Difficulties predicted in sourcing quality barley after weather changes

EUROPEAN brewers are predicting difficulties sourcing quality malting barley this year as crops have been hit by severe weather fluctuations, according to Kerry Ingredients and Flavours.

Severe rainfall has hit barley crops in Germany, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. Russia has imposed a barley export ban after its crop fell 50% due to its most recent heatwave. US and Canadian harvests are also down.

Kerry Ingredients and Flavours EMEA beverages marketing manager Jolande de Ridder said: “Adverse weather conditions across Europe have reduced barley production. Energy costs for malting have also risen versus 2009, though still not quite at the highs of 2008, and malting capacity is not being fully utilised, especially in Europe. All of these factors have the overall effect of reducing supply volume.”

To help meet supply and quality challenges, Kerry has been developing products to maximise yields for brewers. Trials on 2010 Canadian malted barley, carried out by Kerry’s in-house brewing experts, indicated high levels of beta-glucan, which causes a haze during mashing. This issue is important in high adjunct barley brewing.

Meanwhile back home, over 90,000 tonnes of barley or almost 10% of the total Irish crop is used each year in the production of Guinness stout. Irish Distillers also use a mix of malted and unmalted barley in their production process to produce 380 litres of pure alcohol per tonne of barley. At present, Ireland is 93% self-sufficient in barley. Green malting barley is fetching about €165 per ton.