Mexico & USA: Montana malt barley makes its way into Mexican beer

The Mexican brewery that makes beers such as Dos Equis (dohs EK'-ees), Tecate (tee-KAH'-tay) and Sol has signed a contract to buy barley from a group of Northern Montana malting barley growers, Associated Press reported May 25.

Herb Karst is with the Sweetgrass Barley Association, which signed the contract on behalf of its member growers. He says the current contract is a sort of pilot project for a small amount. Karst says the company - Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma - plans to come back to finalize a 2009 agreement.

Cervecaria is 1 of the two biggest brewers in Mexico.

The Montana Wheat and Barley Committee and the U.S. Grains Council helped arrange the contract, first with a meeting in Conrad, then one in Panama City.

28 May, 2008