This study had two distinct components: an agronomic/breeding segment and a sorghum malt component. The first consisted of field avaluation for traits related to agronomic performance, combinig ability, and heterosis. It was conducted during 1988 and 1989. The 1988 trial, with 51 genotypes, was sown at College Station and Halfway, TX. During 1989, the trial consisted of 7 females and 13 male parents, their 91 hybrids, a common check (ATx399*RTx430), and another hybrid check in one subset (ATx399*sc103-12E) to balance the whole design. It was conducted at College Station, Halfway, Chillicothe, and Corpus Christi, TX. In the first year each trial was divided into 4 subsets, while during the second, the trial consisted of 8 subsets, each with 15 experiment units.Hybrids, generally had larger panicles and higher yields, were taller, reached anthesis earlier, showed superior harvest indices, and lodged more than the parents. Combinig ability and GCA:SCA mean square ratios showed that general combinig ability variances were significant for all the variables studied. It showed also that additive variance was more important in controlling the genetic expression for the traits measured. The most superior parental lines for grain yield, across environments were ATx631, ATx623, ATx378, RTx430, R8505, VG146 and Dorado. Grain was saved from the field trials to be used in evaluation of some grain and malt characteristics. Sorghum beer is an important components of Africa culture and is used as a food or drink in many (...).