A reality that’s rarely discussed among beer lovers: There is a ton of waste when it comes to brewing. It’s a process that requires large quantities of water, as well as many acres of grains and hops. Patagonia wants to tackle the beer industry’s environmental apathy in the same way it has with gear: by creating demand for premium products, made sustainably.
To do that, the outdoors company and its recently established food department, Patagonia Provisions, have partnered with Hopworks Urban Brewery in Portland, Oregon, for the launch of Long Root Ale. It’s a pale ale made with Kernza, a perennial grain developed in Kansas by the Land Institute, which uses less water than traditional brewing grains and removes more carbon from the air. It also grows roots deep into the soil, allowing topsoil to go undisturbed, which helps to prevent erosion. The beer goes further, though, brewed with organic hops (Chinook, Mosaic and Crystal), organic yeast and organic two-row barley. And, yes, it’s delicious.
ABV: 5.5%
Style: American pale ale
Distribution: California, Washington and Oregon
