University of Minnesota researchers are working to cure disease, protect the environment, and develop breakthrough technologies. They’re also working to craft the next great beer. In addition to being avid home brewers, many are experts in growing the best barley and hops, and educating the public on the art and science of beer.
Hops happy
Minnesota had 39 active brewer permits in 2010, according to the Minnesota Craft Brewer’s Guild, and the future of the state’s craft beer industry looks bright.
While most commercial hops are currently grown in Washington, Idaho and Oregon, a research team at the U of M and a quarter-acre of hops may someday change that. Horticultural science professor Vince Fritz and research associate Charlie Rohwer are identifying which varieties of hops will grow best in Midwest climates and what kind of trellis system they will thrive on.
“We’re interested in helping growers cultivate a high-quality crop and grow enough of it so they can turn a profit,” says Rohwer.
Now in its third year, this small project has gained notoriety among Midwest microbrewers, who are increasingly interested in sourcing ingredients locally. Earlier this spring, the project team received a grant to purchase a small mechanical harvester for the hop yards.
Yielding barley
It’s not beer without barley — and Gary Muehlbauer, a professor in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, is part of a nationwide project to overcome disease and increase the efficiency of barley breeding by sharing genomic data across several breeding programs.
“The idea here is to try and make barley into a more efficient crop and more flexible, or more plastic in terms of its ability to change during the changing of the climate,” he says.
The project is grooming a group of doctoral students to become experts in breeding and genetics in wheat and barley, so they can take positions in industry and academia in those focus areas.
Read a recent profile on Muehlbauer and his barley research.
Quality on tap
Certified Cicerone Michael Agnew, an adjunct U of M professor, teaches courses through the College of Continuing Education on the basics of beer appreciation, serving samples from major local brewers like Summit and Surly.
Agnew says that Minnesotans ages 30 and younger have never had a difficult time finding their choice of quality artisan beer.
“They’ve embraced good beer as a matter of fact.”
Comment to win tickets to The U & Brew
Has all this beer talk whetted your appetite for more? Comment below and you could score tickets to The U & Brew, an exclusive beer tasting taking place June 28 at The Campus Club. Simply answer the following question for a chance to win two tickets (worth $40) to this special event…
What’s your favorite summer beverage (beer or otherwise)?
We’ll pick someone from the hat and email the winner on Friday, June 8. Don’t want to wait? Call today and make your reservations. See the flyer for details.
May 15, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Fantastic. I wrote a story a couple years ago about another guy in St. Paul, Guillermo Velasquez, who works with Gary Muehlbauer on barley research. Here’s an interesting fact, though a bit outdate: A 1992 economic study documented that about two-thirds of all beer produced in the U.S. contained barley developed by U of M Agricultural Experiment Station scientists.
Story on Guillermo:
http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/faculty-staff/features/2010/UR_ARTICLE_234187.html
May 15, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Thanks, Adam. Interesting fact and excellent article!
May 15, 2012 at 4:28 pm
Cool article – I’m looking forward to getting to know these guys and their research! My favorite summer beverage is Surly Hell, just about the perfect summer beer!!
May 15, 2012 at 4:35 pm
I prefer Surly Furious for pure hop goodness, Jeff. Recently named the top IPA, too: http://www.avclub.com/twincities/articles/surly-furious-rated-one-of-the-worlds-best-beers,68712/
May 18, 2012 at 8:47 am
Cheese? Beer? Count me in.
May 22, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Minnesota has seen so many exciting new additions to the beer scene in the last few years, and hopefully the U of M can help Minneapolis become the next GREAT beer mecca! I love a good strong IPA in the summer; you can’t beat a nice hoppy Surly Bandwagon while enjoying the sunshine at Target Field (now if we could only enjoy the product on the field half as much)!
May 23, 2012 at 5:51 pm
I love Summit Horizon Red pretty much any time of year. Their new Saga is good too, and maybe a bit more summery.
May 24, 2012 at 10:01 am
My favorite summer beverage is a tie between two great brews; Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy and Summit’s new Summer Ale.
May 24, 2012 at 10:30 am
Great to see the U involved in the local brewing industry. I tell outstaters I’m looking forward to the day when a brewer can buy hops from the Arboretum store in addition to apples.
May 24, 2012 at 10:31 am
I see the potential and agree with optimizing the limited hops that can be currently grown in the Midwest. Hopefully the University will someday develop a new variety as this great organization has helped Midwest crops with additions of grapes for wine, apples, blueberries, etc….
Favorite summer beer would be Ale Asylums Hopalicious or Founders Centennial IPA.
May 24, 2012 at 2:30 pm
Summer beers – any craft is good in my mind. I’m a big fan of New Belgium products do to their Belgian brewing style. Even their canned Fat Tire is amazing. Locally, Summit is tough to beat but if you want a beer with complexity and tons of flavor you have to go Surly!
May 24, 2012 at 4:10 pm
Nothing wrong with a good Summer Pilsner from August Schells!
June 6, 2012 at 9:36 am
Any of the hoppy Lagunitas beers-Lucky 13 or Hop Stoopid will do it.
June 8, 2012 at 4:59 pm
It’s Friday and we’re feeling generous. Everyone who commented before today will receive two free passes to the beer tasting. I’ll follow up via email with more details. Have a great weekend!