Aerofarms & Goose Island IPA: A Unique Hop Partnership

The Rise of Vertical Farming and a Novel Collaboration

Interest in vertical farming has grown substantially in the last ten years. This increase is driven by global concerns regarding resource consumption, diminishing arable land, and a rapidly expanding global population.

Despite its potential, several uncertainties remain regarding this technology. A key question centers on the range of crops that can be successfully cultivated indoors on a large scale.

AeroFarms and the Expansion Beyond Microgreens

AeroFarms, headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, is a prominent U.S. company in the vertical farming sector. They have achieved significant success specializing in microgreens.

While microgreens represent a specific niche within the produce industry, they fetch premium prices and facilitate rapid product turnover within the farming infrastructure.

Brewery Goose Island's Innovative Partnership

This week, the U.K. branch of Goose Island Brewery announced a collaboration with AeroFarms. Together, they are launching a Session IPA named Hail Hydro.

The beer’s name references the use of hydroponics in growing the hops, although AeroFarms primarily utilizes aeroponics.

Increased Yield and Water Conservation

The hops for Hail Hydro are being cultivated at AeroFarm’s Newark facility. The company asserts that their process delivers 390 times greater annual productivity compared to traditional methods.

Furthermore, this method reportedly reduces water consumption by as much as 95%.

A Marketing Opportunity and Technological Demonstration

Is this partnership primarily a marketing endeavor? To a degree, yes. It serves as effective promotion for both companies.

More importantly, it showcases the versatility of vertical farming technology, demonstrating its applicability beyond just microgreens.

The packaging includes a QR code that provides access to a virtual tour of the AeroFarms facilities.