What Goes Into Our Beer?
A simple question
Water
The largest ingredient by volume of course is water and almost half of the drinking water supplied by Welsh Water/Dwr Cymru comes from the Brecon Beacons mega catchment for water. The water is naturally soft and low in mineral salts, making it ideal for brewing lagers and Pilsner lagers in particular, showcasing the sharp bitterness of hops and the sweet biscuit of the malts.
Because of the natural softness of the water, there is no need to add chemicals to adjust Ph levels and further soften the water for brewing, thereby retaining the natural purity and flavour.
Grains
Malted barley and wheat are commonly used in the brewing of beer, although other ingredients can be used for their starch contents, such as corn, maize, oats, sorghum and rice.
The mix of malted grains provides the typical biscuit flavours used in beers and contributes to the various colours and clarity levels.
We only select from non GM strains of grain that are sustainably grown and farmed and wherever possible from organic sources.
Hops
We select from a variety of hops grown worldwide, to create the flavours in our beers and lagers. Sometimes classic and traditional combinations, alongside innovative and new variations to continue creating exciting, fresh beers. The mix of hop ingredients and timing of introduction during the brewing process.
Yeast
Preservative Free
In addition we use no preservatives in our beers (Benzoates, ETDA’s, Glycols, sorbates, Parabens, Propionates & Sodium), as used in many popular brands of beer, because alcohol and hops are natural preservatives.
Focussing on social and environmental sustainability in addition to economic performance is an approach frequently referred to as the Triple Bottom Line..Which informs and shapes our decision making in relation to our choice of packaging materials.
Beer Cans
Aluminium is a resource that forms about 8% of the earth's crust. It is mined and extracted from bauxite, which contains the compound alumina, in an energy-intensive electrolytic process. Four tonnes of bauxite contains two tonnes of alumina, which yields one tonne of valuable aluminium.
Aluminium is the most cost-effective material to recycle, using around only 5% of the energy and emissions needed to make it from the raw material bauxite. In addition, all the scraps left over from the aluminium production process can be melted down and used again and again. Around 75% of all the aluminium ever made is still in circulation.
Beer Can Holders
Our plain 4-pack beer can rings are plastic free and made from Bagasse, which is a rapidly renewable sugarcane pulp and a by-product of the sugar refining industry. Certified home compostable (AS5810), sustainable and environmentally responsible.
Eco Kegs
A range of sustainable kegs that differentiate themselves via the freshness and quality of dispense, with a longer product shelf life. convenience, safety and sustainability.
Our single-use kegs are made from PET (Polyethylene terephthalate), which is a type of clear, strong, lightweight and 100% recyclable plastic. Unlike other types of plastic, PET plastic is not single-use -- it is 100% recyclable, versatile, and made to be remade.
Dispensing does not require CO2 or N2 mixed gas to deliver the product, although it can be used with a standard Sankey D adaptor (S fitting option also available), Although the cleanest dispensing method is with compressed air.
While the double wall construction provides strength, the bag within the keg keeps the content fresh and facilitates the dispensing method. Once empty simply place the keg in to the recycling collection.
Loose & Void Fill Peanuts
When shipping beer cans ordered online, we fill the void around the cans in the packaging to ensure that you receive your beers in good condition. Biodegradable packing peanuts are made from naturally derived starches like wheat and cornstarch. Entirely plant-based, biodegradable packing peanuts will dissolve in water, making it impossible for them to wind up polluting oceans, lakes, rivers, or waterways.
Mini-Kegs
Our 5L mini-kegs for home and event use, are made from fully recyclable tinplate and come with a rubber bung and PET handle for ease of use. The bung/tap sits close to the base, so your guests can enjoy every last drop. You won’t need any additional accessories to use this beer keg. Plus, it can be resealed, so you can keep some of the contents fresh for later.
Please make sure your mini keg is completely empty before you recycle it. Once it is finished, all you have to do is put it into your dry mixed recycling, just as you would with one of our Aluminium beer cans.
Outer Boxes/Shipping Packaging
Corrugated or fluted fiberboard is a sustainable material that is used in manufacturing shipping and packaging boxes. The corrugated industry has the best recycling rate of any packaging material used today. In fact, the fibres from corrugated fiberboard can be recycled up to 25 times. This means that most corrugated boxes are composed of 70% to 100% recycled materials.
Being such a highly recycled material makes corrugated the environmentally supportive option.
While corrugated is highly recyclable, it relies on people to be recycled, therefore it needs to be placed in the recycling collection and general waste. Although the material is also biodegradable and will naturally absorb into the environment, further supporting a healthy ecosystem.
Help with Global Reforestation & Community Sustainability
Packaging Tape
All our packaging is sealed using brown recycled Kraft paper, self-adhesive tape, to avoid the use of single use plastic. Both adhesive and paper are biodegradable and recyclable.
Sustainable Forestry
All of the paper based materials used in our packaging (fluted paperboard, labels and tape) are sourced from certified Forestry Stewardship Council members. Committed to the sustainability of forestry in ecological, economic, employment and social terms.
Shipping Labels
The address labels we use to send you our products are made from recycled paper with a biodegradable self-adhesive and printed on direct-thermal printers, without the use of printing inks. The backing paper for the labels is coated with a Silicone release liner and is not therefore fully biodegradable and has to be disposed of responsibly, which we attempt to offset with our involvement in the tree planting program with Eden Reforestation Projects.