What happens to brewers' spent grain?

BSG (02 07 01) is roughly 85% moisture and the largest brewing by-product (~20 kg per hectolitre of beer). The primary route is wet animal feed under EU Regulation 767/2009; growing routes include anaerobic digestion, drying for flour, and protein extraction.

What is pot ale and how is it valorized?

Pot ale and spent lees (02 07 02) are the liquid residues from spirit distillation. They are concentrated into pot ale syrup for animal feed, or fed to anaerobic digesters for biogas production.

We use cookies to improve your experience and save your reports. Privacy Policy

Turn Brewing & Distilling Residues Into Feed, Biogas & Food Ingredients

Name: SymbioFlows Platform
Availability: InStock
Author: SymbioFlows

Spent grain, yeast, and pot ale are the largest by-products of beer and spirit production — and valuable feedstocks for animal feed, anaerobic digestion, and food upcycling. SymbioFlows finds the right buyer.

Get Your Valorization Report

~20 kg

Spent grain per hl of beer

src: Brewers of Europe

~85%

BSG moisture content

src: process data

100–130 m³/t fresh

BSG biogas yield

src: industry avg

~85%

BSG share of brewing by-products

src: industry data

Key Waste Streams — EWC Codes & Buyers

EWC Code	Material	Description	Who Buys It
02 07 01	Brewers Spent Grain (BSG)	Wet spent malt and grain from mashing — high protein and fibre.	Animal feed compounders, AD plants, food upcyclers
02 07 02	Spirits Distillation Wastes	Pot ale and spent lees from spirit distillation.	Pot ale syrup producers, AD plants
02 07 04	Materials Unsuitable for Consumption	Spent yeast, trub, and off-spec product.	Feed and yeast extract producers, AD
02 07 05	On-site Effluent Treatment Sludge	Biological sludge from brewery/distillery wastewater.	Anaerobic digesters, agricultural spreading