Can Long Root Ale by Hopworks Urban Brewery and Patagonia Provisions Save Our Environment?

Hopworks Urban Brewery’s Long Root Ale is a new beer made from a grain that’s a whole lot nicer for our planet. Continue reading to learn how this beer could potentially help save the environment.

By Mairyn Chorney on Jun. 11, 2018

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Patagonia Provisions and Hopworks Urban Brewery have come together to create a beer that contains ingredients that could have a huge impact on the environment.

What is Kernza? Long Root Ale’s Environment Saving Ingredient

Long Root Ale is a beer made from a new breed of wheatgrass called Kernza.
This new beer ingredient can regrow itself instead of having to be sown every season, which can help reduce erosion. Since Kernza also doesn’t require annual tilling, they retain more carbon, which
arguably lessens the effects of climate change. Because of it’s 10 foot roots, Kernza requires less water and can thrive without the use of pesticides.

Long Root Ale by Hopworks Urban Brewery

Aside from Kernza, Long Root Ale also uses organic yeast, organic two-row barley, and a blend of organic Northwest hops. The 5.5 ABV% blend results in a beer that has tastes and aromas of grapefruit and balanced maltiness. Long Root Ale also holds a slight spicy taste, thanks to the Kernza.

Video: Patagonia Provisions & Hopworks Urban Brewery — The Making of Long Root Ale

How Can Kernza in Beer Help the Environment?

The use of Kernza in Long Root Ale opens the door to new possibilities when it comes to the future grains breweries use in the brewing process. Patagonia Provisions hopes to take Kernza beer to the next level by partnering with larger breweries around the world. With more demand, the more farmers will turn to Kernza. Even if only a small percentage of farmers begin growing Kernza, the impact could be significant.

Kernza’s dense root system grows up to 10 feet down into the Earth, allowing it to react to changes in temperature and soil quickly. Unlike annual wheat, that doesn’t live long enough to develop thick roots, Kernza is a perennial grain whose long roots allow it to hold soil in place and prevent erosion.
As of now, Long Root Ale is sold in four-packs of 16oz cans in select retailers currently limited to California, Oregon, and Washington as well as on draft at both Hopworks locations.

For more information about Long Root Ale, visit the official website.

Thanks for reading about Long Root Ale! For more updates on the beer industry, check out these links:

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