Rye Resurgence Project Takes Root at Great American Beer Festival
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 4, 2024 Community effort champions high-alpine rye for a sustainable future
Alamosa, Colorado — The winds are changing in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, bringing not dust but hope for long-term environmental and economic health in the form of a heritage, water-saving grain. The Rye Resurgence Project, a women led-effort backed by local farmers, Colorado water groups, and craft food and beverage businesses, aims to build the market for the valley’s high-alpine rye to save and sustain this unique agricultural community. Current project efforts will be showcased at next week’s Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in Denver on October 10-12, 2024 with several new rye beers.
A naturally resilient and hearty winter cover crop, rye improves soil health and holds topsoil, reducing erosion and the intensity of annual dust storms that have plagued the San Luis Valley in recent years. Rye also only uses about one-half of the water required for other grains and crops, giving farmers an option for major water savings in an area where local aquifers have plummeted to their lowest level in history.
This is why Rye Resurgence partners like the Cody family ‒ owners of the Colorado Malting Company and The Colorado Farm Brewery (TCFB) in Alamosa ‒ see such great potential for the project’s long-term impact for their community and chose to brew three specialty rye beers for this year’s GABF. “We’re all in on the Rye Resurgence Project,” Jason Cody said. “The beers we made with this rye showcase the terroir from our region and represent a much needed change in the vision for water and agricultural markets.”
The rye beers entered at GABF include a Chocolate Rye Farm Porter, brewed with an original malt known as ‘Chocolate Rye’ from the Colorado Malting Company, a Resurgence RyePA, and a crushable, low-carb, low-calorie light ale called RyeSky. The Colorado Farm Brewery also brewed a special collab Chocolate Rye Farm Porter with renowned Denver brewery Our Mutual Friend (OMF), which will be on tap and featured at OMF during the festival next week.
“We’re really excited to be part of the Rye Resurgence Project along with our long time friends and partners in brewing at the Colorado Malting Company,” said Jan Chodkowski, Head Brewer at OMF. “Our rye beer was brewed with 100% Colorado Malting Company malt, hops from the Colorado Hop Company, and coffee from Erich's Coffee roasted in Fort Collins. Our Mutual Friend puts huge value in using local and sustainable ingredients and we can't wait for everyone to try this collaboration beer.”
“We hope you enjoy the beers,” Cody added, “and as you sip them, realize you’re making a difference for the lifeblood and backbone of our state, our nation, and family farms!”
Working with brewers, distillers, maltsters, millers, bakers, and other craft makers as partners in the Rye Resurgence Project is a critical part of building this market for a single-origin, aquifer-saving grain with unparalleled flavor. The project will build on these relationships and seek out new partnerships in order to give consumers more incredible craft products that truly support Colorado and its remarkable San Luis Valley.
“By purchasing San Luis Valley ‘Resurgence Rye’ and our partners’ rye products, you’re giving our agricultural producers better options in this changing climate,” Heather Dutton, a founder of the project and Manager of the San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District, said. “It’s up to us as consumers, as local businesses, and as a state to help farmers keep farming all while saving the San Luis Valley aquifers, our community, and our Colorado way of life.”
More information about the Rye Resurgence Project, the rye beers featured at GABF, and Our Mutual Friend Brewing can be found at ryeresurgenceproject.com.
More information on The Colorado Farm Brewery and the Colorado Malting Company can be found at cofarmbeer.com and coloradomaltingcompany.com.
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