About Return Estate Piedmont Pilsner:

RETURN Batch 5

Estate Piedmont Pilsner, 5%

We brewed Return Batch 5 with experimental barley we grew next to our brewhouse. This new grain hasn’t been made into beer before now.

While that’s fun, there’s something bigger going on here. New barley types bred for a growing region represent a major innovation frontier in beer. For unique flavor. For sustainability. For keeping small farms across the country farming.

Return B5 is the first outcome of our years-long barley project with Virginia Tech. In 2021, we planted this type, along with others, in test rows next to the Biergarten. It grew well, so in 2022 we planted it again in a different set of test rows. Swipe to see the pics.

We also took a big chance in 2022 and dedicated acres of our grain fields to grow this barley. Harvested in 2023 and malted to custom specs in 2024.

Yes… it takes a long time. There’s also significant investment and sizable risk to take our estate-grown barley from field to glass. (Truly field to glass. No marketing sleight of hand, just a lot of hard work.) It’s especially the case with this new barley.

We go to the effort for a couple of reasons.

First, we can regeneratively grow the highest quality barley that we select because we prioritize flavor in the glass. This gives us the best shot at offering you the finest beer we’re able to make.

Second, growing new crops can be risky business. This shows it’s possible to grow new barley types in our region. It might offer other small farms confidence to grow new malting barley for local breweries. It’s one way we’re advancing our mission of strengthening small farms across our region for the long term.

So, how’d the barley do?

In a word: fantastic. This barley grows well here. Excellent malt house modification. Dynamic brewhouse performance. Most importantly: Expressive depth of character in your glass.

As with every batch of Return, the hops are from the Alsace region of France. Unlike any version to date, the hops in B5 are a blend we selected on our most recent trip to visit hop farms there. With heritage from the region, it holds special meaning.

It’s a return to beer connected with people and place.