The Water Footprint of Beer

The estimate of about 20 gallons of water per pint of beer refers to a broad water footprint that includes growing barley and other ingredients, not just water used at the brewery. A Water Footprint Network estimate cited by France’s International Office for Water was 298 litres per litre of beer (2011 data), or about 74 litres per 250 ml glass; results depend on method and ingredient origins. Brewery operations alone use much less.