The Rural Voice, 2003-09, Page 10CANADIAN
CO-OPERATIVE
WOOL GROWERS
LIMITED
iRl.
+r--.rti
'ktt•S fir
Now Available
WOOL ADVANCE PAYMENTS
Skirted Fleeces
Well -Packed Sacks
For more information contact:
WINGHAM
WOOL DEPOT
John Farrell
R.R. 2, Wingham, Ontario
Phone/Fax 519-357-1058
6 THE RURAL VOICE
Robert Mercer
Winter malting - barleg venture in B.C.
Robert
Mercer was
editor.of the
Broadwater
Market Letter
and
commentator
for 25 years.
It is a long time since any winter
barley has been grown on Vancouver
Island for malting purposes, but a
young producer is giving it a shot
from seed to brewpub sale.
I haven't tried the beer yet, but the
brew master at the pub says it is their
flagship ale and is their best seller.
The variety of barley and the malting
process used, produces what is called
a blonde ale. The brew master says it
reflects a taste that is palatable to the
widest selection of people.
Michael Doehnel is starting out
with about 20 acres of barley selected
from aN old crop strain such as that
used in Europe or the Southern
States. It is a winter two -row barley
that has met with success so far, and
which Michael is trying to get more
growers to seed.
Michael started this project just
six years ago with little knowledge of
the grain production process. His
background is in the hotel business.
However, he has now developed the
knowledge to produce what he says is
one of the best tasting beers from his
malting barley. This is partly due to
his malting program, the climate, soil,
seed and production process that he
had developed.
The Saanich Peninsula is one of
the mildest climates in Canada and
where he grows the barley the
weather is perfect for moisture,
harvest dryness and the lack of
humidity to keep rust problems to a
minimum.
He says that his production
technique is not quite organic but he
is working towards that goal.
With good winter and spring rains,
(about 500 mm/year) a dry spring and
summer, he finds that he has a wide
window of opportunity for timing
both his seeding and his harvest. The
grain comes off almost dry (12 - 14
per cent moisture) and there is no
need for commercial drying. With the
low humidity there is little to no need
for fungicide applications.
On the Saanich Peninsula he finds
that his biggest problem is not weeds,
rust or fertility — it is geese. The
Canada Geese are completely out of
control according to Michael. They
feed on his barley from first leaf to
harvest.
The dry summer gives the grain a
low protein content, and thus a high
carbohydrate level which is good in
the malting process where starch is
turned into sugars for fermentation.
He does not irrigate and is aiming for
a crop goal of two tonnes per acre.
He sold all his crop last year, at
the first stages of malting, to the
brewpub in Naniamo. At the
Longwood Brewpub they say that
they would take more of his malt if it
was available.
Michael does not do the malting
himself, but has Garmbrinus Malting
in Armstrong, BC malt the grain to
the kilned stage to meet his
requirements.
Michael is now living out his
dream. As an employee of the hotel
industry he has watched the market
for beer from the other side. Now he
wants to go the whole way himself.
produce, malt, brew and eventually
brand his own beer. This is indeed
vertical integration with product
identification from farm to the
branded consumer product.
Six years into the project, still part
time in the hotel business, Michael is
seeing his project come to life. It
tastes good.0
Deadline for the
October issue
of The Rural Voice is
September 17, 2003
J.R. FARMS
EAST FRIESIAN
DAIRY SHEEP
4
t.t, �
•
b �
..✓ 4L 7
,*t 5u /y�fyJ3
> Breeding Stock and FI crosses
> Milk production records
available
> Closed Flock, Maedi -Visna
OPP - negative
> Economically priced
BILL AND LAURA MCKAY
RR 2 Tavistock, ON
NOB 2R0
(519) 462-1446
e-mail: jrdairysheep@execulink.com
CANADIAN
CO-OPERATIVE
WOOL GROWERS
LIMITED
iRl.
+r--.rti
'ktt•S fir
Now Available
WOOL ADVANCE PAYMENTS
Skirted Fleeces
Well -Packed Sacks
For more information contact:
WINGHAM
WOOL DEPOT
John Farrell
R.R. 2, Wingham, Ontario
Phone/Fax 519-357-1058
6 THE RURAL VOICE
Robert Mercer
Winter malting - barleg venture in B.C.
Robert
Mercer was
editor.of the
Broadwater
Market Letter
and
commentator
for 25 years.
It is a long time since any winter
barley has been grown on Vancouver
Island for malting purposes, but a
young producer is giving it a shot
from seed to brewpub sale.
I haven't tried the beer yet, but the
brew master at the pub says it is their
flagship ale and is their best seller.
The variety of barley and the malting
process used, produces what is called
a blonde ale. The brew master says it
reflects a taste that is palatable to the
widest selection of people.
Michael Doehnel is starting out
with about 20 acres of barley selected
from aN old crop strain such as that
used in Europe or the Southern
States. It is a winter two -row barley
that has met with success so far, and
which Michael is trying to get more
growers to seed.
Michael started this project just
six years ago with little knowledge of
the grain production process. His
background is in the hotel business.
However, he has now developed the
knowledge to produce what he says is
one of the best tasting beers from his
malting barley. This is partly due to
his malting program, the climate, soil,
seed and production process that he
had developed.
The Saanich Peninsula is one of
the mildest climates in Canada and
where he grows the barley the
weather is perfect for moisture,
harvest dryness and the lack of
humidity to keep rust problems to a
minimum.
He says that his production
technique is not quite organic but he
is working towards that goal.
With good winter and spring rains,
(about 500 mm/year) a dry spring and
summer, he finds that he has a wide
window of opportunity for timing
both his seeding and his harvest. The
grain comes off almost dry (12 - 14
per cent moisture) and there is no
need for commercial drying. With the
low humidity there is little to no need
for fungicide applications.
On the Saanich Peninsula he finds
that his biggest problem is not weeds,
rust or fertility — it is geese. The
Canada Geese are completely out of
control according to Michael. They
feed on his barley from first leaf to
harvest.
The dry summer gives the grain a
low protein content, and thus a high
carbohydrate level which is good in
the malting process where starch is
turned into sugars for fermentation.
He does not irrigate and is aiming for
a crop goal of two tonnes per acre.
He sold all his crop last year, at
the first stages of malting, to the
brewpub in Naniamo. At the
Longwood Brewpub they say that
they would take more of his malt if it
was available.
Michael does not do the malting
himself, but has Garmbrinus Malting
in Armstrong, BC malt the grain to
the kilned stage to meet his
requirements.
Michael is now living out his
dream. As an employee of the hotel
industry he has watched the market
for beer from the other side. Now he
wants to go the whole way himself.
produce, malt, brew and eventually
brand his own beer. This is indeed
vertical integration with product
identification from farm to the
branded consumer product.
Six years into the project, still part
time in the hotel business, Michael is
seeing his project come to life. It
tastes good.0
Deadline for the
October issue
of The Rural Voice is
September 17, 2003