Fight evil with malt. An Alsatian craft brewery collective has just launched five organic beers, called “Grand hamster”. This animal has only resided in Alsace and has been in the wild for more than twelve thousand years. The species has been protected since 2013 but its survival is nevertheless threatened. A small rodent but a good indicator of the biodiversity of the Alsace plain, the European hamster has the advantage of being a “sentinel” species. When it is well, it is a sign that all wildlife is well.
So putting his friendly face on beer bottle labels is much more than a marketing effect for the brewing collective. Above all, it is the result of a common will of an entire local economic chain, which racked its brains to reconcile agriculture, producers, logistics, mills, brewers, with the imperatives of biodiversity. A project set up as part of the National Action Plan in favor of the hamster and the biodiversity of the Alsace plain (2019-2028).
The project connects brewers and producers. After more than five years of reflection and preparation, it is really taking shape. “It is this sector aspect that interested us, explains Benjamin Pastwa, the manager of the Bendorf brewery in Neudorf. Work with farmers on varieties like winter barley. Realize that there are interesting varieties of barley from an ecological point of view, to work with this barley planted in specific areas for the hamster. »
If this barley has less yield than that of spring usually used in breweries and needs to be worked differently, according to the specialist, the experiment could nevertheless extend to the whole range of breweries involved in this ecological approach. . “It’s an approach to have collectively to have a little more demanding specifications on local supply, with specific barley, commitments with farmers over five years, explains Benjamin Pastwa. That way, they know what they have to plant and we make decisions together, taking into account the environmental aspect”.
A culture favorable to the European hamster
For this new beer, the brews were prepared throughout this winter from local organic malt, which promotes virtuous agricultural practices that protect this biodiversity. Producers committed to the protection of small rodents preferred “the cultivation of straw cereals. Like barley or wheat, more favorable to the species, to its habitat, to its protection, with a ground that is covered in winter and spring”, details 20 minutes Francis Humann, cereal producer and president of the Economic Interest Grouping “Grand Hamster d’Alsace”. The winter barley harvested in June 2022 was malted at the start of winter in the first organic artisanal malting located in Bergheim, the only one in Alsace. Malt was used at the beginning of the year for brewing, where organic Alsatian hops were added. Result, an exceptional beer 100% local and organic, with a history.
The opportunity, now, to spark debate and reflection at aperitif time, while enjoying a good beer. “It’s an approach that goes well beyond a nice label,” emphasizes Francis Humann. It is an approach that makes sense, that goes further and that questions our daily practices. If we want to develop crops favorable to hamsters, this also depends on consumer demand. Through his purchase, continues the president, beyond these beers of excellence, the customer knows that there is an act behind this approach. On each bottle, there is a QR code related to the actions that are carried out to arrive at these organic beers, brewing, the big hamster… It allows the consumer to see that there are things that are being done, the opportunity to involve them in our approach. It is positive consumption. »
Of course, each brasserie in the collective, namely Bendorf in Neudorf, La Narcose in Scharrarbergheim, l’Altruiste in Scherwiller, l’Humpaloch in Lautenbach and finally the Brasserie des 4 Pays in Hirtzbach, has made its own recipe and adapted the ‘label. But they all sell each other’s “Great Hamster”, in their establishment, their customers, but also in their usual distribution networks. Five organic beers, which echo the flour of the same name, launched by the same economic interest group “Grand Hamster d’Alsace”, two years ago. So many protectors of small rodents who even provide biscuits and Manele with the shape of the hamster… perhaps for the end of year celebrations.