It’s a beer made with only the best ingredients: premium German barley malt, aromatic Citra and Calypso hops, farm yeast from Norway – and recycled sewage.
NewBrew, a collaboration between Singapore’s national water agency and local craft brewery Brewerkz, has already proved popular and has sold out on tap at the brewery’s restaurants, according to reports.
Brewerkz describes the beer as “very tasty” and suited to Singapore’s tropical climate, with a mild aftertaste similar to toasted honey. But it also aims to shine a light on the climate emergency and the growing threat that droughts and floods pose to the world’s fresh water supplies.
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Singapore, a densely populated city-state, is particularly vulnerable to water scarcity due to the lack of natural water resources and the lack of space for water collection and storage facilities.
The country is investing in new ways to ensure a sustainable supply and reduce its dependence on water imported from neighboring Malaysia. This includes methods such as rainwater harvesting, seawater desalination and wastewater treatment.
Brew uses NEWater, wastewater that the Singapore Public Utilities Board has treated with microfiltration and reverse osmosis, as well as ultraviolet light to remove pollutants, bacteria and viruses. The end result meets drinking water guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization.
NEWater is mainly used for cooling and industrial processes, as well as topping up reservoirs, and is expected to meet 55% of Singapore’s water needs by 2060.
Unpredictable weather and a growing population have prompted a growing number of countries to turn to recycled wastewater to mitigate supplies. Some breweries have also incorporated reclaimed water into their products, including in Canada, Germany and the US.
The first batch of NEWBrew has already sold out on draft at Brewerkz restaurants, according to Bloomberg. The company reportedly expects to run out of stock in supermarkets by the end of the month, but will consider making another batch.
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