Kernza - New Grain

[bkboiler]

This is the first time I've heard of it, although I've no doubt it's been in development and growing for a while.

Apparently it's sweet and nutty tasting and a relative of wheat. Has deeper roots and also doesnt need to be replanted annually.

I wonder how a beer made from it would taste...

Kernza-SanDiegoUnionTribune

 

[MaxStout]

I'm reviving this old thread, to post a link to recent article on Kernza. (The link posted by OP is no longer available.)

I couldn't find much info on Kernza malt, if there is such a thing on the market. But it could be a good adjunct to try. Or perhaps a neat home-malting project.

 

[day_trippr]

I can't find word one of anyone actually malting kernza in any volume. Those two Hop Works brews use unmalted kernza.
But...if they can ever get the market scaled up, at least the hulls look quite useful!

 

[MaxStout]

Maybe 10-20% in the mash as an adjunct would add some dimension, and the hulls could help against a stuck sparge.

 

[BongoYodeler]

Maybe 10-20% in the mash as an adjunct would add some dimension, and the hulls could help against a stuck sparge.

Heard about this grain today from a story they did on NPR.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2024-10-14/kernza-sustainable-grain-market-beer

https://www.sustainagrain.com/store/p/brewers-kernza-bl86l

 

[MaxStout]

Heard about this grain today from a story they did on NPR.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2024-10-14/kernza-sustainable-grain-market-beer

https://www.sustainagrain.com/store/p/brewers-kernza-bl86l

That is very cool, thanks for sharing. There is more info now than when I popped into this thread 3 years ago. I looked up kernza on Wiki. Looks like it's getting some attention in my area, with Univ of MN and General Mills getting involved.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Land_Institute#Kernza

Be interesting to know how viable it would be for farmers to grow. Maybe a niche crop? Paging @grampamark.

Might have to get some of the flaked kernza to try as an adjunct.

 

[grampamark]

It looks like a cross between wild oats and cultivated oats. Wild oats are the bane of small grain producers on the northern plains. If kernza is as persistent as wild oats it could be problematic to incorporate into a crop rotation.

 

[bwible]

Troegs was using it in one of their beers 15% of the grain bill:

https://troegs.com/beer/patagonia-p...383264430&mc_cid=c223c18d15&mc_eid=59084d4d8a

 

[day_trippr]

"Grassiness"?

For more than you'd ever want to know about malting kernza there's a 70+ page pdf linked from the kernza.org site that's gotta be the definitive work on the topic.

https://kernza.org/wp-content/uploads/Perennial_Pantry_Malting_Report_2023.pdf

Executive Summary: regardless of how one might want to use it, it's effectively waaay too expensive to use...

Cheers!

 

[MaxStout]

"Grassiness"?

For more than you'd ever want to know about malting kernza there's a 70+ page pdf linked from the kernza.org site that's gotta be the definitive work on the topic.

https://kernza.org/wp-content/uploads/Perennial_Pantry_Malting_Report_2023.pdf

Executive Summary: regardless of how one might want to use it, it's effectively waaay too expensive to use...

Cheers!

It really piqued my interest until I saw the $67 or so for 15 lbs (the smallest qty. they offer) and decided, um, maybe not. If I ever see it sold by some brew supply I might spring for a few pounds just to dabble. Somewhere on the kernza site I read the yield is around 300 lbs/acre. Yeah, pounds. That's what, about 5 bushels? That low yield, coupled with the licensing fees will likely keep the price too high for many small breweries and home brewers. Other breweries will jump on it just to have bragging rights.

I am curious about how it would be in a home brew, but not that curious. I'm too much of a tightwad.

 

[Bramling Cross]

too expensive to use...

Would be great news for the folks behind the Corona Mill. I know it'll plump up a bit when malted, but still...

 

[bwible]

I was looking too at some recipes that had lemongrass. I had a Japanese rice lager with lemongrass from a semi-local micro and thought it was very good.

Lemongrass also seems to be fairly expensive. Thought about trying to grow some,

 

[MikeCo]

I just had a Kernza Lager from this place yesterday. First kernza beer I have had, and it was very good. Somewhat similar to a pils.
https://www.bangbrewing.com/

 

[madscientist451]

I’m too far along as a dedicated cheap skate brewer to use any expensive grain. When it’s similar in price to other available grains, I’ll enthusiastically try some.

 

[sdbbp]

I tried Fieldwork's Kernza lager, also associated with Patagonia. But I gathered it was such a small portion of the grainbill that I didn't get any impression of Kernza.itself.