In today’s episode, I caught up again with Brent Manning, one of the founders of Riverbend Malt House, to dig into all the big moves happening at his malt operation. We delved into how Riverbend has become the first malt house in the world to gain third-party Regenified regenerative agriculture certification for their Southern Select malt. Brent shared the behind-the-scenes of what it took to achieve that milestone, the meaning and practices behind regenerative ag, and how it’s impacting their farmer partnerships and supply chain transparency. We also took a deep dive into their USDA inspection experience and how rigorous record-keeping is opening doors for industry-wide traceability. Later, Brent geeked out with me on their adventures malting heirloom corns—like Ohio Blue—and how these unique grains are driving new flavors and opportunities for craft brewers and distillers.

Brent Manning is a co-founder of Riverbend Malt House, a leader in the craft malt movement. With a background in environmental science and a deep passion for regional agriculture and sustainability, Brent is always driven to push boundaries in grain and malt, from pioneering regenerative certification efforts to experimenting with heirloom corn varieties. His work bridges the gap between farmers, brewers, distillers, and conscious consumers to build a healthier, more transparent, and more flavorful grain supply chain.

“We’re the first malt house in the world to get certified [as regenerative]… this is a perfect way to recapture that environmental ethos we started with.” ~Brent Manning

Today on Consuming the Craft:

·     Riverbend Malt House is now third-party Regenified certified for regenerative agriculture, a global first for a malt house.

·     Regenerative agriculture goes beyond organic by focusing on soil health, ecosystem improvement, traceability, and ongoing progress rather than just forbidding inputs.

·     Achieving this certification required working closely with growers, adding stringent record-keeping, and full supply chain traceability.

·     Many of Riverbend’s practices already meet or exceed the requirements for both regenerative and USDA inspections, thanks to their early roots in organic production.

·     USDA inspections at this scale require detailed batch tracking, preventive controls, allergen protocols, and meticulously documented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

·     Riverbend continues to experiment with malting unique, heirloom, and heritage corn varieties, such as Bloody Butcher and Ohio Blue, unlocking new flavors for both beer and spirits.

·     The team is seeing growing interest from brewers, especially craft distillers, eager to work with regeneratively sourced, flavorful specialty malts and grains.

·     Brent’s environmental science background and commitment to data-driven decision-making set Riverbend apart, focusing not just on claims but on actual measurement of soil and ecosystem impacts.

Contact for Brent Manning:

·     Website: www.riverbendmalt.com

·     Instagram: @riverbendmalt

·     Email: info@riverbendmalt.com

Resources Mentioned:

·     Riverbend Malt House

·     Regenified regenerative certification (https://www.regenified.com/)

·     USDA Food Safety Preventive Controls for Human Food

·     Michigan State University Heirloom Corn Research

·     Schoolhouse Farms (Ohio Blue Heirloom Corn) • Maker’s Mark Supply Chain Summit

·     Sandhill Kitchen (for the finest chicken sandwich in Asheville!)

·     Seal Box (Direct-to-Consumer Craft Spirits)

·     McConnell Farms (sponsor)

This episode is brought to you by…

McConnell Farms - Taste the Way You Remember. Enjoy homemade ciders and ice cream made from only the best produce on the market. Visit the McConnell Farms website to learn more about our seasonal inventory and the delicious creations you can make with our homegrown produce.

Consuming the Craft

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