Tsingtao brewery worker caught urinating into malt vat

Footage of a male employee at a Tsingtao brewery in China urinating into a malt container has circulated on social media, prompting a police investigation.

The unnamed worker at Tsingtao Brewery No. 3, located in Shandong province’s Qingdao City, was filmed climbing up a tank and relieving himself into one of the facility’s batches of malt. The clip was then shared on Chinese social media platform Weibo last Thursday (19 October), where it sparked reactions of outrage and disgust, and also quickly came to the attention of the brewery.

In a statement, Tsingtao said: “Our company attaches high importance to the relevant video that emerged from Tsingtao Brewery No. 3 on 19 October. We reported the incident to the police at the earliest opportunity, and public security organs are involved in the investigation.”

“At present, the batch of malt in question has been completely sealed. The company continues to strengthen its management procedures and ensure product quality,” the statement explained.

China is the world’s biggest beer producer, with the People’s Republic churning out around 341,110,000 hectolitres in 2020 (despite the pandemic), and Tsingtao is among the biggest brewers within the country.

While the employee’s act of indecency is under criminal investigation, not every brewer is opposed to utilising waste water in its beer. Singaporean company Brewerkz has made use of reclaimed sewage water for its New Brew, 5% ABV Tropical Blonde Ale is described as having a “distinct fragrance” and a “honey-like aftertaste” – though thankfully from the malts and hops used, not from the provenance of the water.