Blindman Brewing is keeping an eye out for projects that promote sustainability.
The Lacombe craft brewery already recycles plastic PacTech beer handles. Close to 200 solar panels were installed at the brewing facility last week, and by the end of the year it will be capturing carbon dioxide during the fermentation process to reuse the CO2 to carbonate its beer.
Brewery’s co-founder Kirk Zembal said its been a five-year journey to capture CO2.
“Really large breweries will typically have a system. The issue is trying to get the technology at a scale for a craft brewery,” Zembal said.
“Now we’re kind of at the stage we’re moving forward pretty quickly and excited about it. It speaks to what we’re all about.”
He said his brewery spent $60,000 last year buying CO2, and the new equipment will produce as much CO2 needed onsite. The equipment should pay for itself within two or three years.
He said Blindman has also partnered with Olds College to generate carbon capture data to share with other craft breweries in Alberta and across Canada.
Related:
Awards brewing: Central Alberta breweries win at national level
The addition of 180 solar panels was another way to focus on sustainability, Zembal said.
“We have a nice south-facing roof perfect for solar. We pretty much covered up every square inch that we could.”
Related:
Big Rock Brewery posts higher sales, volumes in 2020 despite COVID-19 pandemic woes