There are plenty of new beers on the market these days, but the unique new Long Root Ale, which Hopworks introduced on Monday, October 3rd., comes from a partnership of Patagonia Provisions and Hopworks Urban Brewery, and it has a cool story behind it. Long Root is unique: it’s a pale ale brewed with a grain used for the first time as a beer ingredient. Long Root Ale is made with a blend of organic malted barley, organic yeast, organic Chinook, Mosaic and Crystal hops, and unmalted Kernza, a perennial grain derived from an ancient form of wheatgrass. Kernza creates a long, deep root system, and is a grain source that can be grown without pesticides. Its perennial nature means that it can be grown using regenerative agricultural practices. Patagonia Provisions and Hopworks are working as a partnership of two B Corporations, or for-profit companies certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Patagonia Provisions got the ball rolling by contacting Hopworks with a proposal to brew a beer with this unique grain, and the resulting Long Root Ale is a pleasantly balanced, gently spicy pale ale with a wheat-like crispness that comes from the Kernza. It’s available on draft and in 16-ounce cans. Branded growlers from Miir are also available with Long Root Ale.
At the Long Root Ale media preview, Hopworks’ John Gossi explained the story behind the beer, while Justin Miller explained the technical challenges of using a new variety of an unmalted wheatgrass grain to brew the beer.
John Grossi at Hopworks
Justin Miller at Hopworks
Kernza grains
Patagonia Provisions has also put up a nifty video featuring Hopworks’ owner Christian Ettinger and the story of how Long Root Ale came to be.
Here is the full Long Root Ale press release from Patagonia Provisions.
Patagonia Provisions, in partnership with Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) in Portland, Oregon, today announced the launch of Long Root Ale, a Northwest-Style Pale Ale made with organic ingredients and Kernza perennial grain. Looking for solutions to repair the food systems that sustain us, Long Root Ale represents another step towards transforming agricultural practices and supporting sustainable farming.
Patagonia Provisions’ friends and partners at The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas have made a major breakthrough in organic regenerative agriculture with Kernza, the perennial grain used in Long Root Ale. Kernza grain is ideally suited for organic regenerative agriculture – its long roots and perennial growth allow it to thrive without pesticides, it uses less water than conventional wheat, helps to reduce erosion and removes more carbon from the atmosphere than annual grains. And it just so happens to make delicious beer. Patagonia Provisions believes the future of farming, and our planet, lies in organic regenerative agriculture – a practice that restores soil biodiversity, sequesters carbon and grows crops all without chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
“Beer holds a critical role in society and history. It is the center of many tables, uniting us with its common language,” notes Birgit Cameron, sr. director of Patagonia Provisions. “With its wonderful tradition and history of bringing people together, Patagonia Provisions saw an opportunity to use such a widely influential product to tell the story of organic regenerative agriculture, via Kernza, to a wide swath of people with a product we can all enjoy and get behind. All it takes is a small tweak in the way we make our beer to effect big change – we are hoping this message reaches the big brewers of the world.”
A refreshing pale ale, Long Root Ale is made with organic two-row barley, organic yeast and a blend of organic Northwest hops, resulting in a beer with resinous, grapefruit hop aromas and flavor and a balanced maltiness. The addition of 15 percent Kernza adds a slight spiciness to the dry, crisp finish. Long Root Ale represents the first commercial use of Kernza, and a strong step toward changing the way we grow and produce food.
Patagonia Provisions chose Hopworks Urban Brewery to create Long Root Ale due to its strong commitment to organics and sustainable brewing practices. Hopworks, experts in organic beer, is a B Corporation and is on a mission to revolutionize the brewing industry for the better.
“Working with Patagonia Provisions on Long Root Ale is the highest honor,” notes Christian Ettinger, founder and brewmaster of Hopworks Urban Brewery. “Kernza adds great flavors to this delicious Pale Ale. It also offers attractive agricultural benefits like substantial water reduction. Kernza is really paving the way for future discussions with other commodity grains that we use to brew. As organic brewers we are really excited about the ‘grain to glass’ model and Long Root Ale is just that.”
Long Root Ale will be available in 16 oz cans in Whole Foods Market locations and other retailers in California, Oregon, and Washington beginning October 3, 2016. In addition, both Hopworks locations will serve the beer on draft, as will the Miir Flagship Store in Seattle. For more information and to find Long Root Ale near you, visit longrootale.com.
“We love Patagonia Provisions’ efforts to find solutions for responsibly sourced food,” said Claude Ruau-Choate, specialty coordinator, Whole Foods Market Southern Pacific Region. “And what better way to raise awareness about organic regenerative agriculture and Kernza grain than through a delicious pale ale. We’re thrilled to be the first retailer to carry this beer.”
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