Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone? Never was the sentiment of Joni Mitchell’s song felt so strongly by beer lovers nationwide as it was this past year. The US water crisis continues to have brewers concerned as water shortages in Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and – particularly – California continue. The drought is having a significant impact on the beer business – in more ways than one.
In addition to the volume of water needed to produce beer, water quality has become a critical issue. And why wouldn’t it? When you think about it, there are only four main ingredients to beer: water, hops, malt and yeast. Which of these ingredients makes up nearly 90% of the beer you drink? … Exactly … Water.
Pure Water Resources…
Some of the best sources of clean, crisp water for beer making are found in locations such as the Russian River in California and the Colorado River – both of which have competing demands for shrinking supplies during the relentless drought. As one craft brewmaster said tongue in cheek, he hopes “people will forego washing their cars to be able to enjoy their favorite brew.” Many brewers are now flocking to “Beer City USA,” AKA Asheville, NC, where there is one brewery per 8,000 people because the Smoky Mountains still have a substantial volume of pure water. Others are migrating closer to Lake Michigan. But, what happens if the drought continues and spreads further eastward across the United States?
Water Filtration and Conservation Solutions…
Some producers are already being forced to rely on water-filtration systems, even including groundwater (which to us, is a dead, low energy form of water) to the mix, something that can make a brew taste bitter compared to the robust flavors produced when using pure water. Heavy minerals in well water challenge the color, flavor and aroma of the hops, making it not only more astringent, but more difficult to pick out subtle flavors such as floral, citrus, herbal tones and hints of chocolate, blueberries, honey and other elements that make craft beers so unique. In our recent blog, AquaNew CEO and inventor, Rob Gourley, shared his insight into water conservation and purification solutions through AquaNew’s sophisticated Water Purification Technology. “The resulting purified water will make great tasting, more robust and sweeter beer while conserving precious water resources and keeping craft beer more affordable for beer lovers to enjoy,” Gourley said.
Preserving the Flavor of Beer…
In a small, double blind survey conducted by AquaNew, the company asked several participants to sample a local craft beer that was produced using filtered water vs. those produced using AquaNew’s patent-pending, Ultra-Pure Watt-Ahh®. The majority of the beer reviewers chose the “AquaNew” beer for its flavor, claiming that it was sweeter, smoother, and better tasting than any of the other beer sampled. AquaNew hopes to work with brewers in integrating its advanced energy efficiency, water conservation, and other money-saving solutions into the production of beer, while also using AquaNew’s licensed technology to create the most flavorful beer possible.
Note: Octoberfest 2014 runs from Sept. 20-Oct. 5. AquaNew reminds consumers to Drink Alcohol Responsibly.