Molson Coors Barley Days Celebrate Growers Commitment to Raising High Country Barley
July 1, 2024
Growers across our region have successfully planted another Molson Coors barley crop.
Wade Malchow, Molson Coors Senior Manager Barley Program says this year’s high country barley crop is looking good in Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
"Overall, we're looking forward to a pretty decent barley crop," said Malcho. "We got in and the growers got in early, up to 2 to 3 weeks, four weeks in some cases earlier than they had the previous couple years. Kind of back to some of those earlier planting years we had in the past. Then we had some cool weather in May and things just sat and tillered and stooled. And so the crop is really thick. Now, we're getting some heat, which you eventually need to warm up in order to bring this crop to maturity, going to have to deal with some thunderstorms. And we're probably going to see some losses to hail here and there. That's going to happen every year. But right now we feel really good about the crop we're having."
Last week, Molson Coors held Barley Days in Worland, Wyoming and Bighorn, Montana. Bob Strecker and family have been raising barley in Montana for Molson Coors since the early 1980s, and says they're very proud to do so.
"Knowing that you sit down with your friends and you crack one open, and it could very well be the barley that came off your farm is kind of cool," said Strecker. "Even people that don't raise their barley but live in this area are still proud of the fact that this area raises barley for Coors."
Molson Coors Montana Regional Manager Cody Shick says that barley days are still very important for them and their growers.
"Well, it gives an opportunity for not only us to recognize the growers because frankly we only raise barley in four states," said Shick. "So, every one of these areas is extremely important into producing millions of cans of beer that we ship all over the United States and the world. Being able to come here and show appreciation for these growers and all the hard work they do, we just had a hailstorm roll through. It just goes to show the natural challenges that these producers have to face. They put all that time and effort and money and resources into it. And and sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't. So, we're here to to acknowledge that fact and and to support them the best way we can and show appreciation."
Brian Ehrhardt is Molson Coors Chief Supply Officer and says, you can't have great beer without great barley.
"We have lots of elevators in Chicago, but not like any of the ones we've seen in the last couple days," said Erhardt. "We're very proud of our local teams and the partnerships they have, whether it's the teams at the elevators or our agronomists working with our growers. And we learn a lot. We have a lot of decisions we make at a corporate level, and we rely on our local team. But nothing beats getting out here and actually seeing the barley in the field. Learning about the science behind the barley. We have a lot of resources dedicated to barley research, and we're very proud of what our team accomplishes every year so we can make our great beers."
There will also be a barley day celebration July 25 at the Molson Coors farm near Monte Vista, Colorado .
Bill Coors coined the phrase that barley is to beer as grapes are to wine and he's right. And it’s still true-there’s a little bit of Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming barley in every Coors Banquet and Coors Light.
Source: Western Ag Network
