Gabe Toth is a distiller, former brewer, and industry journalist in northern Colorado. He is the lead distiller at The Family Jones production facility and has written books about floor malting and fermented food.
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Don’t take that certificate of analysis for granted—the stats attached to your raw grain or malt can make a big difference in how you ferment and distill a consistent, quality spirit. Here’s what to know.
A recognized carcinogen occurs in most domestic malted barley—but careful distillers can avoid it. Here’s what to know.
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Recent barley reports and new recommended varieties offer distillers and brewers some welcome assurances and a glimpse of the future, including barleys better suited to nontraditional growing areas.
Whether unlocked from the grain or added with intention, enzymes are tools to help distillers better craft the spirits they envision.
Popular at the bar and overseas—whether commonly available brands or rarities sought by collectors—American whiskey is surging. But before you explore the category, it’s worth asking: What defines it? The answer is … complicated.