How a Craft Brewery Revolutionized Its Beer with Chemical-Free Water Treatment
In the historic setting of a beautifully restored 1845 hotel in small-town Ontario, a craft brewery faced a challenge familiar to many brewers: achieving premium beer quality while honouring their commitment to environmental sustainability.
“95% of beer is water, so water chemistry is critical,” explains the Head Brewer, whose background in biochemistry and microbiology informs their scientifically grounded approach to brewing excellence.
The solution? A cutting-edge Ozone Technology water treatment system from Sublime Environmental that dramatically transformed water quality and brewing operations while delivering an impressive three-year ROI, significantly outperforming the industry-standard five-year payback.
The Craft Brewer’s Water Quality Challenge: Balancing Quality & Sustainability
Operating in a historic building with space constraints, the craft brewery embraced sustainability while producing premium handcrafted ales, lagers, and sours. However, this commitment created several operational challenges:
Water Profile Management for Consistent Brewing Results
- Inconsistent Municipal Supply: Fluctuating levels of chlorine, iron, zinc, sulphur, and manganese affected beer flavour profiles
- Quality Impact: With beer comprising of 95% water, even subtle water chemistry variations significantly impacted product quality
- Space Limitations: The Historic building structure has limited options for treatment infrastructure
Environmental Challenges in Brewery Water Systems
- Chemical Dependency: Conventional processes require approximately 60 litres of Peroxyacetic Acid (PAA) per tank
- Wastewater Impact: Chemicals used in brewing and cleaning ultimately entered the municipal wastewater system
- Water Consumption: Traditional brewing operations typically required four barrels of water to produce just one barrel of beer
- Energy Usage: Hot water requirements for adequate sanitation drove up energy costs
The brewery needed a solution that could deliver consistent, premium-quality brewing process water while supporting its environmental commitments—all within the space constraints of its historic location.
Limitations of Conventional Brewery Water Treatment Methods
The craft brewery had previously encountered several drawbacks with traditional water treatment approaches:
- Chemical Treatment: Required storage, handling, and precise management of potentially harmful chemicals
- Reverse Osmosis: Removed beneficial minerals alongside contaminants, requiring remineralization
- Carbon Filtration Alone: Insufficient for complete contaminant removal and sanitation needs
- UV Systems: Limited effectiveness against certain contaminants and no residual sanitizing effect
- Municipal Water Variability: Seasonal fluctuations in municipal water quality affected brewing consistency
- Multiple System Requirements: Separate systems for brewing water and sanitization created complexity and space issues
These conventional methods not only failed to fully address the brewery’s water quality and sanitation & CIP needs but also contradicted their sustainability goals.
The Sublime Solution: Dual-Purpose Ozone Water Treatment for Breweries
After assessing the craft brewery’s specific challenges, Sublime Environmental implemented an NSF-61 certified ozone water treatment system to address brewing water quality and sanitization needs.
Brewery Water System Specifications for Craft Production
The installed ozone water treatment system featured:
- Compact Design: Small footprint (approximately 36″W x 24″L x 50″H) ideal for historic building constraints
- Advanced Technology: 4–8 gr/hr ozone generator with automatic air dryer
- Safety Features: In-line and ambient ozone monitors with automatic self-cleaning filter
- Durability: Teflon tubing and specialized materials for brewing environments
- Dual Functionality: Single system serving both brewing water and CIP sanitation needs
- Integrated Filtration: Carbon filtration stage to capture microplastics and residual ozone
Water Treatment Implementation Process for Brewing Operations
The system installation was carefully integrated into the brewery’s operations:
- Comprehensive Assessment: Detailed analysis of water quality and brewing requirements
- Custom System Design: Engineering of a dual-purpose solution based on facility constraints
- Strategic Installation: Implementation with minimal disruption to brewing operations
- Water Profile Testing: Verification of water quality parameters for brewing excellence
- Staff Training: Comprehensive instruction on system operation and monitoring
- Ongoing Support: Regular water quality testing and system optimization
Transformative Results for Brewing Excellence
The implementation delivered multiple significant benefits that extended throughout the craft brewery’s operations:
Environmental Impact Reduction Through Sustainable Water Management
- 95% Chemical Elimination: Virtually eliminated PAA use in brewing and cleaning processes
- Improved Wastewater: Ozonated water breaks down to oxygen, unlike chemicals that contaminate wastewater
- Water Conservation: Closed-loop final rinse system dramatically reduced water consumption
- Energy Savings: Cold water sanitization eliminated the need for hot water heating
Operational Advantages of Ozone Treatment in Brewing
- Three-Year ROI: Significantly outperformed the industry-standard five-year payback period
- Cost Efficiency: System operated at just $0.05 per 1,000 litres of water treated
- Maintenance Reduction: Virtually eliminated treatment system maintenance costs
- Space Efficiency: Compact design integrated perfectly within historic building constraints
- Brewing Simplicity: Eliminated the need for salt during the brewing process
Product Quality Improvements Through Superior Water Treatment
- Consistent Water Profile: Stable water chemistry despite municipal supply fluctuations
- Enhanced Flavour Control: Removal of contaminants that could affect beer flavour profiles
- Quality Assurance: NSF-61 certification ensures the highest safety standards
- Brand Consistency: Reliable flavour profiles across different brewing batches
Case Study: Historic Ontario Craft Brewery Water Transformation
A craft brewery in a restored 1845 hotel building in Ontario implemented our dual-purpose ozone water treatment system to address water quality inconsistencies while honouring their commitment to sustainability. More examples are in our [Case Studies](/case-studies/) section.
The system delivered exceptional results:
- Complete elimination of chlorine and other contaminants affecting beer flavour
- 95% reduction in chemical sanitizer usage
- Successful implementation within the tight space constraints of a historic building
- Three-year return on investment through chemical, water, and energy savings
- Enhanced sustainability credentials supporting brand positioning
“It doesn’t make sense to use anything other than ozone solutions for so many reasons… the quick ROI and cost savings, the environmental benefits, not to mention premium quality beer. You can’t produce great beer without great water. Sublime Environmental alleviates so many of the concerns with respect to water quality and makes the brewing process so much easier.”
– Head Brewer at the Craft Brewery.
FAQs About Brewery Water Treatment
Q: How does ozone treatment affect brewing water mineral content?
A: Unlike reverse osmosis, ozone treatment doesn’t remove beneficial minerals from brewing water. It effectively eliminates contaminants like chlorine, bacteria, and organic compounds while preserving the mineral profile contributing to beer character and flavour.
Q: Can ozone systems handle both brewing water and CIP sanitization?
A: Our dual-purpose systems are specifically designed to address brewing water quality and Clean-In-Place sanitization needs. This integrated approach maximizes efficiency, reduces space requirements, and delivers superior results compared to separate systems.
Q: How effective is ozone in eliminating wild yeast and bacteria?
A: Ozone is exceptionally effective against wild yeast and bacteria, achieving up to 99.999% reduction. This high-level disinfection helps prevent contamination issues that can affect flavour, consistency, and shelf life of craft beers.
Q: What maintenance is required for brewery water systems?
A: Our brewery water treatment systems are designed for minimal maintenance, typically requiring only quarterly inspections and annual component checks. The system features automated operation and self-monitoring, significantly reducing maintenance requirements compared to chemical treatment alternatives.
Q: How quickly can a system be implemented in an operating brewery?
A: Most brewery installations can be completed within 2–4 weeks from initial assessment to commissioning, with minimal disruption to operations. We schedule installations around brewing cycles to ensure continuous production.
Enhance Your Brewery’s Water Quality Management
For craft breweries committed to premium product quality and environmental sustainability, ozone water treatment offers a compelling solution that addresses multiple operational challenges while significantly reducing environmental impact.
Sublime Environmental specializes in designing custom water treatment systems for breweries and wineries, with solutions tailored to your specific product requirements, facility constraints, and sustainability goals.
Learn more about how our chemical-free water treatment solutions can enhance your brewing operations while supporting your sustainability commitment.
Sublime Environmental is committed to supporting craft brewing excellence through innovative, sustainable water treatment technologies that deliver superior quality and environmental benefits. Our solutions are recognized by the Craft Brewers Association of Ontario for enhancing brewing operations and sustainability practices.
