Patagonia launches partnership program with craft breweries, supplying Regenerative Organic Certified grains like Kernza

In its effort to scale organic and Regenerative Organic Certified ingredients, Patagonia Provisions, the food and beverage business of outdoor apparel company Patagonia, recently introduced its new brewery partnership program. Eleven partner breweries throughout the country have released new beers, each brewed with Regenerative Organic Certified Kernza, a deeply-rooted perennial grain.

By making beer with more perennial grains, breweries have the potential to move the industry toward a more regenerative future. Perennial crops like Kernza require minimal tilling, increase soil organic matter, improve soil health and water-holding capacity, and help fight the climate crisis. Patagonia is confident that ongoing research will also confirm that Kernza draws down and stores more carbon in the soil than annual grains. When used in beer, it adds a deliciously rich but subtle, nutty flavor.

The Regenerative Organic Certified Kernza in these beers is sourced from A-Frame Farm, a 1,200-acre Regenerative Organic Certified farm in Madison, Minnesota. Patagonia plans to expand the program to include additional craft breweries in the coming months and looks to incorporate other Regenerative Organic Certified ingredients.

This inaugural cohort of breweries each produced an original easy-drinking Kernza lager, co-branded with Patagonia, brewed with regionally-sourced organic ingredients, and made available in their local area.

The initial list of brewery partners includes:

• Allagash Brewing Co. (Portland, ME)
• Arizona Wilderness Brewing (Gilbert, AZ)
• Aslan Brewing Co. (Bellingham, WA)
• Bang Brewery Co. (St. Paul, MN)
• Hopworks Urban Brewery (Portland, OR)
• Maui Brewing Co. (Kihei, HI)
• Odell Brewing Co. (Ft. Collins, CO)
• Rhinegeist Brewery (Cincinnati, OH)
• Russian River Brewing (Sonoma County, CA)
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Chico, CA)
• Topa Topa Brewing Co. (Ventura, CA)

Participating breweries will each contribute 1% of Patagonia beer sales (matched by Patagonia) to local nonprofits that support environmental initiatives and meet 1% for the Planet eligibility criteria.

“Patagonia is thrilled to partner with these value-aligned breweries, all driven by delicious flavors, high quality ingredients, and responsible business and brewing practices,” says Paul Lightfoot, Patagonia Provision’s General Manager. “Craft beer drinkers want great tasting beers made with clean ingredients that are better for the planet, and we look forward to bringing these beers to Patagonia customers and all beer lovers.”