Asahi celebrates the growers behind iconic Australian beers

Launched in 2020, the Victorian Barley Program has engaged ore than 150 growers across Victoria and southern New South Wales. Over the last 12 months, local farmers have supplied more than 25,000 tonnes of barley to the Victorian Barley Program, allowing Asahi to brew iconic beers like Victoria Bitter and Carlton Draught at its famed Abbotsford Brewery.

The same farmers have also begun supplying barley to brew beer in Japan, with approximately 35,000 tonnes shipped overseas in the past year. After bringing together 30 barley farmers from towns such as Bridgewater and Boort to celebrate their contribution, Asahi Beverages’ Head of Raw Material Procurement David Engel reflected on how the barley program has transformed the relationship between Asahi and growers.

“Barley is one of beer’s most important ingredients, influencing everything from taste to colour, and some of Australia’s best barley is grown right here in Central Victoria. “Through Asahi’s Victorian Barley Program, we now have direct relationships with the farmers and work together to ensure only the very best barley goes into our beer. Catching up at the Lakeview Hotel was a chance to chat all things barley, have a bit of fun and say thanks to the region’s growers,” Engel stated.

Sixth-generation Bridgewater barley grower Andrew Collins says the program, which is delivered by Asahi and Riordan Grain, works because it leads to better consistency and quality. “There is a romantic side to growing barley and it is exciting to know we’re helping contribute to such loved beers.

By working so closely with Asahi and the Riordan family we also know that we are an important part of creating something bigger which is good for our industry and future generations of growers.” Mark Lewis, Group Chief Commercial Officer of Riordan Grain, describes how the partnerships established through the program are delivering lasting benefits across the entire supply chain. “Over the past five years, the Victorian Barley Program has shown what’s possible when growers, brewers and supply chain partners work together with a shared commitment to quality.

“The program has given growers the confidence to invest in barley production, knowing there is a reliable premium market for their grain. For Riordan, it’s about bringing those partnerships together and making the supply chain work efficiently from paddock to brewery,” says Lewis.