Environmental Impact of Homebrewing

[Catt22]

I'm a total compost newbie, but very fascinated. I made some this summer with some yard waste and I'm guessing it was too high in nitrogen because it gave off a bit of an ammonia smell. Would spent grain be considered a "brown" contribution? How successful would composting the spent grain alone be? If not, what are some examples of common items that could be added to help and in what amounts?

Yes, spent grain is mostly a carbon contribution to the pile. This is good as your carbon/nitrogen ratio appears to be a bit too low if you were getting ammonia fumes.

I do not recommend composting the spent grain alone. There will be some sugars retained in the grain. What can happen is that a pile of wet spent grain will usually be very dense and it will be lacking in the oxygen required for aerobic bacteria to flourish. Additionally, the spent grain will usually have some sugars remaining. The combination of the lack of oxygen and the sugars can lead to a dominance of anaerobic bacteria. These can produce some horrendous odors. Think rotting corpse smell. It can be really bad. So, what you want to do is mix the spent grain into the pile so it does not compact into a single anaerobic lump. You can also spread it out over the pile which is what I usually do when I'm too lazy to mix it in.

 

[DRoyLenz]

I'm thinking about those probiotics that you eat to aid your digestion. Is there anything you can add to compost to promote healthy bacterial activity?

 

[Catt22]

I'm thinking about those probiotics that you eat to aid your digestion. Is there anything you can add to compost to promote healthy bacterial activity?

Water, oxygen & nitrogen are the most important. Keep it damp. Turn the pile to aerate. Add green vegetable matter as a nitrogen source. You can also use ordinary high nitrogen fertilizer to accelerate the process. Again, too much and the excess will disipate as ammonia fumes. Those biotic additives sold for compost piles are bull crud. There will be more than enough naturally occurring bacteria and mold in the pile. They are everywhere and will rapidly multiply when the conditions are favorable. Usually, the conditions don't get much better than in a well fed and aerated compost pile. It will be a popular hang out indeed. The best thing to do when you have mostly a big pile of dry dead leaves is to mix in some fertilizer and wet it down. Keep it moist and soon it will be rockin.

An active, healthy compost pile generates considerable heat. I occasionally find a deer lying on the pile enjoying the warmth when it begins to get cold out. Sometimes more than one.

 

[Brewmoor]

Brewmoor, after some serious off-topic posting and derailing of this thread over the past few days, please keep the debate over environmentalism to the debate forum. This thread is for those who wish to brew with an eye to conservation, ecology and sustainability to discuss tips, ideas and processes.

I, too, like the idea of "local" - have you found ways to translate that into your brewing? Folks here are convincing me to grow my own hops (something I thought about last year but decided to forgo).

I believe this topic's name is Environmental Impact of homebrewing. So environmental debate is exactly what is being asked for. Maybe this thread needs to be moved.

So I guess I will tie my thoughts into the real world. New Belgium and other hip breweries try their best to use local sources for their products. New Belgium recycles and conditions their grey water into a pond, lets microbes eat the bad stuff and then send it back to the municipal waste centers. They have a huge balloon where they trap gases and send it back into factory to use for energy.

If you get creative you can find all sorts of ways have less of an impact with your brewing.

 

[FreakinA]

I am suprised bigger macros such as BMC have not moved toward the green movement. Companies like Wal-mart are saving a metic arseload of money by doing it, I'm sure there is alot that could be done to the big breweries to make them more efficient.

 

[Brewmoor]

I am suprised bigger macros such as BMC have not moved toward the green movement. Companies like Wal-mart are saving a metic arseload of money by doing it, I'm sure there is alot that could be done to the big breweries to make them more efficient.

Last time I was at the Coors Factory they told us about some things they are doing to lessen their impacts. I know for sure they send all their spent grain out to farmers for livestock to eat. New Belgium does the same. They also use water ponds for cooling and they mentioned something special about the ponds but I forget now. Also New Belgium uses wind power for factory. I think Coors is also using a percentage of wind power. There are several very large wind farms along I-25 up through wyoming.

 

[kornkob]

I am suprised bigger macros such as BMC have not moved toward the green movement. Companies like Wal-mart are saving a metic arseload of money by doing it, I'm sure there is alot that could be done to the big breweries to make them more efficient.

Companies like wall mart (and I'm sure the BMCs are doing it too) ARE doing 'green' things to save money. Often times when a company starts bragging about how 'green' they are what is really going on is normal business efficiency processes are being implemented and they are presenting that process publicly in a way that makes them seem 'responsible' and 'green'. Only now they are talking about it because it is popular to be seen as aware of one's 'footprint'.

 

[Catt22]

Composting is a rotten thing to do!

 

[ThickHead]

Composting is a rotten thing to do!

Quite literally...

 

[Pappers_]

Are there any small scale, locally-focused maltsters? Are there any farmers who both grow the grain and malt it, or is that just archaic in these modern times?

 

[ghpeel]

+1 on composting with grains.

And do NOT use rain water collected from a shingled roof. TOXIC metals will be leached into the water. In fact, you aren't even supposed to water your plants with it.

 

[Catt22]

+1 on composting with grains.

And do NOT use rain water collected from a shingled roof. TOXIC metals will be leached into the water. In fact, you aren't even supposed to water your plants with it.

I've never heard this before. Where are the toxic metals supposed to be coming from? Lots of people collect rainwater runoff from their roofs and use it on their plants and gardens and I have not heard of any problems. What is your source for this information? The only metal I can think of used on a shingled roof would be the galvanized nails. I suppose they could leach minuscule amounts of zinc into the water, but really can't see that as being a TOXICITY hazard. The shingles themselves are usually a composite of fiberglass and asphalt with a topping of some kind of mineral like garnet. Nothing that I would be alarmed about. The run off is usually headed into the ground and I think the EPA would be on that like right now.

 

[jbambuti]

I participated in a professional seminar on building worm bins yesterday, and the presented mentioned that worms love whole grains. I asked her if they would like spent brewing grains and she mentioned that her old employer used to have spent grains from a local brewery delivered to them to use in both their compost and, especially, their worm bins.

I'm considering building one to keep in the basement for kitchen vegetable scraps and spent grains. She stated that, if used correctly, there should be no noticeable smell. Also, the worm castings that are gathered periodically can be mixed with peat or something like it and used to make amazing potting soil. They can also be used directly as a fertilizer with Miracle-Gro characteristics, but without worrying about overuse (nitrogen burn, etc.). A 'tea' can also be made from the castings, which can be used as a natural pest repellent. I wonder if this would work on hops plants?

I'm getting more information and will post when I get it, if others might be interested.

 

[Pappers_]

Very interesting, Bambuti. Thanks!

 

[mitch171]

I am very interested in this jbamuti! Please post more information and/or links.

 

[duskb]

The deeper I get into this hobby, the more I become aware that it isn't the most sustainable activity I could be involved in.
The fuel used for growing and transporting the main ingredients, especially if they are imported, are one problem, while the more obvious one is all the water that I use.
Has anyone thought about these issues, and if so, are there any ideas about ways to soften the environmental blow of brewing a batch of the good stuff?
What do hip breweries like New Belgium and Rouge do?

Here in L.A. water has always been a commodity. This year we are on drought watch anyways so water is pricey and controlled. For this reason I recycle as much as I can. I syphon my cooling water into 5 gal buckets and use it to water my plants and vegetation. I also plan keg cleaning around brewing so I can syphon (with a different hose mind you) my fermenters idophor water to freshly cleaned kegs. 5 gallons can go a long way if you plan it right.

It's not much but I'm probably recyling upwards of 25 gallons a month that would have otherwise gone to the sewer.

As far as the impact of the hops and grains I can't imagine the few lbs I go through a month would make much of a difference.

 

[ImperialLover]

Seriously? We're worried about the environmental effects of home brewing?! Of all the crap people can cut down on, we're talking about this...

 

[eriktlupus]

I participated in a professional seminar on building worm bins yesterday, and the presented mentioned that worms love whole grains. I asked her if they would like spent brewing grains and she mentioned that her old employer used to have spent grains from a local brewery delivered to them to use in both their compost and, especially, their worm bins.

I'm considering building one to keep in the basement for kitchen vegetable scraps and spent grains. She stated that, if used correctly, there should be no noticeable smell. Also, the worm castings that are gathered periodically can be mixed with peat or something like it and used to make amazing potting soil. They can also be used directly as a fertilizer with Miracle-Gro characteristics, but without worrying about overuse (nitrogen burn, etc.). A 'tea' can also be made from the castings, which can be used as a natural pest repellent. I wonder if this would work on hops plants?

I'm getting more information and will post when I get it, if others might be interested.

these teas can be made from finished compost as well. put 1 cup of compost/castings in a 2qt mason jar, top with water and shake vigourously, let set to settle particulates and then strain into a spray bottle. use this on plants that show aphid or other leaf eating pests and make sure to spray the undersides of the leafs also.

 

[ghpeel]

What is your source for this information?

Check out the thread here:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/using-rainwater-brewing-142758/index2.html#post1629112

And also the info I quote is from here:
http://home.comcast.net/~leavesdance/rainbarrels/safety.html

Basically, it scared the dog piss outa me. Me and my girlfriend do organic raised-bed gardens and one of the first things we learned is that you can't use rain water from a shingle roof for ANYTHING. Even putting it on your compost heap is a no-no.

If you have a tin or ceramic tile roof, its a different story, but not necessarily safe either.

 

[osagedr]

Seriously? We're worried about the environmental effects of home brewing?! Of all the crap people can cut down on, we're talking about this...

+1...this is a great thread to ignore so I think I'll get to that right now.

 

[Pappers_]

About water - I've lived my whole life in the midwest where we don't worry too much about water (or maybe we don't worry enough). But I'm always struck when I talk with folks from the west how important water conservation is to them.

Currently, I just let my cleaning water, rinse water, and chilling water run down the drain or into the ground.

The current plan is to put in a rain barrel - I think I'll run my chill water output straight into the rain barrel and reuse it for gardening, etc.

Do folks do anything with their cleaning and rinse water? How do you reuse it, since its got oxiclean or whatever residue in it?

Also, just a quick word of thanks to all the folks who have posted info on this thread - I appreciate your experiences and insights!

 

[FreakinA]

Yeah they stress water conservation alot in the southwest.

 

[Pappers_]

Yeah they stress water conservation alot in the southwest.

Do you do anything with your cleaning and rinsing water?

 

[Coprinus]

have[/B] posted info on this thread - I appreciate your experiences and insights!

+1 on that, brother! It's been a very informative thread!

 

[Brewmoor]

About water - I've lived my whole life in the midwest where we don't worry too much about water (or maybe we don't worry enough). But I'm always struck when I talk with folks from the west how important water conservation is to them.

Yeah it is a pain to have to worry about. I live in colorado. Most of the water for the four corners, utah, and nevada come from Colorado. The colorado river supplies water to 4 of 5 fastest growing states in the country.(population) Every drop of water is accounted for before it even hits the ground. Water lawyers thrive in our area. Before this summer it was illegal to capture rain water. You could be fined for having a rain barrel. That law has changed. You can now have one for personal use if you can prove how and why you are using it.

I am also a kayaker, so water issues have become important for me in other ways too. Now that I brew I certainly have it in the back of my head. I am trying to find ways to improve my process. This weekend I soaked bottles in oxyclean to get the labels off. I keep the water in the cooler added ice and used it to recirculate for cooling the beer I made this weekend. I dumped my cleaning water in there as well after cleaning my fermenter and kettle.

I just try to do my part. If it doesn't snow we do not have water. Lucky for us the last year or two have been good winters.

 

[ThickHead]

Seriously? We're worried about the environmental effects of home brewing?! Of all the crap people can cut down on, we're talking about this...

Yes, seriously. Those who care about the effect they have on the environment consider the impact in most everything they do.

 

[ImperialLover]

Those who consider the minimal impact on the environment typically don't consider any impact on more important things. (We're past beer and I apologize for the wasted space)

 

[kornkob]

Those who consider the minimal impact on the environment typically don't consider any impact on more important things. (We're past beer and I apologize for the wasted space)

That's an arrogant perspective filled with assumptions -- almost as though you were being intentionally insulting.

This should probably be moved to debates or be shut down as it is just going to get ugly if this is the start of the roll downhill.

 

[olllllo]

Nope.
People have been warned.

If you can't keep it non-political and you can't go with the flow, your comments will be deleted and/or you'll be asked to leave.

This is supposed to be an adult beverage hobby, presumably practices by adults with reading comprehension.

 

[kornkob]

I must have missed the 'warning'.