UK: Appaloosa barley joins the 2006 HGCA list & is seen as a potential malter

Only one variety, Appaloosa barley (Advanta Seeds), joins the 2006 HGCA list, Farmers Weekly reported on December 13. A potential distilling malter, is particularly recommended for the north-east region, where it has comfortably outyielded Troon and Oxbridge - by 9% and 4% respectively in treated trials.

"It's a low GN variety, like Oxbridge and Troon, and its diastatic power is similar to Troon's.Which means it would fit as a replacement for Troon rather than Decanter" stated CEL's Peter Hanson. It resists most diseases well, but rates only four against rhynchosporium compared with Oxbridge's seven, notes Mr Hanson.

This is still under test by the Scottish system but it is unlikely to be suitable for brewing.

14 December, 2005