CO2Brew: Capturing carbon, one craft brewery at a time 

May 13, 2026

Innovation often emerges at the intersection of unexpected industries. CO2Brew, a Calgary‑based company, is proving that meaningful carbon capture usage (CCU) doesn’t always emerge from heavy industry alone; it can also be found in fermenters, taprooms and small family-owned businesses across the craft brewing sector. 

With support from The Avatar Innovations Program, CO2Brew is re-imagining how carbon dioxide (CO₂) is captured and reused, and demonstrating how industrial thinking can unlock new, practical applications for CCU in everyday places.

For CO2Brew CEO, Kent Swanlund, that support was foundational. “I always wanted to start a successful business but never knew where to start or had the support, which Avatar provided me,” he says.

During fermentation, breweries naturally generate CO₂ as a by‑product of beer production. Historically, this CO₂ has been vented into the atmosphere, even as breweries purchase externally sourced, beverage‑grade CO₂, for carbonation and packaging. Recognizing this inefficiency, Kent and the CO2Brew team saw an opportunity to close the loop.

By capturing high‑purity CO₂ directly from the fermentation process, breweries can reuse their own CO₂ on site, creating a more self‑sufficient and lower‑emissions operation. The recovered gas is condensed into a high‑quality liquid suitable for reuse within the brewery. This reduces the need to purchase externally sourced CO₂ and provides an opportunity for breweries to manage supply disruptions more effectively. In cases where excess CO₂ is produced, the system also creates the potential for resale, turning what was once a waste stream into a valuable resource.

What makes CO2Brew’s innovation particularly compelling is its modular and scalable design. Rather than relying on large, centralized carbon capture systems, this technology is engineered to fit the operational realities of craft breweries. Units that can be retrofitted to existing fermentation tanks, minimizing disruption, lowering barriers to adoption, and demonstrating how CCU can be adapted beyond heavy industry and applied in diverse, smaller‑scale settings.

This practical, brewery-first approach reflects a deep understanding of the sector itself. “The craft brewing community is very small and tight knit, almost like a family.” Kent explains, “It’s very important to be on-site and communicating face-to-face.”

That emphasis on trust, presence, and collaboration has been critical to CO2Brew’s success. Working closely with brewers, listening to operational constraints, and adapting technology to real-world needs has allowed the system to integrate seamlessly into day-to-day business, without major infrastructure adjustments.

Captured CO₂ is purified and condensed into a high‑quality liquid suitable for reuse in carbonation and packaging, reinforcing the cyclical nature of the system. Where production exceeds internal demand, breweries gain the opportunity to benefit from surplus CO₂ reducing the need to produce the gas elsewhere. As Kent describes, “You definitely get out of it what you put into it!”  

CO2Brew’s work highlights the creative potential that emerges when industrial innovation is applied beyond its traditional boundaries. Techniques and engineering principles rooted in emissions‑intensive sectors are being repurposed to support small businesses, local producers, and community‑level operations.

In doing so, carbon capture becomes more than an abstract climate technology; it becomes tangible, visible and useful. All of which would not be possible without a determined collaborative mindset. “Having a strong team is key to success,” Kent reflects.

Oil Sands Alliance is a proud sponsor of the Avatar Innovations Program, which supports innovators and new technologies through collaborative approaches and creative thinking. By bridging industrial expertise with the realities of craft brewing, CO2Brew is opening new pathways for carbon management that are reusable, scalable, and grounded in real-world operations. These applications extend well beyond craft breweries, spanning wineries, distilleries, food processors, direct air capture companies and more, demonstrating the versatility of CO2Brew’s innovative technology. It’s a compelling example of how ingenuity, collaboration, and creative thinking can turn unexpected intersections into something meaningful, one brewery at a time.