You’ve made the savvy business decision to use craft malt. Now what?
Working with a craft maltster means making a purchase is only the beginning. Your investment leads to innovative products, supports local, family owned farms, and protects the environment— and those are stories worth telling!
Our new Craft Malt User Manual has tools and resources to help you produce and sell the highest quality beer and spirits made with Riverbend Malt. It includes malthouse tours and employee trainings, media support, event support, and more.
Using 2-Row barley sourced directly from Tennessee, we developed Cumberland Pilsner as part of our custom craft malt program. After numerous tweaks and trials, we were able to create a blend of sweet aromatics and bread dough from Calypso barley. It’s a little less floral than our Chesapeake Pilsner, and a little sweeter than our original 6-Row Pilsner. Cumberland’s light color and subtle flavors work across a wide range of Lager styles.
See what our Southeast brewers have done using Cumberland Pilsner craft malt!
Homegrown Lager – TN
An ode to homegrown brewing, Orange Hat Brewing Company’s Homegrown Lager is everything we love about local craft beer.
Orange Hat brewed this premium lager with Cascade hops from Knox Hops and Riverbend’s Cumberland Pilsner malt. Roughly 75 pounds of fresh Cascade hops were used in the whirlpool to add a distinct hop character to this easy drinking and crisp finishing Lager.
Church Parking Lot – TN
Dedicated to the mundane, everyday places we find ourselves in, Harding House Brewing Company’s Church Parking Lot is a liquid encapsulation of the way special moments make anywhere memorable.
Because of that, this beer is light, crisp, and easy drinking. It features 100 percent Tennessee-grown corn from Teeter Farms and Riverbend Cumberland Pilsner malt. At 4.75 percent ABV, it’s perfect to enjoy with family and friends—and make memories that turn the normal into the extraordinary.
Believe in the Breeze CZECH Pilsner – NC
Crisp and soft as a North Carolina gale, DSSOLVR’s Believe in the Breeze is a subtly floral, velvety smooth beer with a touch of Pilsner bitterness.
This Pilsner starts with a Czech water profile and a base of 100 percent Cumberland Pilsner malt. Then, Believe is hopped with German Saaz hops for an earthy, herbal, and spicy flavor. A traditional Pilsner through and through.
Withered Foliage Biere de Garde – WV
A combination of roasted pepitas, Tettnang, Magnum, Saaz hops, and local malts, this October saison is a seasonal staple crafted by Weathered Ground Brewery.
Beginning as a more traditional Saison, Withered Foliage is rich in body and full malt flavor. The integration of our Cumberland Pilsner and a touch of our Streaker Oats in this grain bill create a mosaic of malt flavors. The combination keeps this Saison scintillating till the last sip.
https://riverbendmalt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/CumberlandPilsner.jpg16851645Scott Hickmanhttps://riverbendmalt.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Riverbend-Malt-for-Craft-Beer.pngScott Hickman2022-02-03 20:26:032023-08-07 18:30:13Mainstays Made With Riverbend Cumberland Pilsner
Hard to believe we are about to close the books on 2021! I always enjoy going back through our social media feed and photos…remembering the conversations and beers that defined this roller coaster of a year. The list of my favorite beers below is presented in a loose chronological order, capturing the seasonality that plays a large role in defining experiences for me.
2021 kicked off with this beautiful release from Hi-Wire. This beer hit all the right notes for me in late winter. Perfect for that time of year when you’ve had enough “big” stouts but your palate is not quite ready for that first light beer of spring.
Their choice of malts created layers of biscuit, graham cracker, and toast at an approachable alcohol level. Noble presence was just enough to cleanse the palate and set the table for another sip. Bonus points for including recipe details in the packaging design!
This was a fascinating and nerdy exploration into the terroir of barley varieties and malt house character. We received 2 tons of Talisman barley from our friends at Skagit Valley Malting and we sent them some of our Violetta. We applied our Southern Select recipe to the Talisman and the results were noticeably different. Lab analysis revealed lower levels of modification and corresponding color development. On the flavor front, we noticed more light cracker and less bready sweetness…..a malt stuck between Pilsner and Pale Ale profiles.
The good folks at DSSOLVR took this profile and ran with it! Tweaking water and mash profiles to highlight the malt character. The result was a thirsty quenching success!
It isn’t everyday I have a “moment” with an IPA. Most leave me longing for the old days of crisp citrus and pine notes found in the classic West Coast examples. We hear tropical, mango, guava, etc. thrown around quite a bit when it comes to describing the modern IPA. To me, those bright and tantalizing flavors are often dulled by the overly sweet and creamy mouthfeel of the NEIPA style.
Ah, but this example from Little Animals lit me up!
They start with a mash bill that includes our Pilsner, Munich and Oats, add Idaho 7 and Belma then ferment with a blend of Saccharomyces and Brettanomyces. The final twist is where this beer takes flight…..a blend of barrel-aged blonde sour is added prior to packaging. This really sets off the aromatics and gives this beer a crisp, satisfying finish.
Biere de’ Riverbend (Belgian Dark Strong) – Fonta Flora
You knew this one would be on the list. Crafted as part of our 10th anniversary series, our homies at Fonta Flora really put something beautiful together. The mash bill brings in both of our Munichs and Sunset Wheat to build layers of complexity. Traditional Belgian yeast and dark candi sugar all contribute to rich fig, raisin, and toffee character in this one. The finished beer is disturbingly drinkable despite the 10% ABV.
They followed this release with Druidsickle, a bourbon barrel aged spiced ale….can’t wait to try that one!
I’ll admit, I had never heard of Cohesion when my friend Jen Blair mentioned them as a potential meet up spot in Denver during CBC. Thirty minutes later I’m in the taproom geeking out with her and the brewer (Eric) about his decoction schedule!
Everything about this place is focused on traditional Czech-style lagers. Each of the beers were complex and beautifully presented via side pull faucets. What made the evening even more special was learning about the role craft malt plays in their brewhouse….turns out our good friends at Troubadour Maltings created several special malts designed to work with the decoction heavy approach.
This intersection of local malt and old-world craftsmanship is an excellent example of the innovation that will continue to propel craft beer forward in the years to come!
Happy holidays everyone!
Brent
https://riverbendmalt.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/FF-BiereDeRiverbend-e1649475145586.jpg8531080Brent Manninghttps://riverbendmalt.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Riverbend-Malt-for-Craft-Beer.pngBrent Manning2021-12-21 11:09:252023-08-07 18:42:07Favorite Beers of 2021
It’s only natural to look out over a field of barley and reflect back to this time last year, or the year before that. This year we’re feeling extra nostalgic about our 10 year harvest that we’re now enjoying in craft beer across our region, toasting to a decade in business in what’s become a burgeoning agricultural industry. The craft malt story is unfolding, and we’re proud to help tell it.
How have the crops improved?
When we started, 6-row barley was the only game in town. A variety called Thoroughbred is where we got our start. Notoriously challenging to work with due to high beta glucan levels. We worked steadily to tease out the perfect blend of moisture, temperature and time required to promote proper modification. Now, in the twilight of its career, this variety continues to hold a place in our year-round lineup!
As we have gotten better, so have our farmers. They’ll tell you that they only get 50 or so chances in their lifetime to produce a quality product. We’re happy to report that most have been quick learners… developing programs that have increased test weight and yields over the years.
We’ve also gained access to several 2-row varieties that really helped open the doors at large-scale breweries for us. Violetta, Calypso, and Flavia all consistently yield >80 bushels an acre.
How did they look this year?
Mother nature was good to us! She spared us a late season frost and rainfall levels were manageable. Late season rains can often lead to pre-harvest sprout damage, but that was not the case in 2021. Most of our growers reported high overall quality and solid yield numbers. This gives us a solid foundation to work with until next summer!
Our friends out in the Western United States were not as lucky, dealing with drought conditions. Rainfall of only 5-6 inches was reported in some areas, which creates stressful growing conditions for barley. The end result is high protein and corresponding lower extract levels in the finished malt.
How have relationships with farmers gotten stronger?
Open and honest communication has been a cornerstone for us. Each year our “crystal ball” comes into a bit better focus, this helps us provide better estimates on raw material requirements to our network. Early on, our estimates varied wildly depending on what sale opportunities were falling into (or out of) the picture. Combine that variability with a fledgling grain growing effort, and you get a recipe for disaster.
2018 was probably the toughest year for all of us. We were ramping up production with a harvest that was less than stellar. Our growers and seed cleaners worked hard to get us the best material they could at an accelerated pace. It was a challenging time; frayed nerves were the order of the day. When 2019’s harvest arrived, we breathed a sigh of relief and went to work.
Our growth has allowed us to expand contracted acreage throughout our network and strengthen our commitment to #maltwithamission.
What’s next?
New varieties and new partners throughout the South. Early on, we built relationships in 10 acre increments, which equates to a truckload of grain. The need to scale shifted our focus to 50 and 100 acre increments to ensure adequate supply of craft malt. As we look to our second decade, we want to return to our roots and support small-scale pilot projects that offer access to a broader array of stakeholders in our region.
https://riverbendmalt.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/TN-Calypso-Landscape-scaled-e1639782289612.jpg9401920Brent Manninghttps://riverbendmalt.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Riverbend-Malt-for-Craft-Beer.pngBrent Manning2021-12-17 18:10:522023-08-07 21:04:42#Riverbend10: Reflections on a Decade of Riverbend Craft Malt
Cumberland Corn malt beckons down-home flavor and a rich sense of tradition. The pleasant combination of fresh cornbread and subtle toastiness are balanced by its earthy undertones. Tennessee-grown, this corn malt delivers an ethereal sweet flavor that doesn’t require a separate cereal mash. It complements a wide array of beer styles– especially American Lager— and it makes for a storied, local addition to a Bourbon mash.
Corn based-beers are trending at Southeastern craft breweries; here are some made with Riverbend Cumberland Corn malt.
Alliance Brewing’s Alliance Lager – TN
At Alliance Brewing, beer is a catalyst for uniting people. The ability that a bold house lager has to bring folks together is an impressive one; some would attribute it to its locally sourced craft malt.
A gorgeous clear gold with a frothy head, this lager is super crisp and clean with just a whisper of a light, cereal body. A subtle earthy, sweet flavor from Riverbend Cumberland Corn balances its bright freshness, making Alliance Lager a perfect easy (day) drinker.
Thirsty Monk Contemplate Cream Ale – NC
Doesn’t take a whole lot of contemplation to fall in love with Thirsty Monk’s Contemplate Cream Ale.
Brewed with Cumberland Corn, as well as Riverbend’s Chesapeake Pils Malt and Bloody Butcher Corn, Contemplate packs a lot of complexity for its easy-drinking style. Aromas of sweet almond liqueur, white bread crust, and summer harvested corn lay the foundation for subtle notes of white grape and spiced pear. Fresh cornbread flavor and nutty character allow for a balanced finish. This ale is light, smooth, and crisp with a gentle refreshing bitterness.
YEE-HAW Brewing Co’s Cerveza Mexican Lager – TN
South of the border flavors meet southern hospitality in this flavor profile of crisp Mexican-style Lager.
YEE-HAW’s Cerveza Mexican Lager is a delectable clash of cultures. The classic Mexican-style Lager you know and love is made with locally sourced malts and flaked corn courtesy of Riverbend. The result is a creamy, slightly hoppy brew with a smooth, clean finish. It’s light, it’s crisp, and oh so delicioso.
Beacon Brewing Co.’s Waves of Grain – GA
Oh beautiful, for spacious skies, for Beacon Brewing Co’s amber Waves of Grain Lager.
Waves of Grain is Beacon’s take on a craft American Light Lager. They use our Chesapeake Pilsner malt and Cumberland Corn malt for some southern terroir. Add a hint of fruitiness from a small whirlpool addition of Loral and you got yourself one refreshing beverage. 100% naturally carbonated beer-flavored beer!
https://riverbendmalt.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/corn-germinating-scaled.jpg25601920Scott Hickmanhttps://riverbendmalt.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Riverbend-Malt-for-Craft-Beer.pngScott Hickman2021-12-06 16:14:322023-08-08 11:19:43Mainstays Made With Riverbend Cumberland Corn Malt
If we had a nickel for every conversation we had with small batch producers about why craft malt is the sustainable, marketable choice for ingredient purchasing… well let’s just say we’d have a lot of nickels.
Enter a hot steep demonstration that we’ve fondly coined the “craft malt pepsi challenge” in which we compare the flavor profile of Riverbend malt to that of larger commodity brands. The contrast is stark.
A couple weeks back, we engaged in this hot steep juxtaposition with long-time Riverbend customer Hillman Beer Company who we’re pleased to report just made the switch to Riverbend as its primary base malt provider. Hillman has always had around 15 percent of the beers on their board made with our malts, and it’s an honor to say that number has jumped to around 85 percent.
“We love having Riverbend as neighbors,” says Co-Founder Brad Hillman. “We love that we can say all the malt is grown within 500 miles from Asheville. For customers, it’s cool to know that your beer is grown locally. It’s also cool to know you’re supporting local farmers. There are so many different things to be proud of here.”
In April of this year, Hillman joined the Craft Malt Certified™ seal, a pledge to purchase ten percent or more craft malt as part of total annual malt purchases. That was a no-brainer for Hillman, who is already using Riverbend’s Chesapeake Pilsner for their Kölsch and Old Fort Original Lager, and pretty much any other beer that requires Pilsner malt,” Brad adds. He uses Riverbend’s Southern Select as a “nice in-between base malt between Pilsner and Marris Otter,” and Streaker Oats make their appearance in many of Hillman’s Belgian-inspired and sour beers.
Next up for Hillman is an Amber Rye Lager made with Riverbend’s Carolina Rye malt and Munich Rye malt varieties, releasing in mid-December.
“The proof’s in the beer,” Brad says. “Their malt is just great.”
https://riverbendmalt.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Photo-Sep-24-5-19-02-PM-scaled-e1654987775378.jpg14202560Scott Hickmanhttps://riverbendmalt.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Riverbend-Malt-for-Craft-Beer.pngScott Hickman2021-11-19 20:36:542023-08-08 11:44:15Craft Malt Converts: Hillman Beer Company
Craft brewers across the region are invited to brew the Riverbend Malt House 10 Year Harvest Recipe in celebration of agriculture in the Southeast and a decade of Riverbend craft malt.
The #Riverbend10 Wheat Pale Ale recipe utilizes the Riverbend anniversary Sunset Wheat as a base, balanced out with citrusy hop varieties. In this recipe, the malt makes the difference— and the brewers get to make their mark. By design, this pale ale is a clean, malt-forward canvas for showcasing local agriculture. All home and pro brewers who brew this recipe are encouraged to add their own local twist using ingredients sourced from their region, state, or maybe even their backyards.
