CLIMATE RESILIENCE
BREWERIES TAPPING INTO WATER CONSERVATION
FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, UNITED STATES
Thirsty? Sip smart and choose drink producers that actively monitor and minimize their use of clean water. Some breweries in Fort Collins, Colorado, are cutting water use, safeguarding natural resources and encouraging everyone to sip sustainably.
What's
changing
A 2020 article on Good Beer Hunting estimates that nearly 40% of the craft breweries in the United States are in states prone to drought. Brewing a single gallon of beer can require as much as 15 gallons of water. This high level of water use strains already limited resources, potentially leading to community-wide restrictions that could disrupt both daily life and beer production. As a result, breweries are strongly motivated to reduce water consumption and adopt more sustainable practices.
What's already
possible
Fort Collins is renowned for its breweries and outdoor activities along the nearby Cache La Poudre River. A 2014 report found that beer production takes 2% of the city’s water. Local breweries, like Horse & Dragon Brewing Company, are collaborating and sharing sustainable practices that protect the river and water supply.
Seizing
the opportunity
Horse & Dragon’s owners believe that a business cannot be sustainable without taking the health of its surrounding environment into account. Following advice from Odell, another brewer in town active in water conservation, the Horse & Dragon facility was constructed with an oversized hot liquor tank to capture water from cooling wort. The water is reused for cooling, other production phases, cleaning and landscape irrigation. Horse & Dragon learns new water conservation techniques through ongoing discussions with other breweries in the community, like New Belgium. Nearby Odell gives advice about engineering and construction, and they also learn from Gilded Goat Brewing. Horse & Dragon supports the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed through fundraising and is active in other groups that advocate for watershed and riparian health.
Standout
tactic
Horse & Dragon’s landscaping is drought tolerant, featuring plants from The Gardens on Spring Creek, a local botanical garden that teaches sustainable backyard landscaping.
How
it helps
Horse & Dragon’s desire to reduce water use is an ongoing effort. The brewery gains efficiency every year evidenced by not increasing water consumption at the same rate as it has increased production. They continue to share with guests the importance of water conservation, knowing that the business of beer in the west depends on the health of rivers like the Cache la Poudre.
Diving
deeper
How can the craft beer industry balance the need to conserve water with increasing demand for its products, especially in areas with growing populations?
Increasing
impact
Breweries could increase awareness about the environmental footprint of brewing among craft beer fans and teach them how to identify ecofriendly breweries.
Traveling
better
Travel is inherently carbon intensive. Whether you are taking a mini-break or an annual vacation, consider ways to minimize your impact by staying longer in one place, reconsidering how you travel to the destination, and supporting businesses that are working to make their community and the world a better place.
