery Lake James Rind, North Carolina

This humidity crushing, thirst-quenching beach lager is perfect for your backyard pool— or the shores of Lake James outside of Morganton, North Carolina. This unique beer boasts flavors of corn, lime zest, tajin, and watermelon.

Out to Pasture: Riverbend Malt House Discontinues 6-Row Barley Malt

It’s hard to believe, but Riverbend Malt House will be phasing out 6-row barley products by the end of 2024.

This decision speaks to the growth, evolution, and transformation that our malt house has experienced during the last thirteen years. A market for malting barley in the Southeast did not exist when we first started. Thoroughbred, which we’ve successfully worked with since our inception, was the only barley that had a genetic connection to traditional malting varieties; but that was distant at best.

Now, we’ve evolved even further to a spectrum of 2-row barley varieties and barley bred specifically to amplify beer and spirits. Oh what a time to be alive!

First batch of Thoroughbred 6-Row barley loading into the steep tank at Riverbend Malt House 1.o 

First batch of Thoroughbred loading into the steep tank at Riverbend Malt House 1.o

The Evolution From 6 To 2-Row

The road was rocky at first. Starting with organically grown grain posed additional problems and quality concerns. We shifted to conventionally grown grain after the rainy 2012 harvest rendered the organic material un-useable. This ushered in a dramatic increase in malt quality and consistency. We still had smaller kernels, but they delivered more extract and overall performance than our earlier runs. The learning curve was steep in those early years, but we kept climbing!

The world of mixed culture beer production took off shortly thereafter and our 6-row Pilsner malt quickly gained popularity with those breweries who were searching for a malt with “rustic character”. Meanwhile our Heritage Malt found its way into Mexican Lagers throughout the Southeast.

By 2018, our original 6-row Pilsner malt still had a following (you know who y’all are out there!)— but as the portfolio grew, interest waned. New 2-row varieties like Calypso and Violetta were emerging. The availability of these varieties opened new doors for us, specifically with large-scale breweries that were not set up to work with the smaller 6-row barley kernels. They achieved higher extract levels, and discovered a broader palette of flavors in the resulting products. Our single origin Pilsner series was launched soon after, revealing even more Southern terroir in beers and spirits made with Riverbend malts.

Why The Switch Now?

Which brings us to the “why now?” of this story. Simply put, we are the only market for 6-row Thoroughbred in the Southeast, and that means our growers take big risks when they plant it. Planting modern 2-row varieties offers more security for the family farms that wee buy our grains from, with more options and slightly higher yields come harvest.

We also anticipate having substantially more Avalon barley available this year. Thoroughbred served as one of the “parents” that helped bring this new variety into existence, designed to boost efficiency in craft brewhouses to boot.

6-Row Barley Malt Substitutes

Our Czech-Style Pilsner malt can be a good alternative for our 6-row products. This product brings some of the grassy notes of our OG 6-row Pilsner. If you are not set up to step mash or decoct, consider blending in a few bags of our new Speakeasy malt to help drive conversion.

We will be working on a 2-row substitute for Heritage Malt this summer as well.

Last Chance Dance

If you’d like to reserve some of the remaining inventory of 6-row Pilsner malt and Heritage Malt to make your favorite Pre-Prohibition Pilsner or Mexican Lager recipe, please give us a shout!

The Menu: Southern Lager Invitational 2024

We’re beyond stoked to serve 30+ expressions of Southern Lager made with Riverbend malt and Bootleg Biology yeast! Meet the 2024 Southern Lager Invitational beers—

 

Beers

Akademia Brewing Company The Best Place Czech style Premium Pale Lager

Alga Beer Co. La Sur Mexican Lager

Barrique Brewing & Blending Kronländer Continental Style Pilsner

Cahaba Brewing Company Bama’s Got Bock Maibock

Cellarest Beer Project Narcissus Wheat Lager

Cherry Street Brewing Cumberland Cold Snap Cold IPA

Cultivation Brewing Co. + Symbiotiq Beer Project Novaking Unfiltered American Pilsner

DSSOLVR Ceni Cero Gold Mexican Corn Lager

Fireforge Crafted Beer Descent Into Helles Helles Bock

Fonta Flora Brewery Grodziskie Smoked Lager

Fullsteam Brewery 100 New Southern Lager

Grand Central Brewhouse St. Pete Export Helles Export

Harding House Brewing Jimmy Red Southern Steam Pre-Prohibition Steam Lager

Leveller Brewing Co. + Fait La Force Brewing Feed My Horse On Corn and Hay Rustic American Pilsner

Little Animals Brewery Night Hoss Dark Wheat Lager

Mythk Brewing The Beholders Rye Lager

New Heights Brewing Company Rock Lot Lager Southern Lager

The River Arts District Brewing Company Amber Mexican-style Lager

Rock Solid Brewing Company Midnight Trucker Czech Dark Lager

Sierra Nevada Southern Gothic Unfiltered Pils German-style Keller Pils

Skeeta Hawk Brewing Back In The Day Malt Liquor

Soul and Spirits Brewery Brewery Raunchy Rotbier

South Main Brewing Co. Cumberland Southern Lager

Food Trucks

Shaa’bingo

The Po Wagon

Tunes

DJ Chrissy Zebby is spinning Southern soul, reggae, and hip hop-inspired beats on vinyl.

More about the Southern Lager Invitational

Open to interpretation, Southern Lager, an unofficial but emerging beer style, ​​tends to be a cold-fermented, dry-finishing, lower-ABV beer that pairs well with sweltering heat.

After the successful execution of the inaugural Southern Lager Invitational during the Craft Brewers Conference in Nashville– in a monsoon no less— Bootleg Biology and Riverbend Malt House are excited to bring this festival to Asheville in its second year.

Here’s to an amazing cap to Asheville Beer Week 2024!

This celebration of local lagers is made possible by sponsors ASK Law and Boelter.

 

20 Mexican Lagers Made With Riverbend Malt To Drink This Season

Mexican Lager season 2024

ARTICLE UPDATED from 13 to 20 Lagers in June 2024. Some of these beers were limited releases, so we do not guarantee they are still available from when this article was originlly published in May 2024. 

Happy Mexican Lager season!

It delights us to say that there’s now a ‘season’ for this formerly more obscure lager style! Mexican Lagers are having a moment in the lager Renaissance sweeping the Southeastern states, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.

The Mexican Lager beer style, loosely defined, tends to mimic traditional German and Austrian-style Vienna Lagers made with corn additions in Mexico in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This article by Casket Beer gets into Mexican Lager’s history if you want a deep dive. 

This spring, breweries across the South are releasing Mexican Lagers made with our barley and corn malt across the map— adding another layer of local terroir to the rich cultural history of the evolution of the style. The use of malted corn in place of the flaked corn offers the opportunity to explore unique flavors that each variety can impart.

Our malted corn portfolio includes Cumberland Corn, which delivers the classic creamy sweetness of homemade cornbread. Hickory King Corn goes in the opposite direction, contributing the crisp, earthy notes of hearth baked tortillas. Bloody Butcher Corn brings a mix of chai spices not typically associated with Southern grown corn. 

“I think this style is gaining more and more popularity because of the “state-of-mind” experience these beers tend to offer, as well as their drinkability,” says Yee-Haw Brewing Co. Head Brewer Dan Rowe. “They lean into being slightly malty, yet very approachable light-bodied lagers, with a dry finish. That earthy touch of corn in the flavor and reduced bitterness differentiates it from its counterparts from Germany, the Czech Republic and your standard American macro lager. Circling back around to that “state of mind” experience, they’re a perfect companion to virtually any outdoor activities, especially during all warmer weather months.” 

From May 3 to 5, Yee-Haw Brewing Co. hosted Cerveza Fest at the brewery’s taprooms in Johnson City, Knoxville, and Nashville, Tennessee, as well as Greenville, South Carolina. The spotlights: their flagship Mexican Lager Cerveza, and the lime-infused Cerveza Lime made for the occasion. 

Yee-Haw’s Cerveza is made with Riverbend Cumberland Corn, produced with Tennessee-grown corn. “The corn creates a lager with more complexity,” says Rowe. “You start finding more and more slight nuances of sweetness and depending on the level of bitterness you’re going for as a brewer, it can potentially be the key ingredient to providing balance.” 

Marlow Artisanal Ales agrees. The folks at Marlow are ‘massive nerds about tortillas’, reporting they can taste the variation between homemade tortillas made with different corn varieties. “So, we sought out heirloom varieties that would make the biggest impact in our beer,” they explained. They chose Bloody Butcher and King Hickory corn malts for Marlito, a drinkable experience with slight corn perceived sweetness in the finish, although the beer finished quite dry.

Explore even more Mexican Lagers made with Riverbend malted corn varieties, and other malt styles too. 

1718 Brewing Ocracoke Vera Cruz is made with just a touch of sea salt and lime, and Riverbend malt of course. It’s deliciously crisp and named after an old local party shoal.

Akademia Brewing Company Alma Mexican Lager is bright and effervescent with low bitterness and a subtle sweetness from the malt and flaked maize grain bill. 

Alga Beer Co. El Sur is a highly anticipated release made with our Vienna and Hickory King Corn malt styles. This light, bright, warm weather lager will be available in cans and on draught on Sunday, May 5.

Crooked Culture Esta Bien Conmigo is an effervescent Mexican Lager; a refreshing and easy-drinking beer that embodies the spirit of Mexico’s warm and sunny climate. 

Hazelwood Brewing Noche is a beautiful Dark Mexican Lager expression made with our malt. We love to see the dark-hued subset of the Mexican Lager trending this season– those added colors and flavors are all about the malt!

Honor Brewing Company Tough Ombré. Grab a 4-pack of this easy-drinking lager made with Riverbend malt, and don’t forget to grab some limes on the way home.

Homeplace Beer Company recently collaborated with Big Pillow Brewing Company on Los Vecinos Mexican Lager with Riverbend Chesapeake Pilsner and Bloody Butcher corn malts. Served with a lime and salted rim upon request. 

Lenny Boy Brewing Company Uno Mas⁠. Made with our Chesapeake Pilsner and Cumberland Corn malts, Uno Mas Mexican Lager is balanced, crisp and dry-finishing with a touch of honey and corn. ⁠

Lookout Brewing Grassy-Ass. The name says it all! On Cinco de Mayo, Lookout released this crispy, refreshing Mexican Lager for your summer drinking pleasure. Then they created another version of it– this delicious corn lager base infused with Marigolds from Two Trees Farms, Marigold Mexican Lager.

NoFo Brewing Co. Collateral is a thirst-quenching Mexican Lager brewed with Bloody Butcher corn that helps to impart an earthy aroma. This crisp tasting and clean finishing beer is eminently drinkable, especially with a squeeze of lime.

Riverside Rhapsody It’s Cohn! Mexican Lager is brewed with our Chesapeake Pilsner and Cumberland Corn malts, fermented long and cold, and spunded for natural carbonation. 

Salt Face Mule Brewing Co. Maize Runner is a Pre-Prohibition American Corn Lager that weighs in at only 4.4% ABV. This batch was brewed with our Bloody Butcher Corn malt to bring forward rich flavors of Southern-style cornbread and freshly baked French baguette.

Senoia Beer Company Muertos Viventes is a year-round offering made with Chesapeake Pilsner and Hickory King Corn. Its flavors of freshly baked bread, tortillas, and earthy spice are especially nice during Mexican Lager season.

Shellring Aleworks Chela De Playa is brewed with our Vienna, Pilsner, Cumberland Pilsner and Hickory King Corn malts. It’s brewed to pair with the South Carolina summer heat. This year, Chela De Playa Noche Dark Mexican Lager joins the lineup— Caramel malt and Hickory King Corn deliver a crisp, malty version of Shellring’s Mexican-style Lager. 

South Main Brewing OSCURO is another Mexican-Style Dark Lager that starts with a canvas of Cumberland Pilsner, Vienna malts in order to elicit hints of slightly sweet kettle corn, slightly roasty caramel, and a grassy crispness. Cumberland Corn smooths out the dryness for a rounded finish. Deep amber in color and robust in flavor, it’s also snappy and refreshing. Think LALO’s Lager & Dark Horse had a baby.

Is your Mexican Lager #madewithRiverbend malt? Submit it here so we can include it on this list.

People are Talking About our Rye Malt, and Here’s Why

Seashore Black Rye Malt

Here at Riverbend, we’re passionate about rye malt. That’s why all of our malted rye styles are made with heirloom varieties that can be traced back hundreds of years. With four distinct malts offering flavors from earthy to spicy, we have a rye that fits your next project. Thanks to all of these Riverbend customers who told us why they love our malted rye.  

Meet our Rye Malt Lineup

Carolina Rye

Made from an heirloom rye grain variety called Wrens Abruzzi that has been grown in the south for over 200 years, this malted rye has a classic herbal spice blend flavor of earthy black peppercorn and citrus. 

South Main Brewing, based in Georgia, loves all things Carolina Rye. According to Nic Farley, Co-Owner and Head Brewer, “We use Carolina Rye in a few of our recipes, including 53 & Rosemary Saison and That’s Rye’ght Hazy IPA. We love how the spiciness of the rye plays with citrusy hops.”

Munich Rye

Also crafted using Wrens Abruzzi, the Munich Rye malt is an evolution of our Carolina Rye malt that’s kilned at higher temperatures. Produced in much the same way as Dark Munich and Light Munich 2-Row malts. The rye is stewed while holding a higher moisture content in the kiln.  This process braises the grains and brings forth a more profound expression of the rye with flavors with notes of pumpernickel, wildflower honey, cardamon, and allspice.

“I was lucky enough to try Munich Rye right as it came out of the kiln, and I immediately thought of Cracklin’ Oat Bran cereal,” remarked Jennifer Currier, Head Brewer and Blender at Wicked Weed Brewing’s Funk House. “Its warming, spicy, brown sugar notes are a perfect match for a beer we brew called Pompoen, a sour amber ale fermented with pumpkin.”

Georgia-based Beacon Brewing Co. uses eleven of our craft malts throughout their brew lineup, but Dave Hash, Head Brewer, says he does have a favorite. “The Munich and Carolina Rye malt in our Red Rye DIPA. The spicy rye characteristics pair really well with English crystal malt and citrusy hop bitterness, and you can really get that tingling, slightly cooling mouthfeel that you’d get from a rye whiskey.” 

Seashore Black Rye

This rye malt (featured in the photo above) is produced using another heirloom variety that was revived on Edisto Island, South Carolina. Full of flavor and finesse, the Seashore Black Rye moves away from the Abruzzi’s bitter bite and instead brings notes of chicory and baking spice flanked by a cookie dough-like mouthfeel.

At Yazoo Brewing, Head Brewer Quinn Meneely and the team recently collaborated with Leinenkugels on a rye lager recipe. “Man, this one might be my favorite collaborations yet for this year,” he says. “It’s a 5%, 20 IBU lager. 11.5% Seashore Black Rye. 100% Riverbend Malt. Super aromatic, with white grape notes and rose, maybe? This is not your standard rye— it’s much more herbal and aromatic. Be damned boring old black pepper!”

Flo-Rye-Da

The FL 401 Variety rye is a descendant of the Seashore Black Rye, but as the name suggests, grown in Florida! Similar to Seashore, this variety exhibits less cracked peppercorn and more dry spice character. Think Melba toast and black tea. It’s a versatile malt style that plays well across recipes, including Baltic Porter, Barleywine, and even Pumpkin Ale. (Back in 2021, Crooked Can used it to make the Flo-Rye-Da Pumpkin Ale with 100 pounds of pumpkin puree, cinnamon, and nutmeg in the mash.)

Sideward Brewing has used Flo-Rye-Da in several beers, most notably the Cowboy Crusher. “The rye malt provides a nice spice balance to this Vienna lager leaning beer. Big notes of freshly baked whole grain bread, spice and caramel. While full bodied and complex the beer still remains easily crushable in these cool Florida winter days,” says Co-Founder and Head Brewer Garrett Ward. “Florida doesn’t provide much outside of fruit for raw materials so when we heard about this Florida grown rye we jumped at the chance to brew with it. Local is always on our mind especially now more than ever. Not only do we get a chance to engage with our customers over the story behind the beer but were helping lower our carbon footprint and avoiding all these supply chain issues. We are also very Florida proud so any time we get to scream Florida from the roof tops we will take it!”

 

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Riverbend Malt House Becomes First-Ever Certified Regenified Malt House

ASHEVILLE, NC— Earlier this year, Riverbend Malt House became the first malt house to become third-party certified for its supply chain processing and manufacturing, ensuring the segregation and processing of Certified Regenified grains. This certification gives Riverbend, the first craft malt house in the South and now the first Certified Regenified™ malt house on the planet, the unique ability to manage, store, and process Certified Regenified grains while maintaining full traceability.

Regenerative Agriculture focuses on soil health as the foundation for supporting entire ecosystems. Practices such as no till farming and cover cropping minimize disturbance, which promotes carbon sequestration and reduces polluted runoff. It’s also much more than just a set of farming practices; it’s a paradigm shift in how we view and interact with the land. By prioritizing soil health, water conservation, biodiversity and overall ecosystem vitality, regenerative practices offer a pathway to heal the earth and nourish both people and the planet.

Regenified, a practice and outcomes-based land verification and product certification program, recognizes and certifies those who adopt these regenerative practices, paving the way for a healthier planet and transparency across our food system. This group conducted an extensive supply chain audit of the malt house, and Riverbend received certification in March of 2024. Built on transparency and traceability of the Southeastern grain supply chain, Riverbend was well positioned to meet the requirements of the certification process. 

Riverbend’s certification by Regenified underscores their commitment to regenerative agriculture. By achieving certification, Riverbend ensures the implementation of systems and processes necessary to segregate and process Certified Regenified grains. This certification not only upholds the integrity of the supply chain for Regenified products but also supports Riverbend’s goal of achieving healthier soils and waterways while fostering supply chain integrity and supporting farmers and brands committed to regenerative agriculture. “The years ahead will generate exciting results that speak to improved biodiversity, reduced chemical and fertilizer use, and carbon sequestration,” says Riverbend Malt House Co-Founder Brent Manning. 

Turning towards Regenerative agriculture is “some icing on a wonderful cake of meeting and exceeding our environmental goals, which include agriculture that’s closer to the end-user,” adds Riverbend Malt House Co-Founder Brian Simpson. “The commitments for Regenified’s certification are a big opportunity for us to really show up.” 

Riverbend will begin processing certified, locally sourced grain for brewers and distillers in the coming months. Long-term, the malt house will work with its existing growing partners in the Southeast to achieve certification. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Riverbend Malt House. 

 

ABOUT REGENIFIED 

Regenified is a practice and outcomes-based land verification and product certification program driving the growth of regenerative agriculture and the adoption of certified products. Regenified recognizes and certifies those who adopt regenerative practices, paving the way for a healthier planet and transparency across our food system. Get involved at regenified.com. 

 

ABOUT RIVERBEND MALT HOUSE

Riverbend Malt House is on a quest to connect Southeastern family owned farms and fermenters. Co-Founders Brent Manning and Brian Simpson launched Riverbend, the first craft malt house east of the Mississippi River, in Asheville, North Carolina in 2010. Buoyed by a 70,000 foot production facility and state of the art equipment, Riverbend Malt House helps breweries and distilleries large, small, and in-between stand out with flavor, locality, and community in an increasingly competitive landscape— all the while challenging the status quo of corporate, big-agriculture malt. Learn more at riverbendmalt.com.

Winners Circle: Big Wins for Beers and Spirits Made With Riverbend Malt

When it comes to beer and spirits competitions, craft malt is king. Just ask the Riverbend supporters who took home hardware from the latest awards programs!

win

 

2023 Great American Beer Festival 

Our first shout-out goes to Rock Solid Brewing Company for taking home the gold in the International Dark Lager category with their Midnight Trucker at last year’s Great American Beer Festival®!

We’ve always said that we’d make overalls for any GABF gold medal beers made with our malt! Fonta Flora Brewery and Barrique Brewing are the first two breweries to do this, followed by Rock Solid Brewing at the 2023 festival. Check out the overalls!

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2023 NCCBC Awards 

The NC Beer Industry Awards Banquet is held each year during the NC Craft Brewers Conference; this year was the 10th annual event. Congratulations to Happy Valley Filling Station for being named Best New Brewery. 

For bringing home the gold, a big congratulations goes out to Archetype Brewing, who won with Cowboy Poet (American-Style Lager) and Talking to Plants (European Wheat Beer). Fullsteam Brewery reigned supreme with Coffee Is For Closers (Field & Spiced Beers), and Happy Valley Filling Station placed tops for Appalachian Aroha (Juicy or Hazy Style IPA).

In the Silver category, Fullsteam Brewery placed with Brumley Forest (NC Home-Grown), Riverside Rhapsody Beer Co. scored with Mountain Chain Kolsch (European Hybrid Styles), Cellarest Beer Project won with Cellarveza (Pale European Lager), and The Glass Jug Beer Lab placed with Tasman Bay (Other International Origin Styles). 

Bringing home the bronze, a round of applause for Whistle Hop Brewing Company for Ilaria (Smoke Beers), Lookout Brewing Company  for Native Sun Pale Ale (Other International Origin Styles), Hi-Wire Brewing Leisure Time Lager (American-Style Lager), and 1718 Brewing for Ocracoke Ramp 72 (Juicy/Hazy Pale Ale).

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2024 Good Food Awards finalists

The Good Food Awards are committed to honoring exceptional crafters who produce quality beer while demonstrating a deep commitment to sustainability, environmental, and social responsibility. Each year, they receive more than 2,000 entrants from all over the United States. We could not be happier to celebrate Fullsteam Brewery’s 11th year of this nomination, this year for their Dark Lager, Bethania. Way to go, Fullsteam! 

The 2024 Good Food Awards winners will be announced this month!

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2024 South Carolina Brewers Cup

The South Carolina Brewers Guild (SCBG) hosted this year’s SC Brewers Cup Awards Ceremony on March 1, and plenty of Riverbend supporters came home with hardware. 

In the gold category, congratulations are in order for Plank Owner Brewing for John Paul Jones (Brown Ale) as well as their Gravity Storm (Belgian Ale). Fire Forge Beer claimed the IPA category with Spirito Santo, New Groove Brew placed for Wheat Chin Music (Specialty & Alternative Fermentables), and Low Country’s Regional Collab, Top 5 Hazy Pale Ale, grabbed the gold in the Collab Beer category. 

The Southern Growl brought home three medals, scoring silver with Quad Bless Your Heart (Belgian Ale) and Dog Left Lager (Standard American) and bronze for Made My Family Disappear (Spiced). Kite Hill Brewing scored silver twice, once with Latitude Change (IPA) and again for Amplitude Modulated (Strong American). Pangea Brewing brought home the silver for their Rhinos Love Pumpkins (Spiced), and they placed bronze for Clever Girl IPA (Strong American). Tideland Brewing placed silver for Banana Hammock (German Wheat), and New Groove Brew grabbed the silver with Pageantry Pils (Specialty & Alternative Fermentables).

win

2024 Florida SMaSH Festival 

For the Florida SMaSH festival, our Avalon Pilsner malt was chosen as the featured single malt. ⁠We were beyond excited by the brilliant expressions of Avalon we tasted from so many different breweries at the festival!

In the People’s Choice awards category, Tactical Brewing placed gold. Little Wekiva Brewery scored the silver, and Intracoastal Brewing Company went home with the bronze. For the Judge’s awards, Gatlin Hall Brew grabbed the gold, Homestate Brewing Co snagged silver, and The Ravenous Pig Brewing Co. won bronze. Congrats to all; you honor us with your creativity and style!

2024 Florida Brewers Ball

The Florida Brewers Ball is always a great bash, and this year, we were proud to sponsor the event and announce the Small Brewery of the Year award! Barriehaus Beer Co. in Tampa took home the honor, with Suncreek Brewing in Clermont scoring first runner-up and Magnanimous Brewing, also of Tampa, earning second runner-up! 

There were also plenty of Riverbend customers who came home from the event with hardware. Gatlin Hall Brewing scored the Gold for Rye Beer and Belgian-style Quadrupel with Tribute and Quadrupel Bogey, respectively. Grand Central Brewhouse grabbed gold in the American-Style Light Lager with their St. Petian. Alga Beer Co. placed gold in Contemporary American-Style Lager for their Hickory Creek, and The Hourglass Brewery won gold with Wee Peaty in the Unpeated Scotch Ale category. King State & Magnanimous took gold with their collab brew, Venue, in the German-style Koelsch beer category.

Other winners include silver hardware for Redlight Redlight Brewpub, with Side Pull Pils 10º (Bohemian-Style Pilsener), and collab brew Bored Games, a The Ravenous Pig Brewing Co. & Redlight Redlight collaboration scored the Bronze in the Other Hoppy Lager category.

2024 Prowein

International wins are so exciting, and we are thrilled to congratulate End of Days Distillery for their International Gold Award for Survivor’s Cut Bourbon! It just scored 95 points at the 2024 Prowein in Dusseldorf, Germany.

We are so honored to support the makers of some of the world’s finest beers and spirits!

 

HAS YOUR BEER #MADEWITHRIVERBEND WON A COMPETITION? LOCAL, REGIONAL, NATIONAL, OR INTERNATIONAL— WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT! SUBMIT YOUR BEERS HERE TO BE FEATURED.

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Riverbend Malt House Unveils Terroir With Speakeasy Malt For Distillers

Speakeasy malt for distillers

Introducing Speakeasy Malt For Distillers

ASHEVILLE, NC— Secret’s out— after much underground research and development, Riverbend Malt House now offers a malt style designed for distillers. Speakeasy malt for distillers is now available for purchase.

Riverbend has relished their role as a provider of flavorful malts to distillers for over a decade, often providing that “secret sauce” that sets an American Single Malt Whiskey or bourbon apart from the crowd. The release of Speakeasy malt for distillers is our first offering designed specifically for this rapidly growing spirits category. 

The development of Speakeasy utilizes a barley variety that has shown great potential to deliver higher levels of enzymatic activity compared to other winter 2-row varieties. This variety coupled with an extended, cool germination and gentle kilning temperatures create the building blocks for this innovative malt style.. 

“Our Speakeasy malt is a balancing act,” says Riverbend Co-Founder Brent Manning. “It’s not just an enzyme package, but a rich, flavorful malt that is designed to convert corn in a Bourbon recipe while delivering notes of melon and honeysuckle. Speakeasy provides an avenue for craft distillers to explore whiskey recipes with local ingredients.” 

Read all of Speakeasy’s specifications here. Distillers interested in purchasing Speakeasy malt can contact their Riverbend sales representative or place an order online. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about Riverbend Malt House. 

 

ABOUT RIVERBEND MALT HOUSE

Riverbend Malt House is on a quest to connect Southeastern family owned farms and fermenters. Co-Founders Brent Manning and Brian Simpson launched Riverbend, the first craft malthouse east of the Mississippi River, in Asheville, North Carolina in 2010. Buoyed by a 70,000 foot production facility and state of the art equipment, Riverbend Malt House helps breweries and distilleries large, small, and in-between stand out with flavor, locality, and community in an increasingly competitive landscape— all the while challenging the status quo of corporate, big-agriculture malt. Learn more at riverbendmalt.com.

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Bootleg Biology and Riverbend Malt House To Host Southern Lager Invitational at The Mule To Cap 2024 Asheville Beer Week

Southern Lager Invitational

ASHEVILLE, NC— After the successful execution of the inaugural Southern Lager Invitational during the Craft Brewers Conference in Nashville– in a monsoon no less— Bootleg Biology and Riverbend Malt House are excited to bring this festival to Asheville in its second year. The Southern Lager Invitational will take place on May 25 from 5 to 9pm at The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage’s production facility, just a short drive from downtown. This event will cap Asheville Beer Week (May 16 – 26), themed ‘Craft and Creativity for Community’.

Open to interpretation, Southern Lager, an unofficial but emerging beer style, ​​tends to be a cold-fermented, dry-finishing, lower-ABV beer that pairs well with sweltering heat. At the second annual Southern Lager Invitational, craft brewers from across the South will serve their expressions of Southern Lager made with Riverbend malt and fermented with Bootleg Biology yeast to capture a sense of Southern terroir. 

Tickets are now on sale for the Southern Lager Invitational at devilsfootbrew.com. Festival entry includes samples of beers from more than 20 Southern breweries, including— 

1718 Brewing Ocracoke

Akademia Brewing Co.

Alga Beer Co.

Barrique Brewing & Blending  

Cahaba Brewing Co.

Cherry Street Brewing

Cellarest Beer Project 

DSSOLVR

Fait La Force Brewing (bonus collaboration with Leveller Brewing Co.) 

Fonta Flora Brewery

Fullsteam Brewery

Grand Central Brewhouse

Honor Brewing Co.

King State 

Little Animals Brewery

Oklawaha Brewing Co. 

Skeeta Hawk Brewing

Soul and Spirits Brewery

South Main Brewing Co.

The Southern Growl 

 

The beer menu and food truck list for Southern Lager Invitational will be published in coming weeks. 

This second annual celebration of local lagers is made possible by our sponsor Boelter, who are providing custom 2024 glassware for festival participants.

Media interested in attending and or covering the Southern Lager Invitational can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.

 

ABOUT BOOTLEG BIOLOGY

Bootleg Biology is a full-service yeast lab for professional brewers and homebrewers. 

From our location in Nashville, TN, we’ve earned a reputation for creative cultures that meet the rigorous demands of a brewery while still satisfying brewers’ goals to push the envelope.

From crispy lagers and juicy IPAs to complex mixed fermentations, Bootleg has a culture for every brew. All of our yeast is made fresh, ensuring optimal viability and keeping you on schedule.

Our lab offers a wide range of quality control testing to ensure your product meets your high standards, including PCR testing for common contaminants, IBU testing, selective media plating and more. 

 

ABOUT RIVERBEND MALT HOUSE

Riverbend Malt House is on a quest to connect Southeastern family owned farms and fermenters. Co-Founders Brent Manning and Brian Simpson launched Riverbend, the first craft malt house east of the Mississippi River, in Asheville, North Carolina in 2010. Buoyed by a 70,000 square foot production facility and state of the art equipment, Riverbend Malt House helps breweries and distilleries large, small, and in-between stand out with flavor, locality, and community in an increasingly competitive landscape— all the while challenging the status quo of corporate, big-agriculture malt. Learn more at riverbendmalt.com.