You have probably never heard of Kernza. Aslan Brewing and Patagonia (yes, that Patagonia) would like to change that. The Bellingham-based brewery just created a beer using an interesting, innovative grain called Kenza®.
Working with Patagonia Provisions, the food & beverage division of the famed outdoor apparel manufacturer, Aslan Brewing created Kernza Lager. The beer benefits Surfrider Foundation, a local organization that works to make the Pacific Northwest a better, cleaner place to live through the protection of the world’s oceans, waves, and beaches.
Kernza® is described as a deeply-rooted regenerative perennial grain that has the potential to transform the brewing industry. It stabilizes soil, requires minimal tilling, increases soil organic matter, and improves soil structure and water-holding capacity. So, more than transforming the brewing industry, it is a sustainable and eco-beneficial grain, to the nth degree. Its role in the future of farming and food remains to be seen, but it is promising.
The hop bill for Aslan’s Kernza Lager includes Chinook and Pekko hops. The grain bill includes Pilsner malt as well as Regenerative Organic Certified® Kernza®. In beer, Kernza is said to provide a rich but subtle nutty flavor. The brewery will begin distributing the beer regionally starting June 27th.
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Here is the official press release from Aslan Brewing.
Aslan Brewing Company & Patagonia Introduce a Lager Brewed with Regenerative Organic Certified® Kernza®
Patagonia is teaming up with Aslan Brewing Company to brew a delicious beer that helps restore our home planet
Bellingham, WA | June 27, 2023 — Aslan Brewing Company is introducing a Kernza® Lager in partnership with Patagonia Provisions, the food and beverage business of outdoor apparel company Patagonia. Brewed with Chinook and Pekko hops, Pilsner malt, and Regenerative Organic Certified® Kernza, Aslan’s Kernza Lager is a bright, easy-drinking, organic pilsner with a slightly nutty malt characteristic provided by Kernza®. It’s perfectly balanced by the lemon-forward, piney, and floral notes from the hops.
Kernza® Lager is part of Patagonia’s newest program with 11 independent US craft breweries to introduce lager-style beers brewed with Regenerative Organic Certified® Kernza® and organic ingredients. Each brewery partner’s beer will be unique, exclusive to its geography, Patagonia-branded, and available regionally starting June 27th. The objective of the Patagonia beer partnership program is to scale regenerative farming practices and perennial ingredients that improve soil health, restore ecosystems, and help fight the climate crisis.
Kernza®, a deeply-rooted regenerative perennial grain, has the potential to transform the brewing industry. Kernza® stabilizes soil, requires minimal tilling, increases soil organic matter, and improves soil structure and water-holding capacity. Patagonia is confident that ongoing research will also confirm that Kernza® draws down and stores more carbon in the soil than annual grains. When used in beer, it adds a deliciously rich but subtle nutty flavor. The Regenerative Organic Certified® Kernza® used in Aslan’s Kernza Lager is sourced from A-Frame Farm, a 1,200-acre Regenerative Organic Certified® farm in Madison, Minnesota.
Participating breweries and Patagonia will each contribute 1% of Patagonia beer sales to a local non-profit that supports environmental initiatives and meets 1% for the Planet eligibility criteria. Aslan’s Kernza Lager will benefit Surfrider Foundation’s Northwest Straits Chapter, to help in making the Pacific Northwest a better, cleaner place to live through the protection of the world’s oceans, waves, and beaches.
“We’ve really looked forward to partnering with Patagonia Provisions, a company with similar values of protecting our planet through the production of high-quality goods made from organic ingredients,” says Aslan’s Marketing Director, Georgi Shillington. “Our Kernza® Lager is 100% organic, like all of our beers, but we are thrilled to be using a Regenerative Organic Certified® perennial grain for the first time! This beer is helping us lead the brewing industry into actively fighting the climate crisis and we hope to see a growth in organic brewing practices in the future.”
“Patagonia is thrilled to partner with Aslan Brewing Company, a Certified B Corporation that brews certified organic craft beers,” says Paul Lightfoot, Patagonia Provision’s General Manager. “Craft beer drinkers want delicious, high-quality beer made with clean ingredients that are better for the planet, and we look forward to bringing that beer to Patagonia customers with Aslan in Washington.”
For more news about recent beer releases, visit the Washington Beer Blog’s New Beer Releases page.
