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!

It’s official! American Single Malt Whiskey will become a new category for spirits across the United States in early 2022. The American Single Malt Whiskey Commission has been hard at work for years now to make this happen. We tip our hats to them.

 The category will be defined by the following criteria….

• made from 100% malted barley
• distilled entirely at one distillery
• mashed, distilled and matured in the United States of America
• matured in oak casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 liters
• distilled to no more than 160 (U.S.) proof (80% ABV)
• bottled at 80 (U.S.) proof or more (40% ABV) 

As you can probably imagine, we are excited about this new development. It offers an excellent opportunity to explore the world of craft malt flavor in a distilled format… the intersection of art science for both maltster and distiller!

Most Scotch Whisky is produced using a Pale Ale style malt (think Maris Otter) that can be kilned with or without the introduction of peat smoke. In this case the maltster is delivering a nicely balanced package of rich, bready flavors along with sufficient enzymes to support efficient conversion. These malts combined with pot still based production runs yield a spirit with substantial mouthfeel and complexity.

But what happens when we explore different varieties of barley or higher kilned specialty malts within these same production techniques? What happens when we utilize column or hybrid stills? What happens when we experiment with different proof levels coming off of the still? 

To quote my friend Jason Parker from Copperworks Distilling Company… ”We get to write the book”! 

Craft maltsters across the United States work with numerous 2-row and 6-row varieties of both Winter and Spring barleys to create a wide range of flavorful base malts that will support this new style. Our experience with Southern-grown winter barley has demonstrated distinctive and consistent differences in varieties that range from biscuits and hearth-baked bread to floral and melon notes. These nuances will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the finished spirit.

Riverbend’s Munich “family”…Vienna, Light Munich, and Dark Munich

Incorporating Munich-style malts into the grain bill will also set the table for an exciting departure from the norm. More sweet aromatics like honey, vanilla, and cake batter will now be present and available to contribute flavors to distillate that haven’t been thoroughly explored. Couple this with variations in climate that impact the aging process and you have the building blocks of terroir for American Single Malt.

While not technically keeping with the new definition of the style, the classic rye versus wheat debate in bourbon could also spur additional avenues for innovation for American Malt Whiskey. Gently kilned soft white wheats might introduce delicate floral notes similar to fine pastries. Heirloom and modern rye varieties could contribute rich, earthy spice reminiscent of pumpernickel bread.

Last, but not least, we have smoke. Native hardwoods, fruit woods, and decommissioned barrels could all play a role in building unique character. Several of our customers have already begun to experiment in this space and we are waiting patiently for the first releases to be bottled!

Got an idea for a unique grain bill? Want to discuss a custom malt project for your distillery? Give us a shout. We look forward to exploring this new chapter in artisan spirits together!

We’re inspired by the eco-conscious and passionate crafters of small batch beer and spirits in the Southeast, and we’re on a mission to create a local, sustainable food system that adds value and credibility to these artisan products that tell the story of our region. Here are six reasons to use our craft malt in your next recipe.

Family Farms First: When you make Riverbend Malt your malt supplier, you’re supporting Southeast family farms such as Walnut Grove, ASR Grain, Bay’s Best, and Teeter Farm. Supporting local farmers helps create a complete ecosystem for local beer and artisan spirits. 

Transparency & Traceability: We’ll tell you how some of the best malt in North America is sourced, down to the farmer and field. Our goal is to purchase 100% of our raw materials from within a 500-mile radius of the malt house. We currently partner with family farmers in North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The majority of our 2021 harvest was sourced from North Carolina, which meets our ongoing objective to shorten our supply chain. 

Quality & Freshness: Great malt requires great grain, so we pay premium prices to ensure we have access to the best raw material available. We use the highest quality heirloom and newly released grains and traditional floor-malting techniques; each batch undergoes thorough testing including a sensory evaluation and third party analysis. And, you’ll get it fresh.Our malt doesn’t have to cross the ocean in a bulk bin— and our brewery and distillery partners can taste the difference.  

Service With a Smile: : We’re on a mission to help you grow your business. Let’s put our heads together— our craft maltsters are here to help you with process issues or other challenges that come up in your brewhouses and distilleries. 

We like to be good neighbors, too: if you’re in the Asheville area, your delivery is on us! No matter where you are, our short supply chain and easy ordering process allow for faster delivery. 

Malt On A Mission: Making great craft malt isn’t possible without healthy people and a healthy planet. We’ve been Living Wage Certified since 2014, and we’ve paid 100 percent of employee healthcare insurance premiums since 2018. 

The grains that commodity malting operations use have a long ride from farm to malthouse, often 2,000 miles or more. The less distance grains have to travel from farm to malthouse, the less carbon emissions that are produced. We’ve reduced 1,064,030 pounds of CO2 by purchasing from family farms located within 500 miles of our malthouse. And, most are actually within 300 miles. 

Storytelling: Utilizing craft malt isn’t just a purchasing decision, it’s also a brand position that differentiates and adds value to your final products. Breweries and distilleries choosing to invest in their sourcing amplify the voice of the craft malt narrative buzzing in communities across the country. 

Long story short, we’re proud of our malt and our people, and deeply committed to our mission. We’re ready to talk shop any time. Send us your questions at orders@riverbendmalt.com.