For the last six months, we've Followed FullsTeam all over the place. This month, we're introducing a new occasional series in which we chat/pow-wow/hang out with one of our awesome co-conspirators. It might be a collaborator, a farmer, a forager, a vendor... anyone who helps us do what we do.
Earlier this week, we had a pretty silly time hanging out on Google+ with the guys at Riverbend Malt House in Weaverville, NC. Brent and Brian are using local wheat, barley, and rye and a traditional floor malting process to produce the first 100% local, organic malt in North Carolina. We use their value-added agricultural products in our El Toro and One Hop Rye.
Watch for more about the malting process, the nuances of barley varieties, and their vision for building a local beer economy.
And, because we couldn't do a newsletter without including at least one of FullsTeam's antics, here's a quick photo essay of Chris unloading a skid of Riverbend Malt House grain that arrived yesterday morning.
The forklift.
The grain truck.
The Riverbend Malt House grains:Pale Malt barley and Carolina rye.
Our reluctant star.
The approach.
The entry.
Steady now!
Like a pro.
"Look, Ma! I got the grains!"*
Life as a Fullsteam brewer sure is grand.
Soon this will be sweet, sweet El Toro.
Thanks, Riverbend Malt House. We think you're swell!
*You'll want to click to enlarge this picture. Chris's expression is one-of-a-kind.