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| Courtesy of Danny Hedden |
Long Root Ale is the first commercially available beer to be made with
Kernza via organic regenerative agricultural practices; now available at
Whole Foods Market stores in California, Oregon and Washington.
SAUSALITO, California. (October 3, 2016) – 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.
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| Kenza Farmer - Courtesy of Jim Richardson |
“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.
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| Courtesy of Amy Kumler |
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 in California, Oregon and Washington beginning October 3,
2016. In addition, select Whole Foods Market bar-restaurants and 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.”
About Patagonia Provisions
In 2012, Yvon Chouinard launched Patagonia Provisions to offer ethically
and sustainably sourced delicious food products. Patagonia Provisions,
based in Sausalito, California, is reexamining best practices in food
sourcing, working with like-minded advocates and producers to find
solutions to the important environmental issues facing the food
industry. Wild Lummi Island Pink Salmon complements Patagonia
Provisions’ growing line including Buffalo Jerky, fully cooked Wild
Sockeye Salmon, Tsampa Soup, Green Lentil Soup, Black Bean Soup and
three flavors of Fruit + Nut Bars.
About Hopworks Urban Brewery
Hopworks Urban Brewer
y strives to revolutionize and
inspire the brewing industry with practices that drive quality, protect
the environment and improve the community we live in. Utilizing organic
malts and a combination of locallysourced, organic and Salmon Safe hops,
the company’s 20-barrel brewery produces 13,500 barrels of beer and
cider ayear for HUB’s brewpubs and for distribution throughout the Northwest.
Hopworks is a family-owned and operated business, the first Certified B
Corporation brewery in the Pacific Northwest, a gold-level bike friendly
business, and is recognized as one of the Best Green Companies To Work
For In Oregon.
