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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 CONTACT: Lisa Heaney
Lisa@MichiganBrewing.com
(517) 294-2280

 

Michigan Brewing Company Makes its First Batch of "Bio-Beer" Russian Imperial Stout
 

Webberville, MI - October 4, 2007

The flames glowed orange through the sight glass on October 4th as Michigan Brewing Company fired up the steam generator with its first batch of bio diesel.   "From here on out," said Bobby Mason, company owner "all of our beer will be produced with biodiesel fuel powering our steam generator"

Michigan Brewing Company recently partnered with Michigan State University to implement the MSU Bio-Refinery Training Facility, where MSU provides training on the production of various "bio" products including ethanol and bio-diesel. 

As part of the Bio-Refinery Training Facility, MSU provides recycled vegetable oil from the kitchens on  the university campus. The oil is collected, filtered and then shipped to the Michigan Brewing Company.  Through experimental processes, the oil is converted into bio-diesel fuel, which then powers the steam generator.  In preparation for the training facility, MBC changed the head on the steam generator to a multi-fuel head; one that can run on biodiesel or natural gas.  When the first tank of bio-diesel was ready to go, the switch was flipped and the generator fired for the first time with biodiesel.

Our goal is to be 100% running on bio diesel with not only our steam generator, but also our electricity," stated Mason.  Still in its infancy, the bio diesel production at the facility is not yet up to capacity. Batches will increase from the start up 50 gallon batches to the 200 gallon batches planned for October.

"It was great to finally get the steam generator hooked up." Stated Stan Thornbury, Training Facility Coordinator.  Thornbury and Mason had running test batches of bio diesel for several months.  On Wednesday their efforts finally paid off with the first batch of "bio-beer."With the conversion complete, MBC will be running primarily on bio diesel for steam generation. 

The first batch of beer made with steam from bio diesel was MBC's specialty beer, Russian Imperial Stout.  Only available at the brewery's pub,  the Russian Imperial Stout is not provided for distribution.  "You'll have to stop in and try your first bio beer."  Said Stan, "you'll not only be having the best beer, but you'll know it was brewed in manner that's friendly to the environment. 

The next phase of the project will be to install electrical generators that run on bio-diesel in an effort to be environmentally friendly and more self-sufficient.  Michigan Brewing Company is currently seeking partners to implement electrical generators powered by their bio-diesel fuel. 

Michigan Brewing Company is located in Webberville, Michigan, in a 76,000 sq. foot facility that includes The Pub, with excellent food and excellent customers, along with thingsBEER a retail outlet for home brewers and wine makers.  The new facility also houses Michigan Sate University’s Bio-Refinery Training Facility. Capacity for the brewery is 54,000 barrels per year, and MBC beers are now distributed in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin with seven more states coming online in 2008.  MBC beers are also now available in the Kingdom of Sweden. 

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2006 Michigan Brewing Company