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Alaska brewery plans to use beer as a source of green energy

Fox News --
The Alaskan Brewing Co. is going green, but instead of looking to solar and wind energy, it has turned to a very familiar source: beer.

The Juneau-based beer maker has installed a unique boiler system in order to cut its fuel costs. It purchased a $1.8 million furnace that burns the company's spent grain -- the waste accumulated from the brewing process -- into steam which powers the majority of the brewery's operations.

Company officials now joke they are now serving "beer-powered beer."

Four years ago, officials at the Alaskan Brewing Co. started looking at whether it could use spent grain as an in-house, renewable energy source and reduce costs at the same time.

While breweries around the world use spent grain as a co-fuel in energy recovery systems, "nobody was burning sp

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Submitted Feb 04, 2013 By: bar1035

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,828 Points:1,637,220 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 4:02:13 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse not totally new, but nice to be reminded that there still is some innovative spirit in the country.
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,667 Points:1,229,950 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2013 10:51:05 PM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse Good article Bar1035! Thanks for posting!
Ray_10589 Champion Author New York Posts:5,081 Points:1,210,460 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Feb 5, 2013 9:06:52 PM Ignore Ray_10589 Report Abuse really .... we need serous energy...
msf1527 All-Star Author San Bernardino Posts:691 Points:161,070 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Feb 5, 2013 7:40:02 PM Ignore msf1527 Report Abuse Yes beer power...
endymion All-Star Author New York Posts:969 Points:198,535 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Feb 5, 2013 5:30:28 AM Ignore endymion Report Abuse I've been running on beer power for years now!
ShadowACE Champion Author Boston Posts:9,159 Points:2,177,275 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 11:02:49 PM Ignore ShadowACE Report Abuse Z51Corvette said: "Oh that is such a waste of good beer." Maybe not, Z. They don't seem to mention exactly which brand of beer that is, and I've had a few that would have been much better for burning than they were for drinking. There were a few local varieties that I encountered in Vietnam that were definitely better used as fuel than as a libation.
RambleOn Champion Author New York Posts:2,385 Points:1,532,925 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 11:01:54 PM Ignore RambleOn Report Abuse And serves as an example that this private company acted out of their own free will, without Uncle Sam sticking his fingers where they don't belong.
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,980 Points:1,458,450 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:56:00 PM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse Normally waste grain goes as livestock feed. But there aren't too many feedlots around the Juneau area...
k54frog Champion Author California Posts:10,311 Points:2,129,075 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:53:48 PM Ignore k54frog Report Abuse Oh yea, I would say they are going amber. hahaha
k54frog Champion Author California Posts:10,311 Points:2,129,075 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:53:05 PM Ignore k54frog Report Abuse READ CAREFULLY! they are not wasting beer, they are using the used up grain from beer making to create power to make more beer. I like it.
VikingWoman Champion Author Washington Posts:1,451 Points:279,530 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:52:13 PM Ignore VikingWoman Report Abuse Smart move for them.
Petrock Champion Author Lexington Posts:9,263 Points:2,585,460 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:52:05 PM Ignore Petrock Report Abuse Sounds like a great idea ... But I have to wonder if I am helping to pay for it!
rippinusoff Champion Author Lexington Posts:7,543 Points:1,515,475 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:49:00 PM Ignore rippinusoff Report Abuse ok
pa79th Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:1,922 Points:1,243,800 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:47:04 PM Ignore pa79th Report Abuse I can think of a much better use for beer. It doesn't involve driving, either.
Zonk Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,621 Points:2,130,465 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:44:51 PM Ignore Zonk Report Abuse Smart thinking on someones behalf.
Rageagainsttm Champion Author Tampa Posts:8,422 Points:1,927,885 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:44:40 PM Ignore Rageagainsttm Report Abuse I'll drink to that.
gsayeg1 All-Star Author Milwaukee Posts:880 Points:151,560 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:43:19 PM Ignore gsayeg1 Report Abuse What brand - hope its not Schlitz!
10k Champion Author North Carolina Posts:21,489 Points:2,281,720 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:43:13 PM Ignore 10k Report Abuse i'll drink to that ; )
PrinceLH Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,832 Points:565,745 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:41:35 PM Ignore PrinceLH Report Abuse The drink of the masses!
GAS1251 Champion Author Texas Posts:5,294 Points:1,653,930 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:39:52 PM Ignore GAS1251 Report Abuse Good idea.
Z51Corvette Champion Author Austin Posts:8,608 Points:1,697,410 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:37:42 PM Ignore Z51Corvette Report Abuse Oh that is such a waste of good beer. Food is for food and fuel is for fuel... come on get it straight!
TFowler513 Champion Author Memphis Posts:3,824 Points:1,437,885 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:35:07 PM Ignore TFowler513 Report Abuse All alternatives are welcome.
Matt G Champion Author Boston Posts:4,673 Points:2,800,740 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:34:17 PM Ignore Matt G Report Abuse Just why we need, drunken cars
CPGas1815 Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,034 Points:1,101,695 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:33:51 PM Ignore CPGas1815 Report Abuse Fixed news is not a legitimate news organization.
SpankyMI Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:2,836 Points:785,590 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:30:44 PM Ignore SpankyMI Report Abuse I hope it will keep the cost of the beer down.
amgine27 Champion Author New York Posts:1,403 Points:333,940 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:29:00 PM Ignore amgine27 Report Abuse ok
s6sputnik Champion Author Austin Posts:6,332 Points:1,333,645 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:28:45 PM Ignore s6sputnik Report Abuse Good stuff
Harry813 Champion Author Iowa Posts:3,140 Points:689,340 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:28:37 PM Ignore Harry813 Report Abuse I like to drink som of that .
k2kipp Champion Author Minnesota Posts:3,238 Points:1,148,700 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:27:51 PM Ignore k2kipp Report Abuse Interesting! Drink more beer.
EvPv Champion Author Maine Posts:1,181 Points:293,400 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:27:15 PM Ignore EvPv Report Abuse good one boatfloyd!
Trowinsamoan Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:1,304 Points:214,520 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:26:22 PM Ignore Trowinsamoan Report Abuse Light beer ,regular beer or non alcohol beer?
boatfloyd Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:1,858 Points:415,675 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:24:08 PM Ignore boatfloyd Report Abuse They are thinking "Outside the Can".
RAE344 Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:3,212 Points:689,220 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:22:24 PM Ignore RAE344 Report Abuse This is funny, how many people just read the title of the article and comment. This is no different then a trash burning generator.
rx7racerca Champion Author Calgary Posts:4,321 Points:1,138,410 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:21:39 PM Ignore rx7racerca Report Abuse Surprised it hasn't been done before, but I suppose if it's cheap and easy to sell it to local farmers for most breweries, there's why.
Darwin00 All-Star Author Mississippi Posts:849 Points:292,985 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:20:54 PM Ignore Darwin00 Report Abuse cool
heartbroken2010 Champion Author Ottawa Posts:4,485 Points:925,235 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:18:53 PM Ignore heartbroken2010 Report Abuse i thought i had heard it all , now this,unbelievable.
a14morfun Champion Author Ontario Posts:11,963 Points:2,101,015 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:18:25 PM Ignore a14morfun Report Abuse Prosit!
mfeldstein Champion Author Ottawa Posts:8,301 Points:1,956,230 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:18:11 PM Ignore mfeldstein Report Abuse Could beer replace gas?
Jmac2008 Champion Author Missouri Posts:2,411 Points:907,865 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:18:09 PM Ignore Jmac2008 Report Abuse a good use of leftover product from making beer.
OGW Champion Author London Posts:5,446 Points:1,558,085 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:17:41 PM Ignore OGW Report Abuse So is the beer cheaper now?
ssect8 Champion Author Hartford Posts:8,131 Points:2,119,005 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:17:37 PM Ignore ssect8 Report Abuse Whatever it takes.
mackconsult Champion Author Portland Posts:5,374 Points:868,410 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:17:27 PM Ignore mackconsult Report Abuse Now that is cool
mrreferee Champion Author Savannah Posts:1,366 Points:580,480 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:17:02 PM Ignore mrreferee Report Abuse no news here, beer has been giving me gas for years!
obimerrill Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,580 Points:317,415 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:16:59 PM Ignore obimerrill Report Abuse Interesting
crreed1 Champion Author West Virginia Posts:2,100 Points:2,550,715 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:16:36 PM Ignore crreed1 Report Abuse old news
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:5,609 Points:800,300 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:15:02 PM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse Cuts their costs a bit.
Bigwaynef Champion Author South Carolina Posts:11,674 Points:2,108,435 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:14:11 PM Ignore Bigwaynef Report Abuse Damn all these years I've been doing Green Energy and people thought I was drunk, ha!
ItisAJeepThing Champion Author Tucson Posts:20,030 Points:2,179,280 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:13:35 PM Ignore ItisAJeepThing Report Abuse Excellent use of a semi waste product. Kudos to to Alaskan Brewing Co. Going green is going to pay off for them.
Rooster922 Champion Author Wilmington Posts:3,925 Points:682,795 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:13:22 PM Ignore Rooster922 Report Abuse I'm moving there.
rbutterw Champion Author Raleigh Posts:1,309 Points:319,355 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 10:13:10 PM Ignore rbutterw Report Abuse Uh gas prices?