Carolinas’ First Beer Brewed with Recycled Water Now On Sale at Select Locations

Beer lovers can purchase award-winning pale ale Renew Brew in Charlotte and across state

Charlotte, N.C. — Charlotte Water, Town Brewing and Xylem are pleased to announce that Renew Brew, the first beer in the Carolinas brewed with QC Water, an ultra-sustainable recycled water, is now available for purchase at select locations in Charlotte and across the state. A portion of the proceeds from Renew Brew retail sales will go to Helping Hands Outreach (H2O Foundation), a new Charlotte-based nonprofit, which is dedicated to making clean water more accessible, affordable and reliable for all Charlotteans.

Within Charlotte, Renew Brew can be purchased at Town Brewing Co., several Harris Teeter grocery stores, as well as select restaurants and specialty shops. Beyond the Queen City, it is also available for sale in a variety of places across Belmont, Greensboro, Harrisburg, McAdenville, Pineville and Winston-Salem. The sustainably refreshing Pale Ale is brewed with delicious, QC Water and carbon negative Epiphany Craft Malt. The beverage first debuted in February at the Queen City Brewers Festival, where it won Best in Show during a blind tasting competition. Renew Brew not only delights the palate, but it also demonstrates the potential of recycled water in a practical, enjoyable way.

“We feel so honored that Renew Brew has already become a favorite among beer drinkers in our community and can’t wait to see more people be introduced to it,” Town Brewing Head Brewer Federico De La Torre said. “It can take anywhere from four to eight gallons of water to make one gallon of beer. And in a world where it is increasingly more important to practice sustainability and be really cognizant of our natural resources and not wasting them, we jumped at an opportunity to be involved in a project like Renew Brew.”

Charlotte Water contributed the source water for Renew Brew from Charlotte Water’s McDowell Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). QC Water is a sustainable source of clean water derived from recycled wastewater, using state-of-the-art carbon filtering, reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation (Ozone + Ultraviolet treatment).

QC Water exceeds all pathogen reduction requirements and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Guidelines through the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The production process is monitored to meet the criteria specified by Charlotte Water based on the SDWA. QC Water was tested for more than 150 potential contaminants. Xylem technology and expertise also made QC Water possible, as the company supplied post-plant polishing treatment equipment and oversight of additional treatment operations.

“Usually, highly treated effluent from one of our wastewater treatment plants would be discharged into a nearby creek, so we’re incredibly excited it now has the capacity to be transformed into a water source for beer,” Charlotte Water Director Angela Charles said. “The partnership with Town Brewing and Xylem has been fantastic because we all share the same goals of creating a very high-quality water product while focusing on environmental sustainability every step of the way.”

At a time when climate change factors like drought and growing populations are straining water resources across the country, water authorities are seeking treatment options to produce reclaimed water to meet declining fresh water supplies and achieve water security. Charlotte Water and its partners want to make Renew Brew available to those breweries and stores interested in promoting water reuse and educating the public about conservation initiatives. QC Water reflects Charlotte Water’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and circular economy endeavors. 

“Addressing water scarcity in our communities and planning for the future is a critical part of our business,” Xylem Director of Vertical Marketing for Drinking Water Utilities Chris Thomson said. “Renew Brew has opened the door for other renewable beverages in the Carolinas, and we are thrilled to be part of the first chapter of what we know will be a long and important story.”

Charlotte Water places a high priority on protecting natural resources and promoting environmental efforts whenever possible. Renew Brew not only conserves water but also adds value to the city’s thriving craft beer industry. Although Renew Brew is the first endeavor of its kind in the Carolinas, similar recycled water beers have been used in other areas of the United States, including Oregon, Kentucky, California and Arizona.  To learn more about Renew Brew and the retailers where it can currently be found, please visit: https://www.drinkqcwater.org.

About Charlotte Water

For more than a century, Charlotte Water has been the largest water and wastewater service provider in the Carolinas. Operated by the City of Charlotte, the utility treats more than 117 million gallons of water daily for approximately one million residents and visitors from Davidson to Pineville. Charlotte Water works 24 hours a day to provide clean water, maintain more than 9,200 miles of pipe, and treat the community’s wastewater. Charlottewater.org |Facebook |Twitter | Blog | YouTube |Instagram 

About Town Brewing

Since opening in 2018, Town Brewing Co. has become a cherished fixture in the Charlotte craft beer scene. Homebrewers Allen West, George Sistrunk, Mark Kutny and Richard Morton decided to move brewing out of their home garages, rehab a commercial auto garage, and start Town Brewing Company. With a huge outdoor space, stunning brick bar backdrop, and an altogether Americana vibe, Town is captivating neighbors and friends every afternoon. From its firm roots in Wesley Heights, Town has seen a major distribution expansion into multiple markets and is now available statewide in North Carolina and upper South Carolina. The taproom’s grand 24-tap system sports small batch brews along with flagships and seasonals that include: Broken Tarted Raspberry Hibiscus Sour, Spratt’s Lager, Disco Hop IPA, RP-1 Hazy IPA and Sweet Carolina Pie. Pints and bites from the taproom and kitchen are available seven days a week.

About Xylem

Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology company committed to solving the world’s critical water challenges with innovation and expertise. Our 23,000 diverse employees delivered combined pro forma revenue of $8.1 billion in 2023. We are creating a more sustainable world by enabling our customers to optimize water and resource management and helping communities in more than 150 countries become water-secure. Join us at www.xylem.com and Let’s Solve Water.