Sustainability Advocate Brews Vegan Beer

Dead Bird Brewing Revisited

Hey there! Let's swing by Dead Bird Brewing Company, Wisconsin's one-of-a-kind all-vegan brewery and winery. No, we're not kidding—we brew beer without using any animal products, and we take that vegan lifestyle into every corner of the business.

Our taproom on North 5th St in Milwaukee is adorned with more than just our tasty plant-based menu. Take a peek at our parking lot, featuring beautiful patterned pavers. Gaze up under our beer deck to find a charming garden filled with native Wisconsin plants. Sip your ale on our recycled plastic deck, and admire our flight boards made from recycled materials too. If you wander outside, don't miss our roof - it's covered with 208 solar panels, basking in the sun's rays. From the vegan food to the solar-powered roof, every aspect of our company reflects our commitment to sustainability.

But what exactly is a vegan brewery?

Well, let's turn the clock back to the distant past: all beer was vegan, thanks to the German Reinheitsgebot laws. This ancient legislation, dating back to 1516, only allowed water, barley, and hops as ingredients for beer, with yeast considered a necessary byproduct rather than an ingredient. Over time, other substances were added to the mix for flavor, water chemistry simulation, or clarity purposes, but many remained "hidden" ingredients that could render a beer non-vegan.

Fast forward to today, and we have numerous methods for achieving exceptionally clear beers. Modern breweries use centrifuges to spin out solids, filters for polishing, and an array of eco-friendly fining agents instead of animal-derived products like isinglass, Irish Moss, or gelatin. These traditional fining agents are on the decline due to numerous reasons, including animal welfare concerns and the availability of safer, plant-based alternatives.

Is a vegan brewery more environmentally friendly?

Technically, the environmental impact of vegan beer ingredients is relatively minor. The processing and shipping of beer ingredients worldwide contribute far more emissions than a modest amount of unused isinglass or gelatin. However, our all-vegan food menu helps reduce the impact of massive factory farms and food waste, contributing to a more sustainable approach.

At Dead Bird Brewing, we view veganism as the cornerstone of our environmental efforts, but it isn't the only component. Our collaborations with the Milwaukee Riverkeepers, our use of eco-friendly chemicals, water redirection from our permeable parking lot, and our smart lighting system all play significant roles in our environmental sustainability. While these initiatives may not be as visually arresting as our vegan status, they carry greater environmental weight.

Environmental challenges faced by breweries

Breweries tend to face various environmental challenges due to their industrial nature. They consume massive amounts of power and water, produce numerous waste streams, and generate pollution from packaging, spent grains, residual yeast, hot/cold break, spent chemicals, and discarded ingredient containers. Finding sustainable solutions for managing these byproducts is a daunting task that requires creativity and innovation.

Many breweries have found creative solutions for spent grains, such as feeding them to livestock, using them to make mushrooms, dog treats, or pizza crust, or even converting them into building materials like corrugated walls. Chemical and yeast runoff can harm local water treatment facilities. By reducing chemical usage, switching to enzymatic cleaners, or utilizing ozonated water, breweries can minimize their environmental footprint.

Embracing sustainability

Small breweries have a unique advantage when it comes to embracing green initiatives, as they can integrate sustainable practices early on. By prioritizing energy-efficient equipment, minimizing plastic usage, and adopting water-saving measures, small breweries can make a considerable impact on their environmental footprint.

Breweries are notorious for being water-intensive, with water-to-beer ratios often reaching 7:1. By cutting back on water usage or finding ways to recycle it, breweries can save significant amounts of water and reduce their overall impact on the environment. Timing can also play a role: performing energy-intensive tasks during off-peak hours can help reduce strain on the electrical grid and lower energy costs.

Join us at Dead Bird Brewing and raise a glass (or a flight) to sustainable living and delicious vegan brews!

[1] Source: vegandc.com[2] Source: hocobrew.com[4] Source: eastbranchbrewing.com[5] Source: barnivore.com

At Dead Bird Brewing, not only is the beer vegan, but their lifestyle emphasizes health-and-wellness, with a focus on plant-based menu options and sustainable practices.
Science and environmental-science are crucial in the brewing process, as Dead Bird Brewing uses modern methods to achieve clear beers without relying on animal-derived fining agents like isinglass or gelatin.
Beyond veganism, Dead Bird Brewing is committed to the environment, implementing various initiatives such as solar power, eco-friendly chemicals, and a smart lighting system, contributing to the diminution of their overall environmental impact in the food-and-drink industry.