It is a beer made with only the finest ingredients : premium German barley malts, aromatic Citra and Calypso hops, farmhouse yeast from Norway and reclaimed sewage.
The NewBrew, a collaboration between Singapore's national water agency and local craft brewery Brewerkz, has already proved popular and sold out on tap at the brewery's restaurants, according to reports.
Brewerkz describes the beer as highly quaffable and suitable for Singapore's tropical climate, with a smooth, toasted honey-like aftertaste. It is intended to make a light on the climate emergency and the growing threat that droughts and floods pose to the world's fresh water supply.
Singapore, a densely populated city, is particularly vulnerable to water scarcity due to its lack of natural water resources and lack of space for water collection and storage facilities.
The country has invested in new ways to ensure a sustainable supply and reduce its dependence on water imported from neighbouring Malaysia. This includes methods such as rainwater harvesting, seawater desalination and treating wastewater.
Brew uses the NEWater, wastewater that Singapore s Public Utilities Board has treated with microfiltration and reverse osmosis as well as ultraviolet light to remove contaminants, bacteria and viruses. NEWater is primarily used for cooling and industrial processes, as well as to top up reservoirs, and is expected to meet 55% of Singapore's water needs by the year 2060.
Some breweries have also incorporated reclaimed water into their products, including in Canada, Germany and the US.
According to Bloomberg, the first batch of NEWBrew has already sold out at Brewerkz restaurants. The company expects to run out of stocks at supermarkets by the end of the month, but will consider making another batch.