Results Field Trials, Crop 2006

This report summarizes the EBC Barley Field Trials for Crop 2006. It is based on the comments of the 4 regional chairmen, and is intended to highlight varieties tested that may be of interest to the malting and brewing industry.

Standard varieties - For harvest 2006 trials, Scarlett and Prestige (Barke for region South) varieties have been used as common standards for spring varieties, and Esterel and Regina for winter varieties.

Results

Winter varieties

• For year 2 varieties, 6-row ARTURIO always shows a high agronomical yield, but a low extract and high viscosity. 2-row SEDUCTION has the highest diastatic power, with the lowest KI. 6-row DOROTHEA has the highest KI and final attenuation. The extract yield of 2-row JONATHAN and FLAGON is good in all regions.

• All Year 1 varieties generally show better yield than standards. The largest grain size is found for MAESTRIA. However, there is no noticeable improvement in malt quality compared to standards.

Spring varieties (comments are relative to a specific region)

• In region West, all tested varieties show better yield than standard mean. Of year 2 varieties, MASSILIA has the highest and most consistent yield, highest KI, but lowest friability and final attenuation, with high protein levels. KUBURAS and BELGRANO combine low beta-glucan, good extract and high friability, with also high KI for the latest. All year 1 varieties have higher friability than standards. BELLINI has the highest extract and KI, with low beta-glucan level. The largest grain size is observed for BELGRANO, SHAKIRA and MACAW, this latest being the best, but it has also limited final attenuation and low KI. QUENCH has shown the most consistent yield.

• In region Central, all year 2 varieties have a higher yield than standards, BEATRIX being the best. WESTMINSTER is noticeable for its extract, KI, low viscosity and beta-glucan, whereas its final attenuation is lower than standards. POWER and CHRISTINA share low viscosity and good attenuation, but with a lower grading. Of year 1 variety, MARTHE shows the best yield, with low viscosity and good final attenuation. SOPHIE has the highest extract and KI, but lower yield.

• In region North, all varieties tested show higher yield than standards. All year 2 varieties have lower beta-glucan than standards. ISABELLA and SCANDIUM have the best yield, lowest beta-glucan and good final attenuation. WESTMINSTER is noticeable for its extract, high KI and low viscosity. For year 1 trials, all varieties have general malting quality equivalent or higher than standards. PUBLICAN has highest yield and extract, but also highest beta-glucan content. XANADU has the highest grading but also lowest final attenuation.

• In region South, no significant increase in agronomical yield is observed. All year 2 varieties show lower viscosity and beta-glucan compared to standards. CHRISTINA also has the highest friability, final attenuation and KI. The largest grain size is observed for MARNIE and XANADU. All year 1 varieties have low viscosity regarding standards, BELENA showing also lowest beta-glucan content, highest KI, highest friability and best grading.