The Bronx, N.Y.-based Manhattan Beer Distributors and the Portland, Maine-based Peak Organic Brewing, a maker of hand-crafted, certified organic ales, have joined forces to bring New York beer lovers a clean way to a cold one.
"This is an opportunity for folks in metro New York to celebrate with a delicious, sustainable toast," says Jon Cadoux, the craft beer brewer who founded Peak Organic Brewing. "The business community has a long way to go in terms of environmental sustainability, ourselves included, but we salute companies that are taking real steps toward that goal. We are proud to be distributed via the pioneering, energy efficient practices of Manhattan Beer Distributors."
Ten percent of Manhattan Beer's fleet of 300 delivery trucks have been retrofitted to operate on compressed natural gas (CNG) through state grants totaling more than $1 million. The trucks deliver Peak Organic Beer and other brands to the five boroughs of New York City, all of Long Island and seven counties north of New York City. The company also has sustainable systems installed at its Brooklyn, N.Y. refueling station.
Says Mike McCarthy, senior vice president of operations for Manhattan Beer Distributors, "Our retrofitted trucks have the same performance and fuel economy as our other trucks, but none of the harmful diesel emissions." McCarthy noted that Manhattan Beer Distributors received its first round of emissions funding in 2002 to retrofit 15 trucks with CNG engines and to build its first CNG refueling station at its South Bronx location.
"Combined emissions reduction from Manhattan Beer's 30 CNG delivery trucks is estimated, over ten years of operation, to lower vehicle pollution in New York by 227 tons, eliminate the need for 700 oil changes, displace an estimated 601,423 gallons of diesel fuel and decreased engine noise by 90 percent," says McCarthy.
One of America's first organic brewing companies, Peak Organic is made with high quality ingredients and has received many accolades.
"Peak Organic Beer tastes delicious because it is organic," says Cadoux. "It's craft brewed with only the purest organic ingredients that are grown without toxic and persistent pesticides, chemical fertilizers and fungicides. The absence of these toxins makes our beer tastier and more enjoyable for people and the planet. Healthier soil grows tastier barley and hops.
"By supporting organic agriculture, we believe that we can make the most delicious beer possible and feel good about the positive environmental contribution we are making," explains Cadoux.
Peak also partners with and supports organizations like Farm Aid, the Chefs Collaborative, Slow Foods, the Organic Trade Association, Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association, the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Surfrider Foundation.
Peak is available in three flavors, all of which are based on Peak's old homebrewing recipes: Pale Ale, complex and hoppy; Nut Brown Ale, smooth with a nutty finish and Amber Ale, with a subtle toasted character.
The company is preparing innovative new flavors for 2008. "Our goal this year is to release some styles that are completely new to the craft brewing scene, all using unique certified organic ingredients," says Cadoux.
In New York, Peak's hand-crafted ales can be found in locations including Danny Meyer's restaurants, The Room in Soho, Bubby's Pie Co. in TriBeCa, Lil' Frankie's Pizza in the East Village, Dylan Prime in TriBeCa, Beast in Prospect Heights, the Brazen Head in Cobble Hill as well as high-end grocers and bodegas.
Says Mike Cadoux, who manages the New York Metro area, "Peak has really been embraced by the community here. People who value gourmet products made with sustainably sourced ingredients have gravitated towards our hand-crafted ales."
Peak started as avid homebrewers in 1998. Over the course of many years brewing, an interest developed in organic products as the brewers say they realized they were "increasingly more delicious than their conventional counterparts." They add that the organic barley and hops used in the brews "enhanced the taste of the beer dramatically."
At that point, the mission of Peak became clear, to mesh a passion for the environment with a love for making delicious craft beer. The beer is brewed and bottled in Portland, Maine, and the company has offices in Maine and Massachusetts.
Appealing to a dynamic, active and health-oriented crowd, Peak Organic invites its customers to come to its website (peakbrewing.com) and share photos of their peak experiences in life. Site visitors rate the stories and photos customers post, and the most popular ones end up on the bottle or six-pack containers.
Organic beer is well positioned for growth, according to the Organic Trade Association (ota.com). Organics has become a $13 billion industry and represents one of the fastest growing segments of America's food and beverage category.
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ALSO:
The Bronx, N.Y.-based Manhattan Beer Distributors and the Portland, Maine-based Peak Organic Brewing, a maker of hand-crafted, certified organic ales, have joined forces to bring New York beer lovers a clean way to a cold one.
