On September 19, 2020, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery joined forces with regenerative agriculture leader Indigo Agriculture (featured earlier here in REVITALIZATION) to brew Re-Gen-Ale.
It’s the first traceably sourced beer to address climate change through agriculture using Indigo Carbon, a program providing growers with financial incentive to store carbon in their soils. First available from Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Re-Gen-Ale allows drinkers to help restore the planet with every pint or can consumed.
Dogfish Head’s unique partnership with Indigo, a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers regeratively feed the planet, began in January, when the first test batches of Re-Gen-Ale were brewed. Through Indigo’s Grain Marketplace, a platform connecting growers and buyers, Dogfish Head secured the traceably sourced ingredients to produce Re-Gen-Ale, including sustainable wheat grown with regenerative farming.
Dogfish Head also committed to purchasing more carbon credits than needed to offset the production of Re-Gen-Ale. Purchasing credits through Indigo allows Dogfish Head to help incentivize farmers to transition to regenerative growing practices.
“Though this is just one small step toward developing more sustainable business practices, working with Indigo has been a rewarding experience,” said Sam Calagione, founder of Dogfish Head.
“It’s shown us how thoughtful, sustainable choices can impact our environment, and taught us about new, nature-based solutions we can implement to reduce our carbon footprint and help combat climate change while brewing delicious beers, like Re-Gen-Ale. We planned to release this beer on Earth Day but decided to push the launch to celebrate Climate Week. It’s been a longtime coming, but we can’t wait to share Re-Gen-Ale with all you beer and nature lovers!” he continued.
Dogfish Head’s brewers worked hand-in-hand with Indigo on the recipe for Re-Gen-Ale, ensuring it utilized sustainable, traceably sourced ingredients from regional purveyors. Regenerative growing practices – cover cropping, increased crop diversity, not tilling land, reducing pesticide/fertilizer use and integrating livestock – remove carbon dioxide from the air, improve soil health and add to grower profitability.
“Dogfish Head has set a compelling example for brewers to consider the role of their suppliers and agriculture to address climate change,” said Noah Walker, Director of Carbon Product & Business Development at Indigo. “This partnership demonstrates, with the right tools, brands across industries can efficiently unlock the potential of supply chains to address sustainability and climate goals.”
The resulting farmhouse-style Saison has a soft, pillowy malt character; peppery, herbal hop profile; and refreshingly dry finish. Full of delicate flavors and aromas, it is brewed with Willamette hops from Maine, Zuper Saazer hops from Michigan and a house-grown yeast strain.
It features malt from Epiphany Malt in North Carolina, a maltster dedicated to embracing regenerative farming, and regeneratively grown wheat from Kansas-based farmer, Doug Keesling, who has implemented regenerative growing practices for 20+ years.
Image courtesy of Dogfish Head.