Local Breweries Making Beer With Charles River Water For HUBweek Competition
BOSTON (CBS) -- Love that dirty water? This September, you could taste a beer that's made from it.
As part of a HUBweek competition called "Brew The Charles," local breweries will make beer using purified water from the Charles River.
Osher Perry of the Newton-based company Desalitech pumped 4,000 gallons of water to be used in the competition out of the Charles Wednesday.
"We're partnering with Hubweek and six local breweries to make this into a fantastic drink that we can all enjoy," Perry told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens.
The breweries taking part are Boston Beer Company, Cape Ann Brewing Company, Castle Island Brewing Co., Harpoon Brewery, Idle Hands Craft Ales, and Ipswich Ale Brewery.
Perry said the water is being purified through a process called reverse osmosis closed-circuit desalination.
"What we actually do is recirculate the water in membranes, and we're able to take 98 percent of this water and make it potable water that we can enjoy," Perry said.
On September 30, you can taste the results--HUBweek is hosting an event where food and beer experts, as well as the public, can try the six craft brews and vote on their favorite.
Tickets to the event cost $25 and are available on HUBweek's website. According to the site, 20 percent of the proceeds will go to the Charles River Conservancy's Swim the Charles Program.
If the idea of drinking water from the Charles grosses you out a bit, maybe the news that the river received a strong water quality grade Wednesday will change your mind.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
