Bubble, Bubble, Toil = Trouble? Brewing's Carbon Footprint

There's a lot of talk these days about individual carbon footprints, CO2 in the air, and global warming.

Knowing that our little friends the yeasts exist basically to turn sugars into CO2 and alcohol, I'm wondering just how much of the gas a 5-gallon batch adds to the atmosphere and how it compares to other common activities that create CO2.

I'd also be interested in finding more information about how to calculate a total carbon footprint for a batch, including information about the differences between grain types and the amount of resources it takes to grow them, how heating elements vs. propane effect carbon usage, etc.

Topic co2 environment carbonation homebrew

Category Mac

1
answered at

Don't worry about the CO2 from the fermentation. That was recently CO2 in the atmosphere anyways. See, the barley plant used it to make the barley seed. Then you made the barley seed into wort. And the yeast made the wort into CO2 (and beer!). As Disney taught us, its the circle of life!

Now your heating method for your kettle? That's a different issue. Depends on where your energy source comes from. Fossil fuels? Yep. That's a carbon footprint. Solar or wind. Negative sir!

Edit

Just to also point out. Propane is about the least efficient, highest cost, and biggest CO2 footprint you can possibly have in brewing. Unfortunately for most, it is also the easiest way to start.

1
answered at

If you happen to have a room with a lot of plants, put your fermenter in there, they'll love it, and convert the CO2 back to O2.

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