Beer.

• Author: Zhou, Jane
• Position: LIFE-CYCLE STUDIES

Overview

Enkidu, a man raised by wild animals in the classic Sumerian poem Epic of Gilgamesh, knew nothing of beer until a prostitute guided him to a shepherd's camp. Upon finishing seven full cups, "his soul became free and cheerful, his heart rejoiced, his face glowed. ... He became human." Beer was so popular throughout ancient Mesopotamia that some historians argue it inspired the earliest farmers to domesticate grain.

Rich in carbohydrates, protein, and, of course, alcohol, beer became a dietary staple for many cultures throughout history. In Elizabethan England, mothers safeguarded their adolescents from foul water by serving them "beer stew"--stale bread mixed with beer and spices.

Beer is the third most popular drink in the world, after water and tea. Per-capita annual consumption is highest in the Czech Republic, at 157 liters per person, followed by Ireland (131) and Germany (116). World beer consumption has risen almost every year for the past two decades. The world average in 2005 was 23 liters per person.

Closing the Loop

Some breweries, such as Coors in the United States and Fourex in Australia, have begun to reduce their water footprint through wastewater recycling methods, such as steam recapture. In 2007, Fourex reduced its water consumption to 2.2 liters for each liter of beer. Other innovative practices include capturing the brewery's carbon dioxide emissions, reusing the gas during the carbonation process, and using more efficient heating and cooling systems to save energy. U.S. breweries, large and small, often sell leftover grain, still highly nutritious, to farmers and food companies as agricultural feed and processed food additives.

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Beers brewed and bottled in one country and shipped to another for consumption are costly both to consumers and to the environment. "Imported" beers brewed locally under license according to a parent company's recipe, and other locally and regionally brewed beers, eliminate the need for long-distance transportation. Truly...