BOSTON — Who wants to drink that dirty water?
Some of New England’s leading breweries will compete Oct. 1 to see who can turn the questionable water of Boston’s Charles River into the tastiest suds.
Six area breweries have signed on for the first ever “Brew the Charles” challenge, a highlight of HUBweek, a weeklong Boston-area festival celebrating innovation in art, science and technology.
Nadav Efraty, CEO of Desalitech, a Massachusetts water treatment company that’s sponsoring the competition, hopes it helps spotlight the importance of water conservation and water-saving technologies.
The river, which winds through 23 Massachusetts communities before ending in Boston Harbor, has come a long way since it gained notoriety in “Dirty Water,” the Standells’ 1960s hit and one of Boston’s adopted theme songs.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave the Charles a B+ for meeting water quality standards for almost all boating and some swimming in its most recent annual report card.
There’s even a movement to build a permanent swimming facility in the river. A portion of the proceeds from “Brew the Charles” will go toward that effort.
The water arrived last month at Boston Beer Co. (the makers of Samuel Adams), Cape Ann Brewing Co., Castle Island Brewing Co., Harpoon Brewery, Idle Hands Craft Ales and Ipswich Ale Brewery.
Jennifer Glanville, the brewer at Sam Adams, said it is brewing a German “helles” lager that she believes will “showcase” the water’s unique character. They’re calling it “80 Miles of Helles,” after the 80-mile length of the Charles River.
Adam Romanow, founder of Castle Island Brewing, said his team went with a dry hopped cream ale in hopes that it will also “let the water shine through.”
“We’ve had tons of people ask us if it’s safe to drink, if it will make them glow and so on,” Romanow said. “But I enjoyed one and I’m not glowing. So I think it’s safe to say that not only can you drink this beer, but you’re going to want to.”