Bees, boreholes and bio diversity in brewing
The modern brewing process has a notable impact on the environment. From the large volume of water used to make every pint to global exportation and distribution, breweries have traditionally been burdened with a heavy environmental footprint. Staffordshire based Freedom Brewery has set out to challenge this issue – and has been recognised by the industry with their accolade for SIBA Green Business of the Year at this year’s Business & Industry Awards.
Presented at the iconic BeerX event in Sheffield last week, the judges commended Freedom for its efforts to fully consider the environmental impact of its business at every level. It was recognised for its work in water and waste management, recycling, energy efficiency and supporting bio-diversity in the local landscape.
Freedom specialises in producing long matured, authentic beer in a range of styles including an Organic Helles, American Pilsner and Kolsch. Sustainable and ethical brewing has always been a huge focus, from the company’s beginnings in Fulham, London in 1995. As the demand for Freedom grew, so too did the need to brew as ethically as possible; and so in 2004 Freedom left its urban roots and moved north to Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire, to a private estate of rolling countryside to continue its quest for sustainable production.
Freedom’s brewing process:
- Water sourced from a borehole on the Freedom Brewery site. This sustainable source of natural Burton spring water is used throughout the brewing process
- The heating process uses thermal fluid rather than traditional steam, cutting emissions by 70%
- Isinglass finings (the most common fining, from the swim bladders of fish) are not used in the filtration process, meaning Freedom beer is suitable for vegans
- After packaging, the beer is distributed by vans that are cleaned with rain water
Waste management
Water:
- In 2014, Freedom built a reed bed water drainage system which enables the brewery to clean waste water without chemicals – through a natural anaerobic digestion treatment system, which filters back into the local watershed
- Surrounded by acres of countryside, the brewery has been able to build the reed beds right next to the site – so no energy is wasted through transport
Spent grain:
- Once the mashing process is complete, the malt is separated from the wort and the spent grain goes to a local dairy farm to be used as cattle feed
Recycling:
- All of Freedom’s waste paper is shredded and used by a local dairy farmer as bedding for cattle
- Freedom also upcycles kegs that are no longer fit for purpose into planters and wall decorations for stockists
Bio-diversity in the local landscape
Bees:
- To support bio-diversity in the local landscape, Freedom has taken five colonies of bees from a local bee farmer. Freedom is the first brewery in the UK to sponsor an apprentice beekeeper, Phoebe Lamb from Uttoxeter to manage these bee colonies
- A bonus bi-product of this proactive and positive approach to the local environment and the bee population, is the prospect of seasonal honey beer
Jonathan Smith, Head Brewer at Freedom Brewery comments: “ Sustainably has always been a core part of Freedom Brewery operations, but we’ve really been able to step up our efforts since leaving London and taking advantage of the space and superior water source in the Midlands. Being recognised as SIBA Green Business of the Year 2016 marks over 10 years at our current site where we have – and will continue – to invest in sustainable production.”
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