Heirloom Grains
for Distillers
Farm-direct heirloom and commodity grains cultivated for distilleries and beverage producers nationwide.
Coastal-Grown Landrace Rye
Seashore Black Rye
Seashore Black Rye is a distinctive coastal-grown rye raised in Eastern North Carolina for distillers looking to bring a more expressive grain character into the mash bill.
Grown, cleaned, and stored by Tidewater Grain Company, our rye offers distillers a farm-direct option with strong varietal identity, traceability, and regional character.
Seashore
Black Rye
Carolina Gold
Rice Meal
Heirloom Rice Adjunct
Carolina Gold Rice Meal
Carolina Gold Rice Meal gives distillers a cost-effective way to work heirloom rice character into any mash bill.
Produced from our flour milling process, this optimially milled rice by-product can be added directly to the mash for a clean, fermentable adjunct with a delicious flavor and regional identity.
Our Farm
Our farm is located on the mineral-rich Blackland soils of North Carolina’s Pamlico Peninsula, where famously high organic matter soil and coastal winds imbue our crops with trace minerals. These distinguishing conditions have allowed for us to revitalize heirloom grains such as Black Seashore Rye, Carolina Gold Rice, and Santee Long Grain Rice.
Tidewater Grain Company is proud to be the the only certified heirloom seed breeder in the Southeast.
Our farm’s grain bins are equipped with the latest equilibrium moisture content technology, ensuring ideal storage conditions for all of our grains.
Each of our Distillers Series grains passes through our 50,000 sq foot bespoke cold storage facility where the temperature is tightly controlled and never rises above 60℉. In one experiment, we maintained a germination rate of >90% on our malting-quality barley for over two years in this facility.
Growing Contracts
We offer all grains in 50# bags, 2,000# super sacks and hopper bottom trucks. We are now accepting growing contracts for the Spring 2026 and Fall 2026 crops.
We are able to provide malted versions of our grains upon special request.
To inquire about pricing information or growing contracts, please reach out to Henry Richardson at henry@tidewatergrain.com.
Spring Crop
-
toasted nuts, maple syrup, belgian chocolate
Introduced in 1971 by Adolph Steinbronn as a cross between Reids Yellow Dent and Golden Glow, Wapie Valley’s popularity is quickly growing among craft distillers.
-
cherry, honey, vanilla, banana cream
Brought back to distilling fame through Scott Blackwell of High Wire Distilling and Glen Roberts of Anson Mills, Jimmy Red corn is known for its strikingly red kernels. Its high oil content contributes an exceptionally creamy mouthfeel to distillate.
-
sweet, floral, earthy
Once grown along the Ohio River Valley for taste and productivity, this beautifully blue heirloom corn’s high protein content provides an excellent basis for barrel aging.
-
earthy sweet, cornbread, honeydew
available now
A classic for a reason.
Fall Crop
-
Pre-Prohibition Landrace Rye
dried fruit, warming spices, licorice, low bitterness
Tidewater Grain Company is the largest grower of Black Seashore Rye in the world. We offer distilleries a consistent, reliable source for this highly sought after landrace variety. Previously known as nearly extinct and almost impossible to source, Black Seashore Rye’s history in American distilling reaches back to the 18th century, predating Abruzzi and even Egyptian white ryes.
-
Semi-Dwarf Hard Wheat
creamy, smooth, buttery
Developed by NC State University in 2009, Appalachian White Wheat boasts a healthy protein content and less tannins than other popular wheat varieties. Its tendency for strong gluten development coupled with its buttery flavor has established it as an emerging favorite for pastry chefs and distillers seeking a soft, approachable spirit.
-
honey, walnuts, graham cracker
The most popular variety for flour mills in the Carolinas, Soft Red Winter Wheat contributes a sweet, soft and well-rounded flavor to spirits
-
Malting-Quality Winter Barley
malty sweet, melon, honeysuckle
Developed by Virginia Tech University, this new variety of barley is quickly gaining popularity with both craft malt houses and farmers in the southeastern United States due to its high starch content, low protein, and disease resistance.
-
Malting-Quality Winter Barley
warm bread, biscuit, sugar cookie
Loved by southeastern farmers for its winter hardiness and resistance to pre-sprout, this tried and true winter barley performs well in both the field and the mash tun.
-
Heirloom Rye
black peppercorn, citrus, cinnamon
A Food Grade Approach
Tidewater Grain Company brings decades of grain expertise and a robust, food-grade supply chain already trusted by distributors, restaurants, and craft beverage producers nationwide. We offer distilleries the convenience of a full-service partnership with the capacity, knowledge, and unparalleled supply chain to meet all of your grain needs.
Our farm’s grain bins are equipped with the latest equilibrium moisture content technology, ensuring ideal storage conditions for all of our grains.
Each of our Distillers Series grains pass through our 50,000 square foot bespoke cold storage facility where the temperature is tightly controlled and never rises above 60℉. In one experiment, we maintained a germination rate of >90% on our malting-quality barley for over two years in this facility.