Neihart/Beer Terroir, 3. Pure Mountain Water

Chapter 3 engages in the pursuit of water in the Rockies. Th is action involves both the acquisition of suffi cient water to brew in addition to the ongoing debates in the nineteenth century over water purity. Water purity extends beyond the nutritional impact on the body. It also contains essential ingredients for pure beer. Growing Prohibition sentiments pushed back against water usage for alcohol production; brewers countered with health concerns about water. Water purity continues to feature centrally in Rocky Mountain brewing, distilling, and bottling. The rhetorical and physical work brewers performed to claim pure water for brewing was remarkable and illustrated the plasticity of terroir. Brewers fought over water, arguing at times opposing sides of water safety.