We at Devil's Canyon Brewing Co. are always thinking about new ways to make our brewery more sustainably responsible. The use of water within brewing processes is a huge issue for water conservation. To produce 1 unit of beer at a brewery, 10 equal units of water are required throughout the brewing process. This trade off is becoming more and more detrimental with the ongoing threat of drought in California. To begin taking steps toward a more sustainable future for the brewing industry, we partnered with San Francisco based company, Epic Cleantec to brew a Kölsch Style Ale using recycled water which was filtered and purified using their OneWater System. The beer and purification tech were named a TIME best invention of 2023 and listed in Fast Company's 2023 World Changing Ideas Awards.
The Epic Onewater Brew project, though experimental, proved that recycled water is just as good, if not better, than the municipality water we use every day. We set out to answer the question: Can we brew a beer from recycled water? The Epic Onewater Brew is proof that using recycled water in the brewing industry is a very viable water source. One that would be an incredible win for water conservation and sustainability
The Epic Onewater Brew project, though experimental, proved that recycled water is just as good, if not better, than the municipality water we use every day. We set out to answer the question: Can we brew a beer from recycled water? The Epic Onewater Brew is proof that using recycled water in the brewing industry is a very viable water source. One that would be an incredible win for water conservation and sustainability
Gaining National & International Attention
As word spread of this pioneering process, Devil's Canyonand the Eipc OneWater Brew have been featured on Newsnation, NBC Bay Area, as well as The Waterfall Podcast. This collaboration with Epic Cleantec has allowed us to take steps toward addressing the ongoing the water issue.
NBC Bay Area |
Newsnation |
The Waterfall Podcast
|
THE COMMERCIAL RUN
|
At Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company, we believe that great beer can tell a great story. That’s why we partnered with Epic Cleantec to bring to life a bold new concept worthy of our craft: two commercial beer releases brewed using highly purified recycled water — Shower Hour IPA (6 % ABV) and Laundry Club Kölsch (4.6 % ABV).
The innovation begins at source: this is water originally captured from showers and laundry in high-rise buildings, then treated through multi-stage purification including reverse osmosis, UV and other advanced methods to achieve exceptional clarity and safety. We didn’t stop at the water. The IPA was crafted using ingredients selected for their sustainability credentials — drought-tolerant Azacca® hops, nutrient-supportive Fonio grain (an ancient cereal that thrives with minimal inputs), and fast-fermenting kveik yeast to reduce energy consumption. The goal? To pack every sip with more than flavor: to spark curiosity, shift perceptions, and show how innovation in water reuse can move from hidden infrastructure into something people can engage with and enjoy. As Epic puts it, the beer is “a storytelling tool, science lesson and invitation to think differently about our most essential resource.” In a time when 40 out of 50 U.S. states face water shortages and the vast majority of wastewater is discharged untreated, this project is more than marketing—it’s a glimpse into what happens when buildings, systems and beers align around purpose. Raise your glass to flavor, but also to possibility: the future of water isn’t scarcity—it’s reuse, quality and creativity. |
IN THE MEDIA (so far)
|
Where & How Can I buy?The Shower Hour IPA and Laundry Club Kölsch are now available through multiple channels so you can experience the future of sustainable brewing at home:
This map shows all current retail locations carrying one or both of these beers. It is updated daily as new stores, bars, and restaurants begin stocking the products — check back often to find the closest location near you. |
|
