With the [apparent] demise of Mecca Grade, I thought I’d explore a few more domestic craft maltsters. (I’ve also used Gold Rush and Skagit Valley, and some other maltsters whose names slip me at the moment.)
I’ve heard a lot of great reviews for Root Shoot, and their Malt Guild awards certainly speak for themselves, but their malts I hear talked about are always the various barley-based ones. Has anyone tried their Olandsvete [sp?] wheat malt?
I’ve only used their barley products. I buy their pale and pilsner by the sack. I also have their vienna on hand which is really good. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy their wheat malt but it’s not as easy to find even here in Denver, a stone’s throw away from them. Curious to see if anybody else has experience as well.
Tom’s brewshop in Lakewood should carry it. That’s the malt they use for their brewery; 6&40…
I bought a sack of the Pilsner once and wasn’t a big fan though I realize that’s not the topic…
Not to steer anyone away from Root Shoot (and I’m very interested in hearing anyone’s experiences with their malts), but if you’re looking to try a craft wheat malt then I highly recommend Riverbend’s Appalachian Wheat. They kiln it a little higher than a typical wheat malt, and it really brings out a nice bready/light toast character (think of the crust on a crusty french loaf). I never appreciated the American Wheat style until I tried out this malt, but it makes a killer lawnmower beer.
Hey, thanks Eric!! I have used a Riverbend malt before, but never tried that one. A lot of the craft breweries in my region use their malts, but I had kind of forgotten about them. Better yet, they’re sort of local to me, and I find myself near Asheville fairly often (a lot of my backpacking and kayaking is relatively near them). Nice to support ‘local’ biz too.