Well, thats a bit dramatic isnt it?
Its a new vareity of Barley, not a new type of beer. Its not as if we are talking about a brewery making a crappy beer that will appeal to Asian markets, we are talking about an industry which has been able to produce a new malting barley variety which has shown significant improvements on current varieties. It wasnt ever supposed to make the beer taste different, why would it? It certainly wont make beer taste any worse!
As it is a new barley variety, rather than a new type of beer you would expect that the focus would be on its adavantages out in the paddock, and in the market. Advantages such as a high resistance to disease, and increase in yield, improved head retention (on the plant itself) and growth vigor, all important to the growers, who need to accept and produce this variety. And for the market you have a higher quality malt, with a high diastatic power resulting in a more highly fermentable extract.
Also, its not as if we are sacrificing anything for marketability! Its hardly going to taste "worse" than current varieties. This product will appeal predominantly to brewers that are after a high DP malt, in order to produce a dry beer, it wont be used to make beers "dryer". It is particularly expected to be highly sought after in Asia, possibly for these qualities.
Japan buy 600,000 tonnes of malt each year, 30% of which is shipped all the way from Canada, and 15% comes from Australia. Large breweries in Japan are already showing an interest in Flagship. What could possibly be wrong with producing a better quality malting barley variety which promises higher yields and the possibility of providing higher exports, and better profits for our struggling farmers?
Jeremy.
PS. now look who is getting dramatic!
