Kernza in the field.Photo credit: Amy Kammler
Breweries have the power to move the industry towards a greener future by making beer using more renewable and organic ingredients. Patagonia Provisions, the food and beverage division of outdoor apparel company Patagonia, has championed the use of recycled organic ingredients, especially in its Recycled Organic Certification (ROC) Kernza beer.
This advocacy heated up even more last summer when Patagonia Provisions launched a pilot brewery partnership program with 11 independent craft breweries across the United States. The breweries are Allagash Brewing Company, Odell Brewing Company, and Rhinegeist Brewery. Using certified Kernza and organic ingredients, each beer was co-branded with Patagonia Provisions.
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But the regeneration brewing didn’t end there. Aslan Brewing Company, a B Corporation with a USDA-certified organic brewery in Bellingham, Washington, and a participant in last year’s program, has partnered with Patagonia Provisions to create the world’s first Regenerative Organic Certified IPA. I just launched something called.
To achieve Regenerative Organic certification, the world’s highest organic farming standard, the beer had to meet strict requirements regarding soil health, animal welfare and social equity. Along with Patagonia Provisions’ Kernza, Aslan sources certified recycled organic Pilsner malt from Breeze Deep Farm in New York’s Hudson Valley and organic Chinook and Strata hops from Roy Farm in Washington. Masu. The beer (6.6% ABV) boasts bold flavors of berry and pine, with a balanced bitterness and a crisp, refreshing finish. Expect a tropical aroma with hints of sweet orange and berries.
What is Kernza? Developed by the Kansas-based research nonprofit The Land Institute, Kernza is a deeply rooted perennial grain. While most grains are planted and harvested annually, Kernza remains in the ground each year, growing roots up to 12 feet long. Perennial grains like Kernza stabilize the soil, minimize tillage, increase soil organic matter, and improve soil structure and water holding capacity. When used in beer, Kernza adds a deliciously rich but subtle nutty flavor.
Patagonia Provisions is confident that ongoing research will confirm that Kernza captures and stores more carbon in the soil than annual grains. Patagonia Provisions is also considering Republic of China rye and Republic of China barley for future beers.
This year’s Cologne Lager
In April, 10 more breweries joined Patagonia Provisions, joining the movement to expand recycled and organic ingredients, improve soil health, restore ecosystems, and help fight the climate crisis.
Anderson Valley Brewing Company (Booneville, CA) Atlas Brew Works (Washington, DC) Fieldwork Brewing Co. (San Francisco Bay Area, CA) Half Acre Beer Co. (Chicago, IL) Hardywood Park Craft Brewery (Richmond & Charlottesville, VA) Lawson’s Finest Liquids (Waitsfield, VT) Map Brewing Company (Bozeman, MT) Pure Project (San Diego, CA) TALEA Beer Co. (New York, NY) Tröegs Independent Brewing (Hershey, PA)
This year’s releases demonstrate a greater diversity of flavors and an increased focus on organic ingredients.
Kernza Lager from Roadhouse Brewing Co., a Jackson Hole-based B Corp., is brewed with all organic ingredients including Great Western organic barley, organic New Zealand hops and certified organic Kernza. The beer is a crisp, refreshing, light-bodied lager that is easy to drink. Biscuit and bread notes with a light caramel note, complemented by bright orange and citrus peel, perfect for outdoor adventures and celebrating the beauty of nature.
“This beer should be 15% Kernza, but we decided to make it 20%,” says Roadhouse Brewmaster Max Shafer. “We used organic barley from Great Western to create a full-bodied, slightly hoppy lager, and combined it with organic New Zealand hops Moteca and Nelson to give this beer a bit more pop. ”
“At Roadhouse, we have always believed in the power of great beer to bring people together while having a positive impact on the planet,” said Gavin Fine, co-founder of Roadhouse and Pure Madness. “Partnering with Patagonia Provisions allows us to further that mission by demonstrating the potential of regenerative agriculture and highlighting the urgent need for sustainable practices in the brewing industry.”
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In Vermont, Lawson’s Finest Liquids’ Kernza Lager has a spicy, piney aroma with a clean, crisp aftertaste, is easy to drink and love, and has a 5.6% ABV and 27 IBUs.
“Lawson’s Finest is a leader in community giving, environmental initiatives, and employee-first workplace initiatives,” said Paul Lightfoot, general manager of Patagonia Provisions. “We are proud to have Lawson’s Finest as a partner in the movement to use more organic and renewable ingredients in beer.”
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In San Diego, Pure Project is introducing Kernza Lager, brewed using organic Admiral Pils malt from Admiral Maltings, organic Motueka hops from NZ Hops, and certified organic Kernza. The beer is light and refreshing, with aromas of fresh bread and toasted coconut, and flavors of bright citrus zest and brioche.
“At Pure Project, we have always believed that beer is an agricultural product,” says Pure Project co-founder and brewer Winslow Sawyer. “With a background in sustainable agriculture, I am particularly excited about this partnership with Patagonia Provisions. This is an opportunity to move towards brewing with better organic and recycled ingredients.”
To date, partner breweries have sourced over 50,000 pounds of certified organic ingredients, including 12,000 pounds of ROC Kernza. Due to increased consumer demand for Kernza Lager nationwide, the limited supply of ROC Kernza is nearly fully utilized. Other partner breweries are even transitioning to certified organic Kernza until his next ROC Kernza harvest is available in 2025.
meet the farmers
ROC Kernza is sourced from A-Frame Farm and Prairie Grass Ranch. Farmer Luke Peterson and his wife Ali own and operate his 1,200-acre ROC farm, his A-Frame Farm, in Dawson, Minnesota. There, the grain is grown without the use of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, or other growth-promoting chemicals. Inhibitor.
Family-owned Prairie Grass Ranch is a 7,400-acre ROC crop and livestock operation located in the foothills of the Bear’s Paw Mountains in north-central Montana. His fourth-generation ranchers, Jody Manuel and Crystal Manuel, and their children grow Kernza alongside perennial crops, and their herd of grass-fed cattle is part of the integrated farm. It functions as an integral part of the system. Both farms are part of Perennial, a farmer-driven ingredients company working to expand the impact of Kernza by helping more farmers grow Kernza and ensuring high-quality products for the brands that source Kernza.・Be a member of Promise Growers Cooperative.
Through our partnership with Mad Agriculture, cooperative Kernza farmers can now expand their cultivation operations and connect with more brands like Patagonia Provisions.
