Blind Tiger Brewery creates beer fully made with Shawnee Co. products

TOPEKA (KSNT) - A local brewery is announcing the release date for a new beer produced solely in Shawnee County.

Blind Tiger Brewery announced Tuesday, Aug. 27 that local farmers collaborated with its brewers to produce a "never before brewed", brand-new beer. Fourth and fifth generation Shawnee County farmers Roger and Jason Hamm worked with Blind Tiger Brewery's Brewmaster John Dean and Head Brewer Alvaro Canizales to produce the specialty beer, according to a news release from Blind Tiger Brewery.

The original beer is called "Shawnee County Golden Ale."

"Talk about hyper-local," Dean said. "Talk about a low carbon footprint. This malt originated within five miles of our brewery. I can assure you, our beer is only as good as our ingredients, and this top notch barley-malt from the Hamms easily passes the test."

Roger and Jason Hamm's company, Two Mule Malting, is responsible for growing the barley and malting the grain that was used by the brewery, according to the news release.

Blind Tiger said to its knowledge, this is the first time "brewing-quality barley" has grown in Shawnee County, as well as the task of malting the barley.

"Our mission is to provide brewers with malt varieties not currently available on the market as a form of seed conservation," Roger Hamm said. "We started this journey seven years ago and it is now reaching fruition. So many barley varieties may vanish, so I want to do my part and hopefully those rare varieties can find a place in award-winning beer."

Shawnee County Golden Ale is described by the brewery as having a rich, malty flavor and 5.2% ABV and 16 IBUs. The beer will be available on tap starting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28 at Blind Tiger Brewery, located at 417 SW 37th St.

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