Dive Brief:
- Craft brewery Ballast Point Brewing is making beer with water produced from Ambient Water’s atmospheric water generation systems, which extract water from humidity in the air, according to a company press release.
- The system provides the brewer with a sustainable water source. “The [system] generates clean and exceptionally pure water, making it a great water source for brewers and the perfect canvas for exploring new styles and flavors,” Julia Cain, director of R&D for Ballast Point Brewing, said in a statement.
- Ballast Point has brewed two pilsners thus far using the water, which has enabled the company to explore how different sulfate and chloride levels in the water enhance taste and mouthfeel.
Dive Insight:
Water produced from atmospheric water generation yields possibilities for craft brew experimentation and could potentially spur innovation in other food and beverage products as well.
“Americans consume a lot of beer, and water is the main ingredient,” Ambient Water CEO Keith White said in a press release. “Breweries are seeking a sustainable water source that is not only cost efficient but also pure, allowing the brewer to manipulate taste specific to the beer they are creating.” So far, Ballast Point has been using the water to test how different chemical levels affect hop and malt taste, bitterness and mouthfeel.
Beer made with condensation is also likely to capture consumer interest, as craft beer drinkers are already searching for unique innovations in their alcohol. This kind of back story can help build a brand and its products stand out from competitors on the shelf.
“Maybe it’s a story about the artisan, the ingredient, the entrepreneur creating the product. People want a good story. It’s what’s going to differentiate the product and build up brand equity and messaging," Dave Donnan, lead partner in A.T. Kearney's Food and Beverage practice, recently told Food Dive about how food brands can stand out.
Other beer companies have used various gimmicks and flavor profiles to draw drinkers to their brands. Creating seasonal varieties like pumpkin spice and eggnog has permeated the beer category. Brewers have also begun adding probiotics to brews to give them the health boost many beer drinkers seek. Ballast Point could be onto something different — a unique way of exploring how to make great-tasting beer.
It will be interesting to see if using water extracted from condensation catches on with other companies. Besides working with Ballast Point, for example, Ambient Water also supplies other commercial industries such as oil and gas exploration and farming. Time will tell if the technology proves to be a lucrative innovation for the craft brewer.