Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
Japanese brewer and students make dog treats from spent malt
Yoho Brewing and university students made dog cookies from spent malt in Ebetsu, Hokkaido.
Spent malt is grain left over from brewing beer, and the company’s restaurant produces about 10 metric tons of it each year, most of which is used as livestock feed.
Students from Rakuno Gakuen University helped develop the recipe, drying and grinding the malt before mixing it with flour, university-produced milk and other ingredients; no sugar or salt was added.
At an October event, about 200 dogs tried the prototype treats, and about 80% of survey respondents said their dogs enjoyed them.
The project aims to put more brewing waste to use while making a treat for dogs and their owners.
Yoho Brewing is considering commercial production, including outsourcing the work to another company, but no launch plans are stated.
Yoho Brewing and students at Rakuno Gakuen University are developing dog cookies made with spent malt from beer brewing.
The project aims to make use of a byproduct that is mostly used as livestock feed.
The prototype recipe uses dried, ground spent malt, flour and university-produced milk, with no added sugar or salt.
About 200 dogs sampled the cookies at an Oct. 4 event in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, and about 80% of survey respondents said their dogs enjoyed them.
Yoho Brewing is considering outsourcing production and selling the treats if they are commercialized.
- Who
- Yoho Brewing and students at Rakuno Gakuen University.
- What
- They are developing dog cookies made with spent malt, a byproduct of brewing.
- When
- The collaboration has been under way since March; prototypes were offered at an event on Oct. 4, 2026.
- Where
- The project involves Sora to Shiba at Es Con Field Hokkaido and Rakuno Gakuen University in Ebetsu, Hokkaido.
- Why
- Staff wanted to find another use for spent malt and considered whether fans and their dogs could enjoy the ballpark with beer as a common thread.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sora to Shiba and Rakuno Gakuen University worked together on projects including brewing beer with university-grown rye.
The university and Sora to Shiba began collaborating on the dog treat project.
Prototype cookies were offered to visitors and dogs at an animal welfare festival at Rakuno Gakuen University in Ebetsu.
Yoho Brewing reported that roughly 200 dogs tried the cookies and that about 80% of survey respondents said their dogs enjoyed them.
- Spent malt
- About 10 metric tons produced annually by Sora to Shiba
- Prototype ingredients
- Dried, ground spent malt, flour and university-produced milk; no added sugar or salt
- Cookies baked
- 260
- Dogs sampled
- Roughly 200
- Survey responses
- More than 90; about 80% said their dogs “really enjoyed” or “enjoyed” the treats
What people are saying
They are environmentally friendly and healthy. They are safe to eat, and their hardness and size also seem just right.
My dog was cautious at first but seems to like them. Now the dog is asking for more.