Beer Byproduct: Local Bakery's Pretzels Repurpose Spent Grains

Waste not, want not, they say. Especially when that waste can be baked into something delicious. The brewing process creates food waste in the form of spent grains, also sometimes called draff, which is the solids that are left over after wort production in the brewing process. Wort is the liquid that is extracted from the mashing during the brewing of beer, and it contains the sugars that will be fermented by the brewing yeast to make alcohol. What's left isn't small potatoes. According to statistics from the Brewers Association, every six-pack of beer produces one pound of spent grain waste. The association reports that 24.8 million barrels of beer were produced by craft breweries in 2021, leaving behind 1.8 billion pounds of spent grain. While in the past many breweries simply disposed this byproduct, it is now more frequently being repurposed and upcycled as a desirable product of its own. Spent grains are initially wet but can be dried and processed to preserve them for future uses, like to make a usable flour. Although spent grains can make good feed for chicken or cattle, they can also be consumed by humans in a variety of preparations, such as baked goods, pasta, snacks, yogurt or plant-based yogurt alternatives or fruit beverages. Spent grains have a pleasant nutty flavor that works particularly well in the making of large, hand-shaped pretzels and The Bread Shed of Keene has been doing just that, and doing it well, for years now. The Bread Shed is owned by head baker Brittany Migneault, who grew up around an Italian bakery, and opened its doors in 2011, originally selling its products at farmers' markets. Embraced by the community for its high-quality products made with simple and all-natural ingredients, the business quickly grew to include retail locations and restaurants and now also operates a storefront on Keene's Krif Road that is open for limited hours on Friday afternoons. Distributed widely throughout New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine, you can find The Bread Shed's spent grain pretzels at local restaurants like The Smoking Trout in Marlborough, Coopershill in Peterborough and Elm City Brewing Company in Keene (pictured), among many others across the state. A proud partner in the baking process, Elm City's spent grains are utilized in The Bread Shed's pretzels and their appearance as an appetizer on the brewery's restaurant menu completes a full-circle experience from start to finish. Crispy and salty on the outside, tender and soft on the inside with a rich and malty flavor, Elm City serves the pretzels with sides of both grain mustard and an ooey-gooey beer cheese made from their own Keene Kolsch brew. And Elm City doesn't stop with the pretzels and beer cheese. They're also using their craft beer in other menu items, like their Kolsch-poached shrimp cocktail, the beer-battered fish and chips made from fresh ale batter and a chocolate stout mousse with their Irish stout. But let's get back to the pretzels. In addition to the standard size, they can also be purchased wholesale from The Bread Shed in a jumbo size or in a rustic stick shape that measures 6 to 7 inches in length for perfect dipping. For foodies with a passion for handmade pretzels, The Bread Shed's spent grain version will leave diners full and satisfied with the added feel-good bonus of preventing food waste. It's a delicious win-win with a side of beer cheese. For more information about The Bread Shed products and retail/restaurant locations, visit thebreadshed.com. To learn more about Elm City Brewing Company's craft beer and menu, visit elmcitybrewing.com.