Ep54 — An Open Discussion About Sustainability in Beer
Apr 22, 2024
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Ben Stubbs, co-founder of Rivington Brewery, Chris Drummond from All Kin Brewing, and Jonny Heyes, IMBC founder, dive deep into sustainability in the beer industry. They discuss the challenges of making brewing more environmentally friendly amidst energy-intensive processes. Innovative solutions like local sourcing, energy efficiency, and regenerative farming take center stage. They also tackle the issue of greenwashing, emphasizing the need for transparency and genuine efforts in sustainability. It's a thought-provoking conversation on brewing's future!
Sustainability in brewing is essential, with brewers actively seeking ways to reduce their environmental impact while maintaining product quality.
Local sourcing of ingredients is crucial for sustainability, enhancing freshness and supporting community economies while reducing transportation emissions.
Transparency in sustainability practices is increasingly demanded by consumers, highlighting the need for breweries to communicate their efforts effectively and build trust.
Deep dives
The Legacy of Indie Man Beer Con
Indie Man Beer Con has played a significant role in fostering community and connections among beer lovers in Manchester over the years. Many attendees, including the host, cherish the friendships formed through shared experiences at the festival. The event showcased a diverse range of breweries and beers, creating a vibrant atmosphere that encouraged exploration and appreciation of craft beer. Despite its absence in 2024, the festival's impact on the local beer culture remains profound, highlighting the importance of such events in building community and celebrating the art of brewing.
Sustainability in the Brewing Industry
Sustainability in beer brewing has emerged as a crucial discussion point among industry professionals, emphasizing the need for eco-conscious practices throughout the supply chain. The panel features brewers who are actively seeking ways to lessen their environmental impact while maintaining quality. Topics such as water usage, energy consumption, and ingredient sourcing were at the forefront of the conversation, with participants sharing innovative approaches to minimize carbon footprints. For instance, the use of solar-powered systems at events demonstrates an interest in reducing reliance on traditional energy sources.
Local Sourcing and Community Impact
Local sourcing has become increasingly important for breweries to enhance sustainability and support their communities. The conversation highlighted the benefits of brewing beer with locally grown ingredients, which not only reduces transportation emissions but also improves the freshness of the beer. Establishing connections between breweries and local farms can also lead to the reduction of overall environmental impact. As breweries strive to sell a higher percentage of their products within their communities, they contribute to local economies and reduce the need for long-distance shipping.
Innovative Techniques in Brewing
Many breweries are exploring innovative techniques to improve sustainability and efficiency in their brewing processes. Utilizing hop extracts and other technologies allows brewers to reduce their carbon footprint while still producing high-quality beers. This approach can lead to better yields and lower ingredient costs, providing a financial incentive for sustainability. As brewers experiment with new methods and technologies, the industry stands to benefit from shared knowledge and collaboration in achieving greater environmental responsibility.
Consumer Expectations and Accountability
As awareness of environmental issues grows, consumers are increasingly expecting breweries to practice transparency in their sustainability efforts. This shift brings forth the need for breweries to communicate their practices clearly and honestly to build trust with their customers. Many brewers recognize the importance of accountability but also face challenges in balancing innovative sustainability practices with cost-effectiveness. Effective communication and sharing best practices among breweries can help foster a culture of sustainability within the industry, ultimately benefiting both brewers and consumers.
How important is the role of sustainability in brewing? How does beer actually get made sustainably when it’s an incredibly energy-intensive process to actually get your beer from the farm to your glass? And how does the industry avoid greenwashing as it attempts to be more responsible about its impact on our climate and the environment?
All these questions and more are answered in our latest podcast episode: An Open Discussion About Sustainability in Beer. Recorded live at IndyManBeerCon in October 2023, this episode features Ben Stubbs of Rivington Brew Co, Chris Drummond of Allkin Brewing, IMBC founder Jonny Heyes, and is hosted by our very own Jonny Hamilton.
At the start of the episode there’s also some reflection from our regular host Matthew Curtis about IMBC’s decision not to hold an event in 2024, and what the festival means to him.
We’re able to produce The Pellicle Podcast directly thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and our sponsors Loughran Brewers Select. If you’re enjoying this podcast, or the weekly articles we publish, please consider taking out a monthly subscription for less than the price of a pint a month.
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