Green Gilbert Spotlight: Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company

Gilbert, Ariz. - What if drinking a beer could help conserve water in Arizona?

At Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company, the answer starts with something you might not think much about when ordering your next pint: the grain.

Arizona Wilderness is one of the local businesses participating in the Green Gilbert Partnership Program, which recognizes businesses taking steps to conserve water, reduce waste and prevent pollution.

For Arizona Wilderness, those efforts can be found throughout its operation, from the barley used to brew its beer to the Arizona farms supplying its kitchen and even what happens to food scraps after a meal is finished.

It Starts With the Grain

Every Arizona Wilderness beer is brewed with barley from Sinagua Malt, an Arizona company working with farmers in the Verde Valley to grow barley during the cooler winter and spring months instead of more water-intensive summer crops like corn and alfalfa.

That shift helps reduce the amount of water diverted from the Verde River during times of high demand and low streamflow, leaving more water in the river for Arizona's communities and wildlife.

Since 2019, Sinagua's work has helped keep more than 425 million gallons of water in the Verde River. Arizona Wilderness estimates that through its use of Sinagua Malt, every pint of its beer helps offset more than 50 gallons of water for Arizona's waterways.

Why the Verde River Matters to Gilbert

Water from the Salt and Verde rivers makes up approximately 40% of Gilbert's water supply and is an important part of the Town's diverse water resources portfolio.

While the water conserved through Sinagua's work isn't necessarily water delivered directly to Gilbert, efforts to protect Arizona's rivers contribute to the long-term health of water resources that communities across the state depend on.

Arizona Wilderness' use of Sinagua Malt is one example of how decisions about ingredients can have an impact beyond what's in the glass.

Local is Always on the Menu

Arizona Wilderness also works with dozens of farmers, growers and independent businesses across the state to source ingredients close to home whenever possible.

Its scratch kitchen makes everything from ketchup to tepary bean patties onsite, using ingredients that include Arizona-grown produce, local honey and bread, and Arizona grass-fed beef. Its beers also feature ingredients grown and produced around the state, from citrus and nuts to honey and Sinagua Malt.

Each locally sourced ingredient provides another opportunity to support Arizona farmers, producers and independent businesses.

Turning Food Scraps Back Into Food

Arizona Wilderness' efforts to reduce waste extend to what happens after food leaves the kitchen.

The business partners with Recycled City to compost much of its food waste and compostable service ware rather than sending it to the landfill.

Recycled City turns those materials into nutrient-rich compost that is used to grow fresh produce. Some of those crops then make their way back into dishes served at Arizona Wilderness, creating a closed loop from food to food waste to farm and eventually back to the table.

The partnership provides a practical example of how food waste can be put to use again.

Drink Like You Care

Water-conscious ingredients, Arizona-grown food and less waste headed to the landfill are all part of a philosophy Arizona Wilderness calls "Drink Like You Care."

For the brewery, it's more than a tagline. It's about recognizing that the choices behind a beer or meal matter, from where ingredients are grown and how much water they require to what happens to what's left over.

The campaign encourages customers to think about those connections and consider the impact everyday choices can have on the places and resources around them.

One pint may start with grain, but its story can reach an Arizona farm, the Verde River, local businesses and even the next crop growing in the ground.

Green Business in Gilbert

The Green Gilbert Partnership Program gives local businesses a way to demonstrate their commitment to practices that help protect our environment, with a focus on water conservation, waste reduction and pollution prevention.

Arizona Wilderness offers one example of what those practices can look like in action. It's one of several businesses across the community participating in the program.

Want to see who else is going green in Gilbert?

Explore Green Gilbert Business Partners and learn more about the program at gilbertaz.gov/GreenGilbert.