Scottish brewer and distiller BrewDog has turned its waste beer into vodka as part of its new sustainability initiative.

Moving into its thirteenth year of trading, the “punk” drinks producer has unveiled its sustainability initiative, “BrewDog Tomorrow”. The initiative charts a new six-point plan for the business in the future.

As well as steps to increase recycling and a scheme that will refill beer cans in the US, BrewDog will also turn “imperfect” beer from its breweries into vodka.

Instead of wasting beer that misses its standards, BrewDog will distil it and turn it into vodka. Traditionally, vodka is made from grain – rye being the most common – which is combined with water, creating a sort of beer called a “mash” This is then distilled on a column still to make vodka. 

What BrewDog are planning will mean using their “imperfect” beer as the mash bill. They will then distil it into something drinkable as well as sustainable. James Watt, BrewDog co-founder, said: “BrewDog may have grown up a bit, but our underdog spirit is as alive as ever. We want to make sure that we’re working to inspire a new kind of business, with sustainability at its core.

BrewDog currently operates four breweries around the world and its Irish outpost in Dublin. Located in the Grand Canal area of the city, the outpost has two bars, thirty-two taps of house-made craft beer. This January they are also hosting Drink All You Can Jan, allowing customers to avail of unlimited refills of Draught Headliner Alcohol-Free for the first month of 2022.

In addition, at its Scottish site, the company produces a range of beer and spirits through its BrewDog Distilling arm. The BrewDog Distilling portfolio consists of Lone Wolf and Zealots Heart gins and Rogue Wave vodka. The firm also launched a botanical rum last year.

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