Going Green

Syracuse - Saint Patrick’s Day is tomorrow and the Empire Brewing Company is giving new meaning to “green beer”.

The micro-brewery in Armory Square is the first company in New York State to run on 100 percent state produced renewable energy.

What does that mean for a brewery? Director of Brewing Tim Butler says a local farmer comes and picks up waste grain for feed for her animals, the water used in the brewing process is recycled, the company uses local ingredients, and has a garden in Cazenovia where it grows its own vegetables and herbs.

But going green isn’t saving Empire any green. Butler says that the switch, that began last summer and took about eight months, ended up costing the company money. But he says other benefits that the company and community gain from the switch are more than worth it.