Patagonia Provisions and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Partner on Kernza Pils

Patagonia Provisions enters into a new arrangement with Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in creating a new German-Style Pilsner, Kernza Pils, utilizing the perennial grain of Kernza. Kernza is a remarkable perennial grain that draws down carbon from the atmosphere and sequesters it in the ground. Kernza Pils will soon see national distribution in six-pack, 12oz cans and on draft.

The use of using Kernza, a wheat grass in brewing is not new. Over five years ago, Patagonia Provisions in partnership with Portland, Oregon’s Hopworks Urban Brewery launched the first Kernza beer with Long Root Pale Ale that saw distribution along the West Coast of America. A few years later the pair launched Long Root Wit and then Long Root IPA. We were told that these three beers brewed by Hopworks will continue on for the Asian market and will be available locally at the local Hopworks locations.

The new Kernza Pils is a nice new addition to this lineup that will soon see distribution throughout the United States. It’ll become the most widely distributed Kernza-based beers on the market and marks a significant shift towards a more climate-friendly brewing industry.

Kernza Pils is a nice, approachable Pilsner. Noting fancy, just a crisp Pils that sits at an approachable 5% ABV that’s sure to entice both craft beer drinkers and folks that are looking to support a more sustainable beverage.

Here are additional details from the brewery’s press release…

In 2008, The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas, made a breakthrough in regenerative agriculture with the development of a perennial grain called Kernza. Whereas most grains are planted and harvested annually, Kernza stays in the ground year after year, developing roots up to 12 feet long. Perennial crops like Kernza are beneficial to the environment; they protect soil from erosion and improve soil structure. They increase ecosystem nutrient retention, carbon sequestration, and can contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation. And in the case of Kernza, they lend a uniquely nutty flavor that makes a delicious beer. The Patagonia Provisions and Dogfish Head collaborative launch of Kernza Pils marks an important milestone in scaling Kernza.

Kernza Pils (5.0% ABV) is an earthy, aromatic and notably refreshing pilsner brewed with organic malted barley, organic Contessa hops (a newly organic certified hop variety), and of course, Kernza perennial grain. The melodic interplay of the Kernza and Contessa hops provide the beer with its distinct flavor profile; the Kernza adds a subtle, spicy warmth to the beer, while the organic Contessa hops, with notes of pear and green tea, give it a bright, floral character and uniquely crisp, clean drinkability.

“We create each of our products with a solutions-based mindset, discovering and incorporating ingredients that help to solve the environmental crisis,” says Birgit Cameron, co-founder and head of Patagonia Provisions. “Together with Dogfish Head, we’re able to spotlight the important and pioneering work of The Land Institute. By creating market pull for a regenerative crop like Kernza perennial grain, we hope to incentivize farmers and brewers to shift in this direction and to further our commitment to being in business to save our home planet.”

The launch of Kernza Pils represents the collective action of Patagonia Provisions and Dogfish Head taking steps towards scaling regenerative crops to inspire change in the brewing industry. Patagonia Provisions believes the future of farming, and our planet, lies in regenerative and organic agriculture – a practice that restores soil biodiversity, sequesters carbon and grows crops without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Similarly, Dogfish Head is committed to continuing to amplify its use of regeneratively and organically-grown brewing ingredients.

“Dogfish Head first brewed a beer with organic ingredients in 1995, when we used an organic Mexican coffee to create our Chicory Stout,” said Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head founder & brewer. “Since then, we have brewed countless beers with organic and regenerative ingredients, and have partnered with numerous organizations committed to addressing climate change and other environmental issues, like The Nature Conservancy, to whom we have donated more than $1M collectively since 2007. While Dogfish Head has always been focused on introducing high-quality culinary ingredients into the brewing process in creative ways, this partnership with Patagonia Provisions allows us to shine a spotlight on Kernza, a hardworking grain that not only TASTES good but DOES good.”

“Diverse perennial grain agriculture holds great promise to reverse and regenerate the degradation of the soils, resources and species upon which human life depends,” said Rachel Stroer, president of The Land Institute. “But the true power of perennial grains will only be realized when grown on the landscape at scale. Partners like Patagonia Provisions and Dogfish Head are leading the movement to get perennial crops, like Kernza, on more acres across the country. When it comes to perennials, more is better.”

Find Kernza Pils at Where Can I Buy Patagonia Provisions Beer? or Fish Finder. For more information, please visit www.patagoniaprovisions.com and www.dogfishhead.com