b'whiskies include a Single Cask and a Red Wine flavour and pale colour. German versions tend to have Barrel Aged.banana and clove flavours, while Belgian wheat beers are Last Mountain Head Distiller and General Manager offlavoured with coriander and orange. Operations Braeden Raiwet explains that when the ownersCraft Beer, a website dedicated to showcasing the dif-Colin and Meredith Schmidt started the distillery, theyferences among beers, describes American wheat beers did some experimenting with different grains to see whatas among the most approachable beers in the craft beer flavor profile they liked bestand wheat won the day.world because without access to the specialty Bavarian The wheat gives the whisky a sweeter and smootherweizen yeast, American brewers of wheat beer were forced taste than something like a rye grain, he says. Havingto use clean-fermenting American ale and lager yeast. The easy access to wheat right in our backyardour wheatAmerican wheats composition gives it a particu-comes from a farmer about 40 km down the roadis anlarly inviting style, accepting of additional added bonus. ingredients, particularly raspberries, He notes that wheat mash doesnt become overly thickwatermelon and even chilis.like rye mash, which makes it bit more forgiving and easier to work with. Raiwet adds that for an unmalted grain, it actually ferments quite well, and we get fairly decent conversion out of it. The wheat is also a bit softer than something like an unmalted rye, which helps to speed up the grind-ing process.Getting Creative with VodkaStill in Saskatchewan, there are at least two other wheat vodka makers, both with unusual products. Lucky Bastard Distillers makes a Rhubarb Vodka and Stumbletown Distilling has created the first spirit in the world made from 100% locally-grown Saskatchewan Purple Wheat. Its Purple Wheat Vodka won the Platinum Award at SIP Awards 2019. Stumbletown owner Craig Holland notes that a lot of vodkas are made of wheat, but any grain can be used. Stumbletown had never made vodka but decided to go for it after hearing about SK Purple. Were all about trying new things, and this wheat seemed to be a good opportunity, Holland says. Its hard to be creative about vodka. Its sup-posed to be an odourless and tasteless spirit, but each grain does provide a little flavour, and we do have a lot of flavour in this one. Its got a really smooth mouthfeel and can be enjoyed on ice. Weve also done an oaked version limited edition, and its just about gone. The release of Stumbletowns Purple Wheat Vodka has resulted in a lot of media attention. Holland says theyve gotten requests for shipping it all over the world. We may ship it in future, but right now its only avail-able within the province, he says. We may do a purple wheat whisky at some point in the future. A Beer of Many NamesNo matter what its calledwitbier, weissbier, weizewheat beer is a very old beverage, as old as perhaps 2,000 years. Wheat beer is generally bubbly with a unique tangy NOVEMBER 2020 GERMINATION.CA 49'