WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, USA Rice debuted its latest craft beer collaboration to the Washington, DC, market with a crisp rice-based lager, made in partnership with local brewery Hellbender Brewing Company.
Long Grain Lager, a five percent ABV beer brewed with Arkansas-grown jasmine rice, celebrates the U.S. rice industry, and pays homage to industry leader and Arkansas rice farmer, Jennifer James, and her commitment to sustainability by using AR17 jasmine rice grown on her family farm.
The can has an eye-catching label depicting rice harvest and featuring the Grown in the USA logo as well as a QR code that links to Jennifer’s
Meet the Farmer profile on thinkrice.com for consumers looking to learn more about Jennifer and her contributions to the U.S. rice industry, as well as find more general information on the domestic rice industry.
“First off, big kudos to Hellbender Brewing Co. for their continued commitment to support America’s farmers and use ingredients that are sourced as local as possible,” said Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice senior director of domestic promotion. “We are thrilled to partner with them once again to create a new rice beer that elevates the traditional profile of a lager-style beer by adding the aromatic qualities of jasmine rice for a refreshing and easy drinking final product.”
The beer, available both in cans and on tap, was released to the public with much fanfare at a release party that featured rice-based trivia, a rice-focused food truck, and opportunities to win prizes from USA Rice. Cans of
Long Grain Lager sold out quickly, and generated excitement in the local craft beer community with media coverage and social media posts – all of which mentioned U.S.-grown rice.
“A lot of the credit for this successful collaboration goes to Jennifer and her willingness to help us reach outside of the typical consumer audience to boost awareness of U.S. rice,” said Jacobs. “From the positive media coverage to the personal interactions with USA Rice staff at the can release party to those who just stumble across the beer and are exposed to industry images, logos, and information, this project has helped move the needle when it comes to explaining the U.S.-grown difference.”
USA Rice Daily readers may remember USA Rice’s first rice beer brewed with Hellbender,
Serves You Rice, a Saison-style beer made with U.S.-grown purple rice. Go
here to read coverage of that beer.