Save water, drink beer! Need I say more?  If only it was that simple.  You may not realise, but brewing beer requires a large amount of water, and is extremely energy intensive.  This raises the question: what are the environmental implications of enjoying a cold beer after a hard days work? Drought, climate change and the Emissions Trading Scheme are big issues in Australian society, and have left Australian consumers increasingly conscious of the products they buy.

Tapping into the emerging market for sustainable and environmentally friendly products, two very different Tasmanian breweries have developed their own way to provide consumers with an environmentally friendly beer.  The end result is the 100 per cent carbon neutral beer, Cascade Green, and craft brewers the Two Metre Tall Company's range of ales.  Cascade and the Two Metre Tall Company have two very different approaches and philosophies when it comes to brewing their beer. However, both have positioned their beers as high quality, premium products, that consider the many environmental implications that arise from brewing beer.

Major Tasmanian based brewer, Cascade, looked into all the elements of the product's life cycle; growing and souring the ingredients, brewing production, packaging, distribution and storage. This allowed them to calculate the total embedded greenhouse emissions, and thus successfully reduced emissions by 16 per cent. In contrast, the Two Metre Tall Company is a farm and a brewery all in one, which aims to grow all the ingredients using organic principles and using compost instead of synthetic fertilizers.  It is very conscious of food miles, so the aim is to keep everything on the farm and to promote Tasmanian grown ingredients.

To address water usage, Scott Delzoppo, Sustainability Manager at the Fosters Group, (who owns Cascade) explains how Cascade implemented a range of strategies including reusing and recycling water to irrigate. These include the installation of two water-recycling systems and applying a water management plan to increase water efficiency.  These strategies have enabled Cascade to reduce their total water consumption by 30 per cent per unit of production over the past six years.  Through rigorous monitoring, Cascade can calculate water usage and efficiency monthly. 

The Two Metre Tall Company's aim is similar. They try to minimise water usage where possible;, reusing water throughout the brewery and recycling water to irrigate the paddocks.

Water usage is a major factor when brewing beer.  Owen Johnston, head brewer at Moo Brew, explains that the Moorilla Brewery also recycles their water to irrigate their vines using a grey water irrigations system. 

However, Tasmanian breweries are not yet leading the way in water reduction.  The drought in Queensland has seen strict water restrictions implemented in their state, and the Yatala Brewery on the Gold Coast has reduced their water consumption down to 2.2 litres of water for every one litre of beer produced.  In contrast, Moo Brew uses 10 litres of water to produce one litre of beer.  Still thinking that drinking beer saves water?

Water is not the only factor that needs to be considered during the brewing process, especially if the brewery is trying to position itself as environmentally friendly.  Both Cascade and the Two Metre Tall Company have identified that where the ingredients are sourced from will impact on the level of greenhouse emissions generated in the overall brewing process.

The Two Metre Tall Company is the world's only farm-based brewery. It is located in the Derwent Valley and is owned and operated by Jane and Ashley Huntington.  Jane Huntington explains, "We are very conscious of food miles." They have planted their own barley crop, but source hops from Bushy Park in Tasmania's Derwent Valley - a ten minute drive from their brewery.  Their aim is to keep everything from growing to brewing on the farm site whenever possible; even the spent ingredients are fed to the cattle on the farm.

Cascade has a similar approach to sourcing ingredients.  Delzoppo explains that hops and barley are sourced from Tasmanian farmers to ensure the transport component of the raw materials is reduced.

Ingredients and water are two parts of the Green Beer issue.  Carbon offsetting and emissions trading schemes have become a big issue for Australians.  In addition to this Johnston explains that there has been a change in consumption trends, leading to a decline in Australians consuming beer.  Australians are now choosing to eat and drink healthier options.  Both Cascade and the Two Metre Tall Company have identified that there is consumer demand for premium quality and environmentally friendly beers.

Delzoppo says that Cascade conducted extensive research prior to the launch of Cascade Green to determine the consumer willingness towards environmental products.  The research found there was an increasing appetite from everyday people to make greener choices in their lifestyle.  Delzoppo believes that developing the beer has given consumers the ability to contribute to reducing carbon emissions - drinking the green beer allows them to do something that is within their reach and lifestyle.

The Two Metre Tall Company has a demand greater than their supply. The Huntingtons explain that their customers are interested in taste, quality and they value the use of local ingredients in the brewing process.  A fundamental part of the Two Metre Tall Company's strategy and positioning came from identifying that people are increasingly more interested in the quality of the food and drink they put into their body.  Two Metre Tall Company does not use any preservatives in their ales and uses a natural fermentation process. This allows them to tap into the food and health conscious consumer, as well as the environmentally aware.

Carbon offsetting has become a major factor in Australian society, allowing businesses to make their product more environmentally friendly.  Cascade and the Two Metre Tall Company have two completely different approaches when it comes to offsetting their beer.

Delzoppo explains "The Green component is built upon a number of layers; the ultimate part is that we are offsetting 100 per cent of all the green house gas emissions that are generated."  Cascade has calculated that a carton of 24 beers produces 16 kg of carbon emissions.  To offset, Cascade follows the guidelines and standards set out by the Department of Climate Change and this enables them to purchase carbon credits to offset the emissions.  Reducing greenhouse emissions during production has been achieved through using hydro-power and reducing the use of oil fired boilers and boil time.  However, since Tasmania joined the national electricity grid through Basslink, not all electricity used in Tasmania is hydro generated.

It is all well and good that there are now environmentally friendly beers available that consider water use, food miles and carbon offsetting, but will this mean taste is sacrificed?  Both Cascade and the Two Metre Tall Company argue that, in fact, it is the complete opposite. The feedback received about their beers' taste has been overwhelmingly positive.  Delzoppo says the beer has a "distinct fruity aroma and people are responding favourably." He adds, "The environmental offsetting is seen as an added component to the fact that it is a really good beer." Huntington says that they "use the older variety hops to get full flavoured aromatics which is fundamental to the flavour of the beer."

Depending on what you look for in a beer, whether it is the environmental component, quality or taste, Cascade Green and the Two Metre Tall Company appear to meet the criteria.  It was very interesting to learn that drinking beer to save water is in fact a complete sham.  Unfortunately for all the avid beer drinkers out there, drinking more beer does not help save water at all.  However, if you are after a way to help ease your 'green conscience' perhaps ask for an environmentally friendly beer next time you are at your favourite 'watering hole.'

By Katie Bouchard