Buck Naked Barley

Doctor Joan Conway, a USDA human nutrition researcher told me once that the Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of a barley health claim. Doctor Conway said "Beta glucan which is a soluble fiber found in barley can play an important role in reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease." Conway also touts barley fiber and its benefits to the colon.

Now, a group of land Grant University researchers spanning the country are developing new varieties of naked barley to capture all benefits of this grain. Human dietary benefits, animal feed and malting and brewing. The trick is finding the right balance of that soluble fiber beta glucan, through crossbreeding. Pat Hayes of Oregon State University Extension: “Pursue a modest level of beta glucan sufficient to meet the health claims, and that's manageable in the brewery. Furthermore, that could move into poultry feeding channels, swine feeding channels and then on into the ruminant animal. Now, Hayes says they may have one such new barley variety and the name, no surprise…” buck naked barley. Don’t be shocked. This could be rated G as in good, according to Hayes. Future tests with a microbrewer will determine if this naked barley variety minus the hull, which is essential in brewing, could work as a craft beer ingredient, not to mention its availability as a whole grain for cooking and baking.