Antique Water Now Just $1 per Gallon
I would hazard a guess that most people get their water from some municipal or commercial operation. When I purchased a home in NE PA back in 2007, my water came from a well. It was a bit unsettling at first. However, that soon passed as we experienced the best tasting water of our lives. That well was deep as domestic residential wells go, around 400’. At that depth, my geology training kicked in and I became quite comfortable with the filtration provided by the overlaying limestone and sandstone.
While living in PA, I took up brewing beer again and the well water was absolutely perfect. Home brewing doesn’t fair well on citified water. The chemicals used to make it potable also impart a distinct chlorine taste and play havoc with the nice little yeast bugs that brewing thrives on. Fast forward to our move back to MN and when I brewed, I trundled off to the local market and bought the requisite amount of bottled spring water for a batch of beer.
I cannot recall when I heard about the old Schmidt Brewery selling its water but after many well-intentioned starts, I finally stopped for the details in early March. The brewery itself is impossible to miss but the well-house, as I term it, is less conspicuous. It is situated right on West 7th Street directly in front of the brewery. There is a pull off lane, but it was mostly obliterated by recent snows. Pull over, grab your containers, and you can self-serve water at $1.00 per gallon. There are two dispensers and they take plastic (credit or debit), paper ($1 and $5), and change.
The real magic to me is the story of the water itself. Beer is dependent upon the quality of its water…bad water, bad beer. Okay, bad recipes and brew masters can also make bad beer. Regardless, water is essential. And this water is amazing! Buckle up for a little geology. The water is pumped from the Mount Simon-Hinckley Aquifer that spreads under portions of five states. At the Schmidt location it is down over 1500’ and the water itself is over 250’ deep. The signage says the water is treated by UV light and passed through an iron filter. Otherwise, it is unchanged from the day it was deposited.
The water was left as glaciers, once over a mile thick at the spot, melted and withdrew. Later more glaciers covered the water as they advanced again, creating the aquifer. As a result, the water itself is estimated to be 35,000 years old! It is amazing to imagine what Minnesota was like that long ago. Or how big the mosquitos were? Pterodactyl anyone? Humans are reported to have arrived 10,000 years ago so this water has a serious pedigree.
What started as a simple trip to check out water for my next batch of beer has me planning to use it for personal consumption as well. My wife is thinking of watering her house plants with it. A customer at the nursery where she works told her she uses it and her plants are noticeably healthier. Lest anyone freak out that the aquifer is going to be drained, put your fears to rest. It is enormous. It is protected against any further drilling unless an emergency requires it. And it does replenish itself as water seeps through the overlying layers of rock.
Having said that, I want some 35,000-old water before it gets diluted with stuff only 20,000 years old. See you at the well house.
A co-worker smugly asked me if all water wasn't that old. Bah! Of course not (maybe). Perhaps a better way to say it is, "This water has not been touch by man or beast in 35,000 years." I think that covers it nicely.
Update: My grandson accompanied me to purchase two trial gallons of the antique water. We took cups and tried it fresh from the well. He was less enthusiastic about it than I was. As to the water? It met all expectations and is destined to become a staple at our household.