Open sourcing our heritage grain project

[homemaltster]

Last year, my brewing partner and I started growing out some heritage barley varieties to explore new (but actually old) malt flavors. In the true spirit of home brewing, we want to make this an open source endeavor, which means we’re looking for collaboration from the HBT community.

We think barley has the potential to match the diversity of flavors and options offered by hops, but work is required to find out. Heritage seed only exists in very small quantities, and we need to increase seed stocks in order to malt and brew them.

If you’re into it, or at least curious, you can find out the details in this article.

 

[cyberbackpacker]

Kudos to you and this great project; if I any part of my property got more than a few hours of partial sun, I would be all over this!

 

[homemaltster]

Yeah we had that problem too. We were able to find a nearby community garden with plenty of sunshine to grow our varieties last year. So that's always an option.

 

[cyberbackpacker]

Hmm, great idea on the community garden; I will explore that possibility and be in touch!

 

[MaryB]

Once you pick varieties for production check with the MN organic growers association. Guys who farm 2 sides of my property are all organic and have grown barley in the past. I will think it over joining up... I have space where I put in a new garage that is full sun and mostly weeds... I could kill it off with black plastic this spring and put in 3 mini raised beds... each 4x8 foot minimum(maybe 4x16 each, I have to measure the space) Main garden doesn't quite get full sun, shade after 3 pm...

 

[homemaltster]

Once you pick varieties for production check with the MN organic growers association.

MaryB, could you elaborate more on this? Check with the organic growers association to try to get the seed certified organic?

 

[MaryB]

No many of them are willing to grow odd varieties if there is a market even if it is small. It is a possible source for growers in commercial quantities.

 

[homemaltster]

No many of them are willing to grow odd varieties if there is a market even if it is small. It is a possible source for growers in commercial quantities.

Gotcha. That's a great idea, and exactly what we'd need to get heritage varieties on the production level