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Barley Variety Field Day
July 18, 2017 @ 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Ground to Glass: Evaluation of Barley Varieties for Craft Brewing, Distilling and Malting
An On-Farm Field Day
Event Details
Registration opens at 4pm prior to the tour. Light refreshments will be served. Dress appropriately for summer heat with hat, sunglasses, sunscreen. There is no registration fee.
Please RSVP to Stephen Bramwell, Thurston Co. Extension: bramwell@wsu.edu 360.867.2161
Come learn about grain production in western Washington, and varieties being evaluated in a field-scale 4.5-acre replicated trial at Hidden River Farms. Nine varieties/breeding lines are being evaluated for valuable agronomic (yield, leaf rust) and end-use qualities important for malting, brewing and distilling. Varieties are also being evaluated for feed quality. Hidden River Farms is an 88-acre organic, integrated grain-hog operation. Hogs are pasture-raised and fed barley, wheat and peas grown on site. Grain is raised organically on Nisqually silt-loam soil along the Wynoochee River outside of Montensano, WA.
Participants will learn about:
Field-scale performance of new barley breeding lines for western Washington
Farmer experiences growing grain for feed in western Washington
Barley breeding lines specifically suited to the needs of craft brewers, micro-maltsters, and local distillers
Distiller and brewer perspectives on regional grain production
Current information on impact of grain variety on spirit flavor attributes, and how this study is contributing to this research
Potential for developing locally-distinctive whiskey
Evan Mulvaney (Hidden River Farms) owns and operates Hidden River Farms. Stephen Bramwell (Ag Extension, WSU) coordinates field research in Thurston County. Kevin Murphy (Crop & Soil Sciences, WSU) is the Barley and Alternative Crop Breeder at WSU. Tom Collins (Wine & Distillate Science Specialist, WSU) is an expert in chemical analyses of the distilling process at the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, WSU Richland Wine Science Center.
Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence
of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office. Reasonable accommodations
will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact Stephen Bramwell;
360.867.2161; bramwell@wsu.edu at least two weeks prior to the
event.