Blog

The new Asahi Beverages agreement also shows the commitment of Australian farmers to the production of high quality and sustainably grown barley.

Some of Australia’s most popular beers, Asahi drinksis brewed for the first time in decades with barley purchased directly from Australian farmers. The first batch of new beers will roll off the line next month.

The new supply chain gives the company, which owns Carlton & United Breweries, clear control over the barley growing process to ensure that only the best barley is used for brewing beers such as Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draft, Great Northern and Pure blonde.

Under the new contract, barley purchased directly from farmers will be shipped from farms to the company’s breweries in Yatala, Queensland or Abbotsford, Victoria before being shipped to Australia as beer.

The new agreement also shows the commitment of Australian farmers to the production of high quality and sustainably grown barley.

More than 30 Victorian farmers in the barley growing areas of the Wimmera and Mallee were hired and their 30,000 tons of barley were sent to Abbotsford Brewery after it was malted.

And seven farmers from southern NSW will deliver 40,000 tons of barley to Asahi’s Yatala Brewery in Queensland once it’s malted. Growers in northern New South Wales are expected to join the program ahead of this year’s harvest. The first beers with the barley bought directly will be brewed in Abbotsford and Yatala in April.

The new supply chain means that more than 90% of Asahi Beverages’ barley is purchased directly from farmers in accordance with our quality and sustainability requirements. The program is then to be expanded to Asahi Beverages’ smaller breweries, including Cascade in Hobart.

Jaideep Chandrasekharan, Chief Brewer of the Asahi Beverages Group, said: “Barley malt is the heart and soul of beer and has a decisive influence on its taste, color, aroma and foam. Australian malt barley is of the highest quality and sourcing directly from farmers is an important change to our national operations and also to the dozen of farmers we will be purchasing from.

“Under the old model, the grains we bought were generally not segregated, but this program allows us to track the origin of the barley used to brew our main beers and gives us direct relationships with more farmers.

“Farmers will grow barley according to our strict quality program, monitor quality parameters such as protein content and grain size, and link farm practices to beer quality. We will also track water use and other agricultural inputs to ensure our barley helps us meet our sustainability goals.

“Until recently, Australia didn’t have the know-how to develop and maintain a complex program like this on a large scale. Now we’re working with supply chain managers Origin Trail and Pure Grain to bring it to life . “

Barley is one of the four main ingredients of beer, along with hops, yeast and water. Asahi Beverages, who developed the new direct sourcing program after purchasing CUB last year, buys more than 70,000 tons of it annually before turning it into malt ready for brewing.

Farmer John Bennett, whose barley farm in Victoria’s West Wimmera now supplies Asahi Beverages directly, said: “The new program connects our farm directly with Asahi Beverages. This relationship gives us a better understanding of their strict quality parameters and ensures that we are supplying the highest quality barley for their brewing process. Buying barley directly not only benefits farmers, but also the communities in which we live. “

Andrew Weidemann AM, Chairman of Grain Producers Australia, said: “Barley farmers have faced many challenges in recent years. So it’s fantastic to see a program like this one. With the knowledge and experience of Asahi Beverages, the program will help ensure that the crops are grown sustainably and that farmers can grow new varieties that can open up more international markets for them, which is particularly timely. Aussie farmers have always prided themselves on growing the products found in Australia’s iconic beers, but this direct connection makes it even better. Cheers to Asahi Beverages for the introduction. “