First Kale, Now Beer: Newark's Indoor Farm Unveils 'Hail Hydro'

Newark NJ

22 September, 2021

4:37 PM

Description

NEWARK, NJ — AeroFarms is already changing the way the agricultural industry works with its cutting-edge growing techniques, including at its global headquarters in Newark, where nearly two million pounds of veggies such as arugula and kale sprout every year. But now the proprietors of the largest indoor vertical farm in the world are taking on another challenge: helping to create a "groundbreaking" new beer. On Wednesday, AeroFarms and Goose Island UK unveiled Hail Hydro, a hazy session IPA made from hydroponic hops grown indoors. It's the latest beer in Goose Island's Impossible IPA series, a new selection of beers which embrace the creation of new recipes using innovative hops and techniques. And according to the beverage's creators, it doesn't get much more creative than AeroFarms' flagship facility in Newark. There, at a former steel mill in the city's Ironbound neighborhood, a closed-loop, aeroponic water circulation system uses 95 percent less water than field farmed-food, yet yields a whopping 390 times higher per square foot. It's all done with a colorful array of LED lights, allowing the company to defy traditional growing seasons and nurture their pesticide-free produce all year-round. See related article: 'World's Largest Indoor Vertical Farm' Keeps Growing In Newark This philosophy is also leading the way when it comes to growing hops for Hail Hydro, AeroFarms said: "Skipping the soil, the hydro-cascade hops are submerged in a growing medium that supports and nourishes the roots of the plant with nutrient-rich water through AeroFarms' indoor vertical farming technology platform. This method allows hops to be grown anywhere in the world, at any time of the year with consistent results, and to generate higher yields with fewer resources." AeroFarms CEO David Rosenberg said the hops used in Hail Hydro are grown in a "completely controlled environment" with no pesticides, using blue and white lights in place of sunlight. "We have succeeded in growing mature hops, as well as propagating high-quality rhizomes, designed to improve field production of hops," Rosenberg reported. As for the million-dollar question – "What does it taste like?" – here's what AeroFarms had to say about the new beer: "In terms of flavor notes, the beer packs a refreshing citrus punch with hints of lemon and lime, hitting all the right notes when it comes to Session IPAs, clocking in at a delicious 4.7% abv. Fresh and zingy, it tastes as bright as the future of agriculture." Customers interested in learning more about the origin of their beer will be able to scan a QR code on the can's packaging that takes them on a virtual tour of AeroFarms' unique growing indoor vertical technology. For now, Hail Hydro is available in limited supply only on the Goose Island UK website. However, AeroFarm's other products can be found at major retailers like ShopRite, Whole Foods, FreshDirect and AmazonFresh, and are used by clients such as renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson at his Marcus B&P restaurant in Newark. "Hydroponically cultivated hops are an exciting prospect, and the potential innovation opportunities and sustainable benefits are exciting for the craft community," Joe Bevan of Goose Island UK said. "Brewing with the cascade was a new experience for us," Bevan added. "We saw zingy lime, soft lemon, and a subtle resinous from the hydroponically grown hops." Rosenberg said that AeroFarms is proud to have teamed up with Goose Island UK and the broader Anheuser-Busch InBev team for more than a year. "It has been an incredible partnership," Rosenberg said. See related article: Soon You Can Buy Stock In Newark's Cutting-Edge 'Indoor Farm' View this post on Instagram A post shared by AeroFarms (@aerofarms) Send local news tips and correction requests to [email protected] Sign up for Patch email newsletters. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don't forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page.