Patagonia Made A Sustainable, Organic Kernza Beer

Patagonia is breaking out of apparel and diving into the beer industry with Long Root Ale, a Kernza pale ale.

The clothing company teamed up with Hopworks Urban Brewery in Portland, Oregon, to create the first commercialized beer made of Kernza, a perennial grain grown using regenerative agricultural practices, according to the Patagonia Provisions website.

"Working with Patagonia Provisions on Long Root Ale is the highest honor," Christian Ettinger, founder of Hopworks Urban Brewery, said in a press release. "Kernza adds great flavors to this delicious Pale Ale. It also offers attractive agricultural benefits like substantial water reduction. Kernza is really paving the way for future discussions with other commodity grains that we use to brew. As organic brewers we are really excited about the 'grain to glass' model and Long Root Ale is just that."

The Land Institute, a Kansas-based non-profit, began breeding Kernza from a species of wheat grass in 2003, according to the non-profit's website. They are grown on a perennial field that helps build soil health, retain clean water, and enhance wildlife habitat. The long roots of the crop also allow it to thrive and retain more water than the wheat grass it was bred from.

The 16-ounce cans are available at Whole Foods locations in California, Oregon, and Washington State.