Naked Grain Hull-less Helles: Brewing Canada’s First LAGER Made with Hull-less Barley

Something remarkable is brewing in British Columbia. It’s changing the way we think about beer, barley, and sustainability.
Introducing Naked Grain Helles Lager, a collaboration between Phillips Brewing & Malting Co., Field Five Farms, Small Gods Brewing Co., and Whistle Buoy Brewing. Crafted using naked barley, also known as hull-less barley.

This is the first beer in Canada brewed at commercial scale with naked barley, and it represents a bold step toward a more sustainable and flavour-driven future for brewing.

🌾 What Is Naked Grain?

Unlike traditional barley, naked barley naturally sheds its outer husk during harvest, leaving a smooth, bare grain. Without that husk, brewers can’t rely on the usual filtration process known as lautering. Instead, a mash press is required to extract the wort, unlocking the purest possible malt character.

“This is the truest expression of flavour and ingredient you can get — nothing in the way,”
says Mike from Field Five Farms, who has been growing and floor-malting naked barley for over 25 years.

The result? A beer that’s clean, crisp, and deeply connected to the grain itself. An honest reflection of the land and the people who nurture it.

🍺 Why It Matters for Brewing and Taste

For brewers, naked barley offers both efficiency and artistry. Using this grain reduces material inputs by up to 20% during malting and brewing, while its higher extract potential means brewers can achieve more from every batch.

It’s a perfect fit for the Helles lager style. A beer known for balance, subtlety, and drinkability. Naked Grain Helles Lager pours a slightly darker golden hue with gentle malt sweetness, a smooth, rounded body, and a refreshingly clean finish.

It’s both familiar and new, an innovative, fruit-free expression of malt character rarely seen in Canadian brewing.

🌎 Why It Matters for the Planet

The Naked Grain project is more than just a beer. It’s a vision for a more sustainable brewing ecosystem.

Field Five Farms grows the naked barley locally on Vancouver Island, working to reduce agricultural waste, improve soil health, and champion regenerative practices.

By keeping the supply chain local and circular, this collaboration between four Vancouver Island breweries supports:

• Reduced transportation impact

• A stronger regional grain economy

• Shared innovation that benefits the broader craft beer community

“Farming is risky. But if we don’t try to make things like this work, we don’t move forward,” says Mike.

🔬 The Science Behind the Sustainability

The naked barley used in Naked Grain (CDC Clear), a variety developed in Canada — is known for its adaptability, efficiency, and quality.

At Phillips Maltworks, our in-house malting facility provided the tools and technical precision needed to make the experiment scalable.

“That mash press made it possible,” notes Mike.

This small innovation in equipment opened the door for something much larger, a full-scale, commercially viable Canadian beer made entirely from naked barley.

🤝 Collaboration Meets Craft

This project reflects the spirit of collaboration that defines BC’s craft beer scene.
Each partner: Phillips, Field Five, Small Gods, and Whistle Buoy — brought their expertise, creativity, and shared commitment to quality and sustainability.

Together, we’ve created a beer that celebrates both the art and science of brewing, while paving the way for future exploration of locally grown, sustainable grains.

“Naked barley isn’t new, but people don’t want to work with it. It takes more care and understanding — Phillips helped us unlock its full potential.”

🍺 Try Naked Grain Helles Lager

Naked Grain Helles Lager is now available in the Phillips Tasting Room at 2010 Government Street and select craft-focused liquor stores across BC.

Each sip is a reminder of what’s possible when local farms, maltsters, and brewers work together toward a common goal: great beer, responsibly made.