New Belgium Brewing, best known for its Fat Tire amber ale, was conceived by founder Jeff Lebesch after a bike trip through Belgium, hence the name New Belgium.  Fat tire is actually named after the tires on his bike during that trip.  From the beginning, the brewery was conceived as a “role model of a sustainable business” that kindled “social, environmental and cultural change.”

New Belgium began in 1988 in Lebesch’s basement, where he re-purposed old dairy equipment into his own home brewing kit.  The brewery went commercial in 1991 and naturally needed larger digs.  The need for more room and larger equipment didn’t cut down on the company’s environmental commitment.

The brewery uses a Steinecker’s Merlin brew kettle because it of its efficient heating of the contents.  The steam from the kettle is funneled to a heat exchanger that provides heat for the next batch of brew in the kettle.  The whole system significantly reduces energy use.

Of course the brewery uses green lighting techniques such as sun-tubes, light shelves, and UV blocking windows where appropriate.  The new packing hall uses evaporative coolers, which means no compressors and less energy.  The walls are made from trees felled by beetles that would otherwise be wasted.

The energy for the entire brewery comes mostly from wind power although 15 percent comes from methane gas produced during water treatment.  The water treatment plant uses both aerobic and anaerobic microbes for cleaning up the waste water and generating the methane gas.  The methane gas is used to for a combined heat and power engine used in the brewery.

Every year New Belgium puts on the Tour de Fat to raise awareness and promotion of bicycling as a major form of transportation.  During this 11 city tour, the brewery uses solar power for the music stage, compostable cups for the beer, and diverts 85 percent of the waste stream away from landfills.

The New Belgium Web site provides a section on bikes next to the beer section that gives the dates and cities of the Tour de Fat that spans 11 western cities.  As well as the Tour, the company also has the Urban Assault Ride in 10 western cities where a variety of funky bikes including big wheels compete in a scavenger hunt, run an obstacle course, and participate in such events as bike jousting.  The company even provides a “bike-in cinema” as an alternative to “drive-in cinemas” during the summer.

The entire culture of the company encompasses promoting environmental stewardship and healthy living, not to mention brewing great beer.   In 2006, the brewery created a Sustainability Management System(SMS).  The SMS looks at the company’s current carbon footprint and environmental efforts and then sets out environmental goals and methods of achieving them.

Future goals include reducing New Belgium’s carbon footprint by 25 percent, improving waste diversion from 89.5 percent to 95 percent, and reducing water usage by 10 percent.  The spent grain and yeast are already diverted to other uses.  In order to achieve this plan, the company intends to install a photovoltaic array, and find new methods for generating methane from the process.

New Belgium has made a conscious effort to include high environmental standards as part of its brewing process and company philosophy.  Should you be out West this summer, you should attend attend the Tour de Fat or the Urban Assault Ride.  The events promise to provide great beer and good times.

Oh and don’t forget your bike.

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Entry was posted on Tuesday, July 21st, 2009 at 7:53 pm under Green Technology.

Read more entries by Susan Wilson.
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