PFAS in Beer: Fact vs. Fear

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What Are PFAS?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” are synthetic compounds that have been in use since the 1940s. They’re valued for their ability to resist water, oil, and stains, which is why they’ve shown up in everything from nonstick pans and waterproof jackets to fast-food wrappers and firefighting foam. The same properties that made PFAS useful also make them problematic: they don’t break down easily and instead linger in the environment, often traveling far from their original source (EPA overview). Because of this persistence, PFAS have been detected in drinking water, soil, food, consumer products, and even rainfall.

PFAS in Beer - The Background

Why are we talking about this now? PFAS popped up in the news earlier this year after a peer-reviewed study was published in Environmental Science & Technology (ACS, 2025) that detected PFAS in beer. Subsequent to that, the Brewers Association published their own article acknowledging the findings. Since March '25, when the original study was published, there has been growing concern and speculation about the severity of the problem from consumers, brewers, and regulatory agencies.

EPA Standards and Health Concerns

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been tightening its guidance around PFAS in drinking water. In 2022, it issued interim health advisories for two of the best-studied compounds: 0.004 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and 0.02 ppt for PFOS (EPA advisories).

These numbers are so small they’re almost hard to imagine — about one drop in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools. They aren’t enforceable regulations but are meant to guide utilities and protect public health.

In 2024, the EPA went further, proposing enforceable drinking water limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, along with a hazard index to account for mixtures of other PFAS (EPA proposed rule). These proposed standards are among the strictest ever set in the U.S.

PFAS in Beer: What the Study Found

A peer-reviewed study published in Environmental Science & Technology (ACS, 2025) tested 23 beers from across the U.S. and abroad using EPA Method 533, which detects PFAS at very low levels.

Key results:

• 95% of samples contained detectable PFAS (Sample size was only 23 beers)

• Concentrations varied by geography. Beers brewed in North Carolina’s Cape Fear River Basin and parts of Missouri had some of the highest readings.

• A few samples exceeded EPA’s proposed drinking water limits, though those limits apply to water, not beer.

• The highest sample measured around 40 ppt total PFAS.

  
  

The researchers emphasized that concentrations depend heavily on the water’s journey. Beers brewed closer to contaminated rivers or aquifers — or using water that traveled through more polluted regions — were more likely to carry higher PFAS levels (ACS press release).

Putting Things in Perspective

Numbers like “95% of beers tested had PFAS” grab headlines, but context is critical. 100% of nothing is nothing, as they say, and the study included just 23 beers. Using some rudimentary math - that's just 21 beers. That’s a very small sample compared to the thousands of breweries in the U.S. alone. This highlights how limited the dataset really is. Also, the beers that were selected as samples were purposely chosen from a region already known to have elevated PFAS levels, meaning the samples collected ONLY represent beers manufactured in that region, and ONLY beers drawing strike water from sources known to be elevated.

"Criteria 1─Beers brewed in North Carolina, particularly where high levels of PFAS had been detected in drinking water [e.g., Cape Fear River Basin]"

"Criteria 2- Beers in other U.S. states that were highlighted by UCMR3 as having a high prevalence of PFAS in municipal drinking water"

-Excerpts from ACS Publication

It’s also important to remember that PFAS levels are not uniform across breweries. Each brewery’s water source is unique, tied to its municipality and watershed. A brewery drawing water from a heavily contaminated river basin may see higher PFAS levels, while another just a few miles away — with different infrastructure or cleaner source water — could have results near zero. In other words, PFAS in beer is not a universal constant. It’s a function of local water quality, municipal treatment methods, and whether breweries invest in additional filtration. Beer is not “the problem” — it’s simply a mirror of the water it’s made from.

Water Isn't the Only Carrier

PFAS are widely used in consumer products because of their ability to repel water, oil, heat, and stains. That means everyday items in our homes—kitchens, bathrooms, closets—are potential sources of exposure. Here's a short list of products known to contain PFAS. Pick your poison:

• Food Packaging: Fast-food wrappers, pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags

• Cookware: Non-stick pans (e.g., Teflon)

• Textiles: Waterproof jackets, stain-resistant carpets, upholstery

• Personal Care: Shampoos, nail polish, dental floss

• Specialty/Industrial: Firefighting foam, adhesives, paints & sealants

What We’re Doing About It

Water quality is at the heart of what we do. First of all, at our brewery the origin of our water is proximal so contaminants don't accumulate over time and distance the same way they would in areas where the water has to travel and potentially pick up PFAS along the way. Second, we’ve invested in activated carbon filtration, a technology proven to reduce PFAS in water (EPA treatment guidance).

To back this up, we worked with our local wastewater division to test our beer. Every single sample came back non-detect, meaning PFAS were either absent or below the level of detection. We’re committed to ongoing transparency to ensure our beer remains both safe and enjoyable.

Results from Mother Earth facility test conducted by Wastewater Division, March 2025

A Scientific Voice of Reason

On June 9th, 2025, a follow up article was published on ACS Publications (the same organization that published the original article) by researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey providing clarity on the pervasiveness of PFAS. In this new article, titled "PFAS Are Widespread, Not Ubiquitous: Clarifying Misconceptions About the Prevalence of “Forever Chemicals”, they challenge the assertion that PFAS are 'ubiquitous', meaning that while PFAS are common, they aren't universal or constant. What that means in beer terms is that it would be a fallacy to imply that beer and PFAS are mutually exclusive.

"Because there is a heightened sense of public concern over PFAS, using terms like “ubiquitous”, particularly when discussing drinking water supplies, only increases panic and unease. The situation with PFAS contamination is already exceedingly difficult for regulators, policy makers, and water resource managers without needlessly adding unfounded concerns."

-Andrea Tokranov - Research Hydrologist at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

The authors go on to explain that there are water sources that PFAS have not been detected in, which by rule means they can't be regarded as a certainty.

"PFAS are not ubiquitous in deeper layers of the earth’s crust, in old ice layers formed in glaciers cut off from atmospheric exchange prior to the 1950s, in groundwater that was recharged before PFAS were developed or in any surface matrix in which the above two criteria are not met, such as springs consisting of old groundwater recharged before the development of PFAS."

Conceptual diagram of where PFAS are/aren't widespread. Courtesy of ACS Pub.

The Big Picture & Takeaway

The controversy surrounding PFAS in beer isn’t really about beer, although it makes for (un)sexy news. Breweries don’t add PFAS; they inherit them from their water sources. Beer is a visible reminder of a larger issue: PFAS contamination in the environment.

Beer has always been a reflection of place, shaped by the grain, the climate, and most importantly, the water. In today’s world, that story also includes the challenges of PFAS. It’s important to be clear that the goal here is not to discredit a peer-reviewed study — in fact, research like this is essential because it shines a spotlight on what is certain to be one of our most important challenges to solve. The point is to separate fact from fear, to recognize that a handful of samples don’t define an entire industry, and to understand that risk depends on context, geography, water quality, lifestyle, and education.

I suppose if you are prepared to stop washing your hair, donate all your waterproof jackets, throw away your eye makeup, and carry out your piping hot pizza bare-handed... then maybe you are ready to cut out your favorite adult beverage, but until then, boycotting beer might be the ultimate sacrifice some of us are just NOT willing to make.

By staying grounded in the facts and science, we can make reasonable decisions about how to mitigate PFAS, both as brewers and as consumers, while continuing to enjoy the things we love, and in some cases have grown to rely on - ya know...like beer and pizza. 😄🍻🍕

Further Listening

We sat down with Chris Baker, our Brewing Ops Director and Brewmaster. As a biochemist with an emphasis in molecular biology, he breaks the issue down on the latest episode of our podcast - The Craft Equation. Chris brings his expertise in brewing science and water chemistry to explain what PFAS are, how they end up in beer, and why perspective matters more than panic. Watch or listen below 👇 .