The Appalachian Mountain Brewery (AMB) is working to incorporate sustainable initiatives into its business model. Once opened, AMB will be the first commercially opened brewery to operate within Boone’s business districts.

“We are planning on having a solar-thermal system, photovoltaic panels and two wind turbines to help offset our electricity needs,” the brewery’s Seth Spiegelman said.

The community plays a large part in the brewery’s mission.
Read More “We will be donating our grain to local farmers in exchange for food to donate to the needs of others,” Spiegelman said. “We are planning on having a carbon dioxide system to sequester into a small greenhouse at the brewery to grow herbs and vegetables to donate as well.”

The brewery also plans to donate a percentage of profits from every glass of beer sold to local charities.

By year five, Spiegelman said the brewery hopes to have its brews flowing across Appalachia, reach a zero carbon footprint and donate $100,000 to the fermentation science program at Appalachian.

The brewery also plans to help 10 new business open in Boone through its planned venture capital fund, which will be open to all Appalachian graduates.

“We can make this place the best small town in America if we all focus on quality of each and every individual here locally,” said Spiegelman.

Many students from Appalachian’s fermentation science program have worked with breweries like AMB to gain real world experience in their field and learn green initiatives, which they could eventually apply to the industry.

“There are currently students working with AMB on real-world projects ranging from advertisement, communications and promotion to system design and recipe development,” said Seth Cohen, director of Appalachian’s viticulture program.

“AMB and other businesses can provide students an opportunity to work on projects that will have definitive outcomes and tangible results.  We hope that our student engagement in such activities will showcase the skills and talents of students at Appalachian.”

The brewery will host monthly home-brew competitions and classes and it hopes to be a resource for fermentation science education in conjunction with the fermentation science program at Appalachian.

Story: MADISON FISLER, Intern News Reporter