Q+A

Q: How green is wood hat spirits?

A: PRETTY GREEN

THE MAJOR ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF A DISTILLERY IS COOKING AND DISTILLING.  HERE AT WOOD HAT WE ARE CARBON NEUTRAL. We use ground wood scrap from our neighboring barrel stave manufacturer to cook and distill. The wood scrap burns at 1400 degrees fahrenheit so we get excellent combustion without particulate discharge.

WE START THE FIRE WITH THE HEADS FROM A PREVIOUS DISTILLATION. THE WOOD FURNACE HEATS A FOOD GRADE OIL THAT IS PIPED INTO THE DISTILLERY THROUGH INSULATED PIPES. This specialized heat-transfer oil runs through coils inside the still to cook and distill without high pressure steam. ASH FROM THE FURNACE IS APPLIED TO OUR CORN FIELDS TO RECYCLE THE MINERAL NUTRIENTS.

THE SECOND LARGEST USE OF ENERGY IS COOLING THE MASH AFTER IT’S COOKED AND COOLING THE CONDENSER DURING DISTILLATION. MOST DISTILLERIES USE A MEGA HORSEPOWER CHILLER- WE DO NOT EVEN OWN ONE. WE USE OPEN TANKS OUTSIDE AND HEAT EXCHANGERS TO COOL THE MASH, WHICH PROVIDES HOT WATER AS A BONUS. We use ambient air cooling methods which includes one of three different heat exchanger loops:

• GEOTHERMAL LOOPS UNDER THE CONCRETE FLOOR; 
• LOOPS WITHIN THE CONCRETE FLOOR OF THE DISTILLERY TO HEAT THE BUILDING;
• LOOPS THROUGH A CATERPILLAR RADIATOR OUTSIDE THE BUILDING IN THE SUMMER.

MOST OF OUR SPENT GRAIN AND BOD MATERIAL IS FED TO LIVESTOCK ON THE SAME FARM THAT GROWS ONE OF OUR HERITAGE CORNS. we field apply some spent grains as organic fertilizer.

Q: how did wood hat spirits come about?