You might think about beer in terms of style (Lager, IPA, Porter), ABV, maybe hop profile if you’re getting nerdy. But when’s the last time you really thought about the grain that goes into your beer, the specific variety of wheat?
Let’s talk about a beer that I’m so excited we carry in our cooler, a beer that’s all about the grain! Enter: Deschutes Kernza® Lager.
Kernza® is a perennial grain, developed by the Land Institute in Kansas and pioneered by farmers across the midwest. Nearly all grains grown in the midwest are annual crops, which means that farmers need to till their soil and replant every single growing season to accommodate for the new year’s crops. Kernza®, however, is a perennial. It’s roots reach up to 10 feet deep in the soil (pictured here) – establishing strong crops and reducing soil degradation. In a country and economy where we’re so often prioritizing efficiency and quantity over quality, it’s not easy for farmers to justify growing a grain like Kernza®. The crop is still relatively new, the yield is lower than conventional wheat, crop insurance is harder to come by. But this grain is a step in the right direction to promote soil health, regenerate our farms, and minimize human intervention in the fields.
Deschutes Kernza® Lager (+ N/A Kernza® Golden & N/A Kernza® IPA) in our beer cooler, is brewed through a partnership with Patagonia Provisions, a subset of the Patagonia brand providing support to breweries around the country who opt to brew with this perennial grain.
Kernza® has a sweet, nutty flavor that shows in this lager. It’s an easy drinking beer that’s bright, crisp, and crowd pleasing. But even more than that: this is a beer that supports small scale farmers who are working hard to improve soil health and regenerate their land. I hope you’ll try it!
