From 24 to 120 Tonnes: Canyon’s 2026 Grain Harvest

This year, our grain harvest brought in 120 tonnes of Canyon-grown grain.

Four years ago, that number was 24.

What started as a simple question, “what if we grew our own malt?”, has grown into a core part of how we brew. And each year, it gets a little bigger.

Grown here. Brewed here.

Our Grain to Glass project is exactly what it sounds like. We grow our own grain right here in Central Otago, then use it to brew our beer.

No long-haul freight. No mystery ingredients. Just grain we’ve planted, grown, and harvested ourselves, turned into beer we’re proud to pour.

It’s local in the truest sense, and it gives us full traceability from paddock to pint.

A project that keeps growing

The first harvest was 24 tonnes. Four years on, we’re at 120.

That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from a lot of work behind the scenes, especially from Farmer James, who’s been steadily increasing yield season after season.

There’s something pretty satisfying about seeing it all come together each year. Same land. Same idea. Just scaled up.

Why it matters

Growing our own grain changes the way we think about brewing.

It means we can cut down transport emissions by sourcing ingredients right from our backyard. It gives us more control over quality and supply. And it lets us build something that feels genuinely connected to this place.

Nothing goes to waste

The grain doesn’t stop pulling its weight once the beer is brewed.

Spent grain heads to our kitchens, where it’s used in things like bread at The Boat Shed Bakery. The rest goes back to the farm to feed the livestock roaming the same land the barley grows on.

It’s a full-circle system. One that gives back to the land that grows it.

At the end of the day, this isn’t just about growing grain. It’s about building a better way of brewing.

Local. Sustainable. Fully traceable.

Every batch of Canyon Gold is a reflection of that. Grown here in Central Otago. Brewed by us. Poured fresh.

And if the last four years are anything to go by, we’re only just getting started.