Brauerei Locher using brewer grains to feed the military
Appenzell - The Swiss Army is now offering its recruits meat-free meals made from spent grains used in the beer brewing process. The spent grains are sourced from Brauerei Locher and the dishes come from its food upcycling brand brewbee. This is used to produce familiar Swiss dishes, which the army kitchens can then process as required.
(CONNECT) Brauerei Locher, a brewery based in Appenzell in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden, is now producing meals with its start-up brewbee to supply the Swiss Army. Its version of Geschnetzeltes, a dish of strips of meat in a creamy sauce, and minced meat are made from malt and spent grain, the nutrient-rich byproducts of the beer brewing process. In vegetarian meals, they can be prepared with a variety of sauces. According to a press release from Brauerei Locher, the military is therefore responding to the growing need for meat-free alternatives, in addition to sending a “strong signal in favor of food upcycling and the circular economy”.
“Our aim is to create a new offering with our spent grain-based foods to prove that upcycling in the food sector can be both sustainable and tasty”, comments Aurèle Meyer, Managing Director of Brauerei Locher. Olivier Schär, Head of Army Provisions, explains: “Rather than textured soy protein, we use the best spent grain that Switzerland has to offer, which has fully convinced us in terms of taste and texture. Culinary highlights from the military kitchen such as macaroni and minced beef as well as Geschnetzeltes served with a potato rösti are now also available in vegetarian versions”.
For Meyer, the collaboration with the Swiss Army is an “innovative step in the direction of sustainability and resource awareness. We are delighted to be able to offer our soldiers healthy and tasty meat alternatives”. ce/mm