"The day has arrived," proclaimed Dr Reg Lance, Senior Plant Breeder with the Western Australia Department of Agriculture’s barley breeding program.

And a thirsty day it was, as Western Australia’s newest barley varieties were simultaneously launched at the Swan Brewery before a throng of budding beer buffs who then bustled the bar staff to sample the first drops of beer derived from the new grain.

Barley production is worth more than $300 million to Western Australia, with two thirds of that flowing from malting varieties.

However, 10 years ago, Western Australia’s barley breeding program was reviewed after locally grown varieties began to slip in the view of some international maltsters.

Responding to the challenge, the Department, the Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) and the University of Western Australia formed a fast track barley breeding program, which evolved into the Western Malting Barley Council and now comprises several research and commercial partners.

Western Australia growers are now set to reap the rewards of this initiative, with the release of ‘provisional malting’ varieties, Baudin and Hamelin. GRDC Winter Cereal Improvement Program Manager, Dr Ross Gilmour, is a past member of the breeding team that delivered these varieties.

They offer superior malting qualities and, between them, span all of Western Australia’s malting barley growing regions, including the south coast, where Baudin’s sprouting tolerance promises to help negate soggy finishes.

Besides agronomic, disease and pest considerations, new barleys must satisfy 35 other quality traits to qualify for malting, which has shackled barley breeders with more responsibilities than their wheat breeding counterparts and generally slowed the release of new varieties.

These new varieties will retain their ‘provisional malting’ status for three years and must perform well with maltsters in at least two of them to be upgraded to full malting status.

Baudin and Hamelin will help Western Australia supply a brewing industry recovering from the threat of  ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, which had muscled in on beer’s market.

But, according to Swan Brewery Managing Director, Bob Bailey, beer has packed the biggest punches in the bar room brawl over recent months and is enjoying resurgent popularity.

While RTD’s market growth wanes, beer sales in Western Australia have risen in past months.

The myth that beer is not trendy is being dispelled by the growing premium market.