Beer, wine, and spirits made from food waste? Sipping sustainably was never easier or tastier with these eco distilleries and brewers.
Here are some sobering facts: globally, around 24 million slices of bread are wasted every day, 14 percent of food produced is lost between harvest and retail, and an estimated 17 percent of total global food production goes wasted.
Then a bit of good news: there are companies around the world making use of this waste to create something new and exciting. Among them are a growing breed of distilleries and breweries putting out excellent spirits. Here are seven brands making drinks from food waste for the win of sustainability and circular economy so you can drink eco-responsibly.
1. Toast Ale
U.K.-based Toast Ale was founded by food waste activist Tristram Stuart. The company brews their craft beer with surplus bread from bakeries and supermarkets that would otherwise be tossed out. The result is a range of nine different planet-saving craft beers in well-designed cans and bottles. Since its inception in 2016, the brand has diverted over 2.4 million slices of bread from landfills, saving 257,413 liters of water and 42 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
2. Alchemy Distillery
Ever tried whiskey from bagels? California-based Alchemy Distillery collaborates with local bakery Los Bagels and takes stale bagels to turn them into small batches of the amber dram. Labeled Los Bagels Whiskey, the first barrel, which was produced in 2019 is sold out while the next release will be in 2022. While waiting, check out their other whiskeys like the Boldt Cereal Killer and the Boldt Bourbon. All their spirits are made from produce grown within 80 miles of the distillery.
3. Misadventure & Co.
4. Sachi
Tofu is every vegan’s best friend but its production also produces tofu whey, which is often discarded. Singapore-based firm Sachi takes this by-product and turns it into an alcoholic beverage that tastes very much like sake. The product was invented in the National University of Singapore’s labs, where a team of researchers figured out a way to utilize the liquid in a bid to reduce waste. The result is a drink that is not only sustainable but also comes with health benefits as tofu whey is high in calcium and prebiotics.
5. Seven Bro7thers Brewery
Cornflakes production is a massive industry and Seven Bro7thers Brewery has partnered with cereal brand Kellogg’s to make beer from cornflakes that don’t make it into the box. These rejected cornflakes are often those that are too small, too big, or overcooked. The brewery has a range of vegan-friendly beers which includes the Seven Brothers Brewery Easy IPA, Good Day IPA, or the Honeycomb Pale Ale.
6. Served
In Europe alone, over 50 million tonnes of produce are discarded each year for not looking perfect enough to be sold at the supermarkets. That’s enough to galvanize U.K. company Served into taking these imperfect fruit and infusing them into its range of alcoholic sparkling waters. These hard seltzers, as this emerging categories of drinks are known, have a crisp, light flavor, and a touch of natural sweetness. Their products have been so successful that celebrity Ellie Goulding is an investor and she remarks: “The best hard seltzer I’ve tasted by quite some margin, but also because this is a brand driven by care and respect for the natural world at this crucial point.”
7. Discarded Spirits
Banana peels, the fruit of coffee berries, and grape skins are given a new lease on life with U.K.-based brand Discarded Spirits. These three main byproducts are turned into rum, vermouth, and vodka, and each spirit has its own characteristics. The rum has notes of warm banana bread and treacle, the vodka is redolent of fresh green apples with a luscious mouthfeel while the vermouth has notes of cherry, roasted coffee, and dark chocolate.
Reprinted with permission from abillion.
Related on Ethos:
All products featured on Ethos have been independently selected by our editorial team.
When you buy something through our links, Ethos may earn an affiliate commission.
