A brewery in Ohio in the US is making a batch of green beer called Algae Blooms to draw attention to the toxic algae fouling Lake Erie.

Maumee Bay Brewing Company said water was the main ingredient in its beers and access to clean water was essential. The Toledo firm uses the city's tap water sourced from Lake Erie, but algae outbreaks over recent summers have become a threat to drinking water.

Manager Craig Kerr said the new beer looked like algae-contaminated water but did not taste like it. He said the brewery used powdered green tea and kiwi to give the beer its colour. Ohio Environmental Council is helping to promote the beer to illustrate the importance of investing in safe water.