Reinheitsgebot takes root locally

NAMIBIA Breweries’ plan to grow barley locally kicks off on Friday with the start of a feasibility study and a seeding event.

NBL managing director Desmond van Jaarsveld conveyed the news to Prime Minister Nahas Angula during a courtesy visit this week.Friday’s event will take place at Omahanene in the Omusati region with guest of honour John Mutorwa, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry. Earlier NBL announced it has teamed up with stakeholders to conduct a feasibility study and trials to establish Namibia’s potential to supply some of the company’s malted barley requirements. Currently, NBL procures its entire barley requirements from Europe. ‘We have secured the support of our Namibian Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, the University of Namibia, and the support of experts in seeds and barley malting,’ Van Jaarsveld said.He added that NBL and the project partners aim to create a reliable market for Namibian growers of barley while contributing to employment creation in the country. The study is to be conducted in two phases: Phase one encompasses scientific trials on a number of barley varieties which may be suitable to Namibia’s climatic conditions and in line with NBL’s Reinheitsgebot brewing standards. Phase two will determine the best malting options. Malting is a value adding process whereby grains are made to germinate by soaking in water, then halted from germinating further by drying them with hot air. Malted barley, hops and water are the single three ingredients used in the brewing of Reinheitsgebot beer.