'Sewage beer' craft brew made from treated wastewater offers unique solution to water scarcity issues

Two people cheers beer glasses together.

With limited land to store and collect water, Singapore is considered to be one of the most water-stressed countries in the world

As water scarcity became a mounting concern for the country in the 1990s, Singapore’s national water agency — the Public Utilities Board — took a three-pronged approach to the issue: “collect every drop” of rainwater, desalinate seawater, and reclaim used water as much as possible. 

The last approach yielded NEWater: high-grade reclaimed water produced from treated wastewater. 

Today, that same water is being used to make a craft beer called NEWBrew. 

Brewerkz, the Singaporean brewery behind NEWBrew, turned quite a few heads when they handed out free cans at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan this past week. 

NEWBrew, which was colloquially dubbed “sewage brew” by attendees,  caused quite a stir as people realized they were drinking recycled wastewater — and actually liked it. 

“I didn’t know. I was really surprised,” Ignace Urchil Lokouako Mbouamboua, an international relations student from Congo, told the Associated Press

“I can even suggest that they make more and more of this kind of beer,” Mbouamboua added, going in for his third can. 

“It’s fresh, light, cool,” agreed Peter Rummel, another climate talk attendee. “It has a nice flavor.” 

a phone screen with a professional grade image of a NEWBrew can
Image via Brewerkz

Ong Tze-Ch’in, the chief executive of the Public Utilities Board, said NEWBrew was developed by Brewerkz in 2018 to showcase the country’s treated wastewater during International Water Week. 

In 2022, they produced another line. And they’ve continued producing it every year since, with greater fanfare each time. 

“It’s part of the acceptance of the use of recycled water, which in general is a difficult topic,” said Ong. “We did many things to drive it.”

On its own, NEWater doesn’t always go down easy. 

“They think it tastes funny,” Ong told the AP. “When put into a beer, it changes the mindset. Most people can’t tell the difference.”

Since the craft beer’s debut in 2018, the production of sustainable beer from recycled wastewater has grown in popularity, from San Francisco’s Epic OneWater Brew to the Czech Republic’s ERKO beer.

A statement on the Brewerkz website reads: “[We have] an opportunity to cast the spotlight on climate change impacts such as droughts and floods, which threaten the world’s freshwater supply.” 

Header image via Ketut Subiyanto / Pexels

Article Details

November 22, 2024 2:18 PM
Two photos side-by-side. On the left, Noah Kahan tops a drink with sprinkles next to a Bitty & Beau's employee. On the right is a screenshot of a TikTok of Kahan and the employees laughing together.

Noah Kahan supports coffee shop staffed by workers with disabilities: 'Five stars and the service was exceptional'

The singer stopped by Bitty & Beau's on Small Business Saturday before performing a concert in Charleston, South Carolina.
A screenshot of Roblox's "Mission Hunger" where a player serves meals to other characters in a community kitchen

New Roblox game donates a real-life meal to someone in need for each one served in 'virtual community kitchen'

The new series of “mini games” teaches young people about hunger — and how to help people in need.
No items found.

Want to stay up-to-date on positive news?

The best email in your inbox.
Filled with the day’s best good news.