Rescuing Food Waste Through Brewing

Not ISO beer directly made with less than fresh ingredients.

 

Another example of the marvels of beer.

 

I'm a cook and the spot shares a dumpster with a grocery store. I can't begin to tell you the amount of produce gets thrown away. It's unbelievable. If it just starts to go and is a bit soft but it's not moldy or bad it's literally just softer it gets tossed. Watermelons, tomatoes, pineapple husks (usually has a lot still left on it) corn etc... it's sad

 

Well, if they've got an on premise bakery and you happen to see an employee the next time they're about to dump a cake or two, you can always homebrew with this recipe from @drewbage.

 

Do they charge day old bread prices?

 

Human invention is a flat circle - fermentation really seems to have taken hold in civilization because it can prevent food waste. Arguably a more important feature back in the days of scarcer food supplies.

 

I would argue that this accomplishes little beyond generating a "feel good" moment. Sure - it is a creative use of stale bread (since bread seems the focus), but it just makes the compost pile a little smaller. Better than throwing it away and it is at least an effort, but as @Urk1127 alluded to it hardly makes a dent and it doesn't feed anybody.

 

Hey man, I hear where you're coming from, but also, isn't it all just fermentation in the greater scheme of things? I gotta say I have some respect for brewers who pick up the natural process midway through and live a little on the edge of things while simultaneously addressing an issue.

 

And let us play Devil's Advocate for a moment. If AB/InBev announced they were doing this, it would be how dare they cut cost and not use premium ingredients.

i certainly applaud the effort being made and there is certainly room for more, but where we can feel good about indie brewers doing this, the talk would be much different if it were the big boys. When a megabrewer sends cans of water to disaster relief it it a PR stunt, but when an indie does the same it is purely altruistic.

 

I also suspect that most folks are not aware of having eaten mouse poop, rat hairs, and/or insect legs given that the FDA maximums are not zero.

 

Absolutely true. In my 36 years in food/bev, I have seen some things... I can't imagine what it would be like if there were no FDA/USDA. Well, I can imagine, but I'd rather not.

 

I take solace in the fact alcohol is a sterilizing agent.

 

"BREWING BEER WITH RICE ISN'T CRAFT, MAN!!!!!!!!"

 

Uhmmmmmm.....

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/169/

 

Should have included a

 

Not even fractured rice?

 

Is this what Omnipolo is doing with those burgers and fries?

 

Woops, my bad, yes, I should've.

 

And less trustworthy water sources. Although the "many" benefits of fermentation may have been incidental and not necessarily intentional. I love the subject!