Brasserie Coopérative Liégeoise – From Beer to Vinegar: A Circular Initiative!
Published on 25 February 2025
Publication
Winner of Go Circular, the Brasserie Coopérative Liégeoise (BCL) upcycles brewing residues into artisanal vinegar, reducing waste while creating a sustainable product. This innovative project combines circular economy principles, local valorization, and reduced environmental impact, while fostering job creation and professional training in Wallonia.
- Raw materials
- Practices of circularityNeed help with filters?
The Brasserie Coopérative Liégeoise (BCL), known for its Badjawe, the first organic beer in the Liège province, is a remarkable example of circular innovation in Wallonia. Committed to sustainability, BCL launched an artisanal vinegar production, repurposing brewing residues ("freinte")—the leftover beer sediments from tanks and conduits.
Instead of discarding this byproduct, the brewery developed a natural acetic fermentation process:
Recovery of the freinte and residual alcoholic fermentation.
Seeding with acetic bacteria, converting alcohol into acetic acid through oxygen exposure.
Aging and packaging, creating a unique beer vinegar used in gastronomy.
Project Impact
✅ Environmental
Waste reduction by repurposing brewing byproducts.
No additional energy required for fermentation, unlike industrial methods.
✅ Economic
Business diversification and new commercial opportunities in Wallonia, where artisanal vinegar production is rare.
Enhanced financial resilience for the brewery.
✅ Social
As a social economy cooperative, BCL collaborates with local partners.
Training opportunities for interns, volunteers, and students from IFAPME and HEC, fostering knowledge transfer and professional integration.
A Model for the Future
BCL aims to expand its circular approach, repurposing discarded wines, ciders, and brewing residues from other breweries. In the long run, it plans to establish production units near other breweries, further amplifying its positive impact.
Through this initiative, Brasserie Coopérative Liégeoise demonstrates that circular economy principles can revolutionize the food and beverage industry, bridging traditional brewing with a sustainable future.