Iowa Fall-Winter 2022-2023 - 35

typically prepared differently than distillers' malted
barley (as in moisture, enzyme level and protein content).
Brewers also use a wider range of malts, including
some that have been kilned longer and at higher
temperatures, for toasty and roasty flavors, and even
occasional smoked malts.
After the wort or wash, processes and ingredients
diverge completely. Brewers use hops to balance out
the malt sweetness, from subtle hop usage in lagers
to prominent usage and dry hopping in IPAs. Brewers
use different yeasts, including spicy Belgian yeasts,
and sometimes have flavor additions such as coffee,
cacao, fruits, herbs and spices.
In its Brewer-Distiller Alliance, Foundry collaborates
with a brewery to distill and barrel age one of
its beers-for example, Toppling Goliath Brewing
Pseudo Sue pale ale and Barn Town Brewing Cicada
Killer imperial stout.
" We are working with some of the best breweries
in the industry to create a collection of the most
unique and interesting whiskeys in the world, " says
Scott Bush, owner of Foundry Distilling Co. " We are
working with several Iowa breweries, including
Confluence, Exile, Kinship, Barn Town, Toppling,
Peace Tree and Big Grove. "
MORE PROUD IOWA SPIRITS
Consumers can sip on Iowa corn in Dehner Distillery
spirits, too: in the vodka; in the gin, made with a corn
spirit base; and in the blended whiskey. Mississippi
River Distilling's Cody Road Bourbon whiskey is
made from a mash of 70% corn from Le Claire and
10% unmalted barley from Davenport as well as 20%
wheat from Reynolds, Illinois.
Jeff Quint's family has been farming in Iowa for
generations, so when he founded Cedar Ridge
Distilling in 2005, using corn was only natural. Not
only does the distillery use corn grown on the family
farm in Winthrop, Iowa, it stores and mills the corn
and other grains on site as well. " Iowa is home to
the most fertile soil in the world. We're proud of our
reputation as a farming state, " the Cedar Ridge website
says. " Local access to the highest-quality corn
on earth helps us craft the finest bourbon you can
find. "
" We know the farmers who grow our grain and the
people at the local farmers' co-op who help us load
it into our truck, " according to Iowa Distilling's
website.
Lonely Oak Distillery is owned and operated by
Pat and Amy Hoffmann, who were farmers first and
saw the potential in using their crops to create spirits.
Now, they have a hand in every part of the process.
As the website says, " from tilling the soil, planting
the seed, grain selection, distillation, maturation, and
finally, bottling. ... We are a true seed-to-spirit craft
distillery. "
So the next time you want to please yourself with
a taste of spirits, go all out and get something locally
produced using local ingredients, supporting Iowans
and their farms and businesses.
Perhaps Iowa Distilling puts it best, with a sentiment
that seems to reflect other distilleries' attention
to farms throughout the state: " We know our neighbors,
we celebrate our friends, and we help each other
grow and thrive. We're happy to be part of a movement
to bring more people together through Iowan
pride and local spirits. "
FALL 2022 | WINTER 2023 35
Farming in Iowa is as
American as flag or an old
John Deere tractor.
Iowa Fall-Winter 2022-2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Iowa Fall-Winter 2022-2023
