Brewing with Impact
At 3 Ravens, we see brewing as more than just craft—it’s a chance to challenge the norm and rethink what’s possible. For over 21 years, we’ve been blending bold innovation with sustainable practices to minimise our impact on the planet. From cutting-edge technology to simple eco-responsible business decisions, we’re redefining what it means to brew responsibly.
HERE IS WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE
Ingredients
We’re passionate about keeping things local (Hello 86 Tram Series - here is the range that says it loud!). By sourcing malt, hops, yeast, and water from nearby suppliers, we’re reducing transport emissions and investing in our regional community.
The Wild Ravens range takes it a step further, by upcycling grape marcs from Victorian wineries. These by-products—once destined for waste—are now key ingredients in our unique wild ales. It’s sustainability you can taste.
Processing
Groundbreaking Technology: Our revolutionary and award-winning heat pump system repurposes waste heat to make our brewing process more efficient than ever—meaning we are literally beer powered - You might want to scroll through to read more about this mind-blowing system which already got us 3 awards!
Solar Power: The sun fuels 84.78% of our brewery operations, helping us stay green and clean.
Energy Efficiency: With smarter processes at every turn, we’re continually cutting energy use per liter of wort brewed—one milestone at a time. It all started with LED lighting in 2016, followed by a cool roof in 2020 that reduced the building’s A/C use. In 2023, our big brewery upgrade included tank insulation and the move to 100% electric operation.
Packaging
Good beer needs great packaging—and ours puts sustainability front and center. Our 375ml aluminum cans, reusable steel kegs can be recycled or used again and again.
Deliveries
We love our backyard, so we keep our beer close to home. Our local shipping practices ensure shorter transit routes that reduce emissions and get your beer fresher, quicker.
Beer-Powered Brewing Meets Renewable Energy
Let’s dive into what this really means and how we got there!
Brewing beers can demand a lot of energy, but we’ve found a way to lighten the load with innovation, grit, and some serious outside-the-box thinking.
By teaming up with industry experts, including Regenerate Engineering and A2EP, In 2023, we have upgraded our brewery with a first-of-its-kind Waste Heat Recovery System (WHRS) specifically designed for craft breweries at our scale.
Brewing Smarter, Brewing Greener
For small craft breweries like ours, energy efficiency isn’t as straightforward as you’d find in large-scale operations. Challenges like irregular brewing schedules, smaller spaces, and smaller batch sizes keep us on our toes. But with clever solutions and relentless innovation, we’ve managed to overcome these hurdles and pave the way for sustainable brewing.
This new system is a game-changer (see fig below) in craft brewing. It includes some pretty impressive components that work together seamlessly to reduce our environmental footprint while boosting efficiency:
- CO2 Chilling Heat Pump – This clever piece of tech repurposes waste heat and cooling from the brewing process, looping it right back into powering operations. It’s efficiency at its finest.
- Fermecraft Technology – Cutting-edge automation ensures every watt of energy is optimized, fine-tuning the entire operation to minimize waste.
- Thermal Battery – This smart energy storage captures and repurposes power, maximizing every ounce of energy.
The best part? This innovative approach delivers real, measurable results without compromising the quality of our beer. Here’s a taste of what we’ve achieved since the upgrade in 2023:
- 29.10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per liter brewed and packaged.
- The ability to brew four times more beer without increasing energy use.
- Significant cuts in emissions per liter brewed, making every pint kinder to the planet.
Practical Steps, Real Impact
All of this innovation didn’t happen on its own. We worked alongside industry experts, including Regenerate Engineering and A2EP, to figure out how to make our brewery more efficient and minimise waste.
“We’ve knocked down the traditional energy-intensive brewing barriers with one heat pump that does it all. Energy efficiency at its best.” - Jon Fettes, Regenerate Engineering
For Jarrod Leak, CEO of A2EP, solutions like ours can potentially transform other small food and beverage businesses.
"[...] this project shows, not only will it help Australia meet its emission reduction targets, it will also support the viability and growth of local businesses that employ so many Australians” - Jarrod Leak, CEO of A2EP
The project has also had backing from ARENA, credit to an industry-wide push for smarter energy use in Australian craft brewing.
Recognized for Our Efforts
The proof of our commitment is in both the beer and the awards! Here are some of our recent highlights that make us proud to lead the way in craft brewing sustainability:
- 2023 – National Energy Efficiency Award for the BEST SME Energy Management, awarded to Jon Fettes of Regenerate Engineering for the 3 Ravens project.
- 2024 – Nominee as one of two Darebin businesses for the Northern Business Achievement Awards (for our innovation and sustainability efforts).
- 2024 – Winner of the Outstanding Initiative in Manufacturing award at the Northern Business Achievement Awards.
Stay tuned for more updates as we keep pushing boundaries, and minimising ou impact while we brew!
And come visit us to see what all the buzz is about!
