(Hordeum vulgare)
If you’re a Canadian beer drinker, you’ve probably tasted AC Metcalfe Barley.
Bred by Dr. Bill Legge, at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Brandon, Manitoba, AC Metcalfe was named Seed of the Year – West for 2010, which recognizes publicly developed Canadian cultivars
of field crops, forages, fruits, vegetables or herbs important to the agri-food industry, and the accomplishments of public plant breeders. It is a descendent of the legendary OAC 21 barley bred by Dr. Charles Zavitz. OAC 21 was used extensively for over 30 years and provided the basis for all subsequent varieties and became the standard malting barley used in breweries.
Developed for its disease resistance and high quality, AC Metcalfe became fully registered in 1997. This two row malting barley possesses high enzyme levels, rapid throughput in the malthouse and high levels of fermentable extract, which is why breweries around the world swear by AC Metcalfe.
As of 2011, AC Metcalfe was the dominant malting barley grown in Western Canada for 10 years in a row.
Image Courtesy of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
