ABOUT ACIDAcid is a Brooklyn-based vacuum distillery turning upcycled food waste into spirits. We believe things have more value than their first use. Spent coffee grounds still hold aromatics that never made it into the cup. Citrus rinds left over from juicing are full of bright oils. We work with local farms, restaurants and food producers to find ingredients like these and see what they can become.
THE SPIRITSThe Versa Series is food waste from local businesses, upcycled into spirit: spent cold brew grounds from Cafe Grumpy, chai spices from Dona, grapefruit rinds from Place des Fêtes. The Harvest Series works with ingredients at peak season, grown locally and distilled at their prime. Each ingredient is infused into neutral grain spirit and distilled again under vacuum, so its volatile aromatics come through intact. Nothing is added. Whatever is left is upcycled again or composted through Mr. T Carting.
SPIRITS
DESIGNED
TO
BE
CIRCULAR
SPIRITS DESIGNED TO BE CIRCULAR
Photo by Mert Karakas
FOUNDER AND DISTILLERJoe McDowell
Started in craft beverage while in college in Orlando, managing a craft beer bar there before working at a homebrew shop and moving into production brewing in his hometown of Melbourne, Florida. What he learned about fermentation, ingredients and flavor led him to start Acid in 2022.
At Acid, he takes things that would otherwise be discarded and finds a new purpose for them. The work is rooted in local sourcing and close collaboration with farmers, restaurants and food producers throughout New York.
Outside the distillery, he holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He lives in Brooklyn and spends his time cooking, reading, playing board games and exploring the city.
