Almanac Beer Company has launched a new version of its Flow pale ale carbonated using carbon dioxide pulled directly from the atmosphere. The project, a partnership with Berkeley-based start-up Aircapture, utilises a modular direct air capture (DAC) unit installed inside the Alameda brewery to extract, liquefy, and purify CO2 to beverage-grade standards.
Beyond the environmental benefits of repurposing atmospheric carbon, the move addresses critical supply chain vulnerabilities. Traditional CO2 production is often tied to ammonia manufacturing and natural gas prices, which have seen significant volatility due to global conflicts and energy market shifts. By generating its own gas in-house, Almanac expects to save approximately 15% per pound of CO2 while ensuring a reliable supply that protects against production shutdowns.
Damian Fagan, Founder and CEO of Almanac Beer Co., highlighted the strategic importance of the technology, “There’s no process in this brewery we can do without CO2. But the single biggest benefit of this entire endeavor is actually not cost-related. It’s about consistency and reliability.”
Matt Atwood, Founder of Aircapture, who first explored DAC technology at COP15 in 2009, views atmospheric carbon as a commercial opportunity, “I knew it was going to be a high-impact way to address climate change and produce technologies for markets and companies that need CO2. The global economy runs on carbon.”
While the system currently provides 15% of the brewery’s CO2, Almanac plans to transition to 100% atmospheric-sourced gas within the first year. The brewery, which used 106,000 pounds of CO2 last year, unveiled the new Flow pale ale at a community event last Saturday, donating a portion of the proceeds to the non-profit Carbon180.
