Master brewer Glen Fox鈥檚 expertise spans the entire process of brewing, from the production of raw materials like barley to the final beer quality.
This past decade, though, Fox and other brewers have set their focus on a modern issue: climate change. Heatwaves, fires and late rain seasons have detrimentally affected both the quality and quantity of barley 鈥 the grain that is used most often to make beer.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen that climate change is having a serious impact on raw production materials like barley,鈥 noted Fox, who is also the Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences at 春色视频. 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e just moving to a world of extremes.鈥
The brewing industry has always been an energy-intensive one. Large quantities of water are used in the malting process, and brewing itself produces a sizable amount of solid waste. As a result, Fox and other brewing scientists have had to explore different production methods.
鈥淧eople are starting to realize that this isn鈥檛 sustainable,鈥 said Fox, referring to orthodox brewing practices.
Sustainability changes have been as simple as giving unused barley to farmers, who then use it to feed their animals.
鈥淪ome people are giving [barley] away to farmers to get it off of their brewery sites,鈥 Fox said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really rich in nutrients, and the animals love it because it鈥檚 high in energy and a bit sweet as well.鈥
Fox has also been working toward future-proofing barley crops, experimenting with genetic variation to make them more resistant to droughts. Some of his students are even upcycling waste strains of beer, turning them into energy sources like natural gas that can then be used to fuel the brewing process.
鈥淲e鈥檙e essentially looking at where we can upcycle and reduce, and dabbling in as many areas as we can,鈥 Fox said.