What is Terroir?
Simply put, terroir is the taste of a place. It includes every part of a growing region - the climate and soil, along with the interplay between them and growing techniques used.
Different places grow the same thing differently! A barley variety grown in the Skagit Valley will taste vastly different (and grow and look different) than the same variety grown over in Eastern Washington or Montana or Alberta.
Terroir has been a conversation for years in the wine industry. The location grapes are grown has a major impact on the quality of the wine and contributes to growing regions being known for specific styles of wine and types of wine grapes.
What is Our Terroir?
We talk about growing our barley in a Maritime Climate. A Maritime Climate is a region that is heavily influenced by the surrounding ocean and results in small seasonal changes with high levels of moisture in the atmosphere. This result is a climate that is moderated by ocean water, meaning cool summers and mild winters. A Maritime Climate is the opposite of a Continental Climate which has high variations in temperature season to season, cold winters and dry hot summers.
Along with the climate type, our soil is alluvial soil. Which means we grow in a floodplain. Driving around the valley this time of year confirms that as many fields are underwater! The depth of our ground water also allows our growers to use dykes to control groundwater levels, which gives our grain more water during dry seasons!
Why Does Terroir Matter?
Terroir has impacts on all of the characteristics found in barley, some seen on the COA and others in sensory analysis.
Mild summers mean little drought stress for barley, which results in plump kernels with lower protein and lower free amino nitrogen (FAN). Lower protein and FAN are important factors in craft beer because if levels are too high the result can be product flavor instability and if these levels are too low it can result in poor yeast nutrition and health (Brewers Associaton).
Skagit Valley Malting crafts a malt that is very similar to that of the major barley growing regions in Europe. Our maritime climate gives us a comparable growing region and our exploration of UK barley varieties gives us similar grains that are malted to traditional styles with rich and full flavors.