Brienne is a new Finnish malting barley

Brienne BOR, bred by Boreal, has been approved as an official malting barley variety in Finland. The decision was made by the Barley Committee, consisting of representatives from:
• breweries
• maltsters
• cultivation sector
A variety can be approved as malting barley only if it provides significant added value for the entire malting barley chain. Brienne’s seed is produced and sold by Tilasiemen Oy.

Approval of Brienne as a malting barley variety is excellent news for growers. Brienne is:

• a stable performer across varying environments
• the highest yielding malting barley in Finland
• agronomically well suited to Finnish conditions

Elina Nissilä, Boreal’s barley breeder, says: “Brienne withstands drought, has good tillering ability and a long, beautiful head that can accommodate many grains in situations where the yield relies on the main shoot. Thanks to its traits, Brienne can produce high quality yield even in very different growing seasons.”

Brienne improves disease resistance in malting barley. Brienne brings improved resistance particularly to net blotch — a disease that is nearly an annual problem in Finland.

“Finland’s cool conditions favor net blotch. Brienne’s good disease resistance makes cultivation easier because the spray window is longer. Disease control ensures both yield and quality,” Nissilä says.

Quality that meets the needs of the malting and brewing industries

Malting barley must have specific traits for malting and brewing. Net blotch resistance is essential — but so is adaptation to long day length.

“Brienne was selected from the breeding lines specifically for our fast growth rhythm and our growing conditions. That makes Brienne unique,” Nissilä says.

Reliability also shows through consistent quality. Brienne’s malting quality has tested well in breeder trials over multiple years.

Because of its high yield and strong agronomic performance, Brienne had already gained interest among farmers as a feed and starch barley even before malting approval. A limited amount of seed is still available for spring sowing from Tilasiemen packers.

Learn more about Brienne’s variety characteristics