German brewery creates powdered beer

East Germany-based Klosterbrauerei Neuzelle is developing the world’s first powdered beer – turning water into lager in a mere matter of moments.

While it might take some getting used to even for those of us who whip up an instant hot chocolate or knock back an effervescent in the morning, the German brewer believes its new invention could be ready to bring to market by the end of this year.

Klosterbrauerei Neuzelle hopes that the beer powder could be a turning point for the carbon footprint of beer exports – eschewing bottles and crates in favour of the much lighter powder packets.

“We have calculated that, if we now relate this to Germany, we can save about 3 to 5 percent of the CO2 emissions for Germany alone,” said the brewer’s general manager Stefan Fritsche.

“And if you look at it globally, that would be about half a percent of CO2 emissions worldwide that we could reduce.”

At the moment, the beer is an alcohol free one, but there are plans to develop a whole range of powdered beers, with Fritsche bullish about the possibilities. “We want to make virtually everything in powder form,” he said.

“We want the complete beer taste. We have the foam, we already have the beer taste. We want to add the carbon dioxide in powder form. We want to add the alcohol in powder form. We can do all that with powder. And of course it is absolutely fascinating that we have succeeded. For the first time worldwide.”

Changes brought about by the coronavirus pandemic and global shortages of key products has altered the landscape of logistics and distribution markedly. And with sustainability now top of the agenda for many producers, greener solutions are very much the order of the day.

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