Beer – Impact Lab

Beer

Transforming Brewery Waste: Yeast as a Solution for Lead-Contaminated Water

May 24, 2024

Every year, beer breweries discard thousands of tons of surplus yeast. Researchers from MIT and Georgia Tech have discovered an innovative method to repurpose this yeast to absorb lead from contaminated water.

Using a process known as biosorption, yeast can quickly absorb even trace amounts of lead and other heavy metals from water. The researchers have demonstrated that yeast can be encapsulated within hydrogel capsules to create an effective filter for removing lead. These capsules allow for easy removal of the yeast once the water is purified.

Beer, Science & Technology News

Sip on beer while you take a bath in beer at this new Denver spa

March 15, 2021

Marcos Buizuela grabs a glass of beer at the taproom on the way to beer therapy at The Beer Spa on Feb. 25. (Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)

By Josie Sexton

The Beer spa is a week-old Denver business focused on self-care, but with a twist.

Next time you’re traveling around Eastern Europe, you could stop for a soak in the “beer baths” found throughout Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Or, next time you’re in Denver’s Whittier neighborhood, you could have a dip and a pint at The Beer Spa, which opened at the end of February — and is a first for Colorado.

Owners Jessica French and Damien Zouaoui were inspired by spa culture from Germany to Japan on their world travels. They wanted to bring a similar experience — adjusted for Americans — to a city that already loves its craft beer, but could use just a little more pampering.

Beer, Coronavirus, Food, Science & Technology News, Trending

The beer barometer and the reopening of America

July 7, 2020

Microbrews are providing us with macro clues about the state of the U.S. economy — and how confident Americans actually feel about reopening amid the pandemic.

The big picture: The national trend shows that more watering holes are opening up, with 85% of locations open and pouring beer last weekend. And if the bars are open, it’s a good sign that those communities have opened up, too.

But the glass is half full: In open establishments, only 49% taps are open, compared to 96% last June.

Continue reading… “The beer barometer and the reopening of America”

Beer, Coronavirus, Human Behavior, Science & Technology News

Americans are actually drinking less during the pandemic

July 3, 2020

During the coronavirus pandemic, people are drinking less. (Yes, you read that correctly.)

While the masses are buying more booze from grocers and liquor stores to drink at home, that hasn’t been enough to fill the gaping hole created by declines in shipments to restaurants, bars and sporting venues that were closed to slow the virus. Global alcohol consumption isn’t expected to return to pre-Covid-19 levels until 2024, and the U.S. recovery will take even longer, according to researcher IWSR said.

Continue reading… “Americans are actually drinking less during the pandemic”

Beer, Business, New Viewpoints

The next big thing in beer is being a small taproom

October 16, 2017

Medusa Brewing Company co-founder Keith Sullivan checks on the beer in the brewing area. “There are very few big breweries that have this family, community, connected feel. That’s what we’re selling,” he says.

Continue reading… “The next big thing in beer is being a small taproom”

Beer, Food

Beer tea bags can transform boring beer in to flavorful beer

April 20, 2015

More than just a tea bar, they are specially crafted infusing sachet filled with magical beer-bettering goodness, making sure that you will never have to drink a boring old beer ever again. Continue reading… “Beer tea bags can transform boring beer in to flavorful beer”