Carlsberg has created a new type of beer that uses only fonio grains, without the use of any barley or bittering hops. The grain, which has thrived in West Africa for over 5,000 years and is widely used in African cooking, can thrive in poor soils and is drought-resistant.
The new Fonio beer was brewed in collaboration with Brooklyn Brewery as part of its ‘Brewing for Impact’ campaign. The campaign was launched by Brooklyn Brewmaster, Garrett Oliver, to celebrate 30 years with the Brewery. Its aim is to spotlight the ancient West African grain and its untapped brewing potential and ability to drive positive change in the industry.
The resulting limited-edition beer, brewed in the Carlsberg Research Laboratory, is described as “clean, with soft aromas of apricots, white peaches, and melon with an underlying sweetness and lingering bitterness giving a vibrant and delicate finish”.
The Fonio bottle design was created by Kevin Bongang, a commercial muralist, designer and painter who was born in Cameroon, West Africa. The label features his signature style, awash in bold colours and whimsical imagery.
Zoran Gojkovic, Director of Brewing Science & Technology at Carlsberg, said: “Carlsberg is constantly working to invigorate curiosity and I firmly believe that all progress in the world starts with a spark of curiosity. When Garrett Oliver, Brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery, approached me to discuss what we could create with fonio, the first thing I thought was, why has no one made a beer that is completely fonio?
“Fonio is an amazing West African grain but it presented several technical challenges for us to learn from and overcome – especially as there are no recipes for a beer like this. However, the extremely clean, crisp beer we’ve made is sure to set curious minds ablaze as we continue to test the potential of fonio in brewing and beyond.”
The Fonio beer will initially be available in limited quantities from the Home of Carlsberg in Copenhagen from August.
