We own our footprint. You own the future.

For every business decision we make, we place a higher value on what we’re accomplishing for the environment in which we live. This means not only reducing physical waste, but improving our water, and energy usage at every stage of the process.

We believe that in the long run, investing in sustainability is good business.

Meet Better Bubbles

What makes better bubbles for better beer? Here at Odell, we’re operating the largest carbon dioxide recapture system in Colorado craft beer. Our system pulls CO2 straight from the fermentation process, and crafts it into high quality, food grade CO2. This is a win-win for us AND the environment. This process eliminates up to 1 million pounds of carbon emissions – that’s the CO2 equivalent of up to 250 TONS of coal each year! So next time you take a sip of Odell beer, remember – better bubbles make better beer.

Clean Rivers, Great Beer

Odell and Protect Our Rivers are partnered and aim to reach more people with a simple but urgent message: rivers are vital, vulnerable, and worth protecting. This effort  – now powered by Lagerado Crispy Lager – reminds Coloradans that clean water is essential for both thriving ecosystems and great beer. There will be dozens of cleanups this year – join us at a cleanup to make an impact.

Clean Up
WATER

  • Saving Water

    It takes about 7 gallons of water to make a gallon of beer. Over the years we’ve improved our systems and processes and reduced that number to 3.40 gallons of water.

  • Custom Mods

    We made some custom modifications to our vacuum pump that seals our bottles to reuse water, saving us 1.25 million gallons of water a year! 

  • Reduce & Reuse

    We adjusted our Clean In Place system to reuse grey water for the first rinse of a used tank. It’s a simple and easy way to save water.

  • Filtration by centrifuge

    Filtering beer with a centrifuge uses less water, eliminates the need for hazardous diatomaceous earth, and  preserves essential hop oils which make for better tasting beer!

ENERGY

  • Alternative Energy

    We’ve installed 11,000 square feet of solar panels. These panels put our 76.5kW array, which covers 4% of our total power. 

  • Solatube Lighting

    Solatube Lights are skylights that are built with special materials that intensifies the sunlight throughout the brewery. We love natural light!

  • Steam Power

    Our brew kettle uses a steam recapture system during every boil to reuse expended steam to heat the water for the next brew!

  • Renewable Energy

    We work closely with the city of Fort Collins to fund green energy projects and increase the percentage of renewable energy used in the power grid. 

  • CO2 Recapture System

    We installed a CO2 recapture system in 2023 to re-use CO2 that’s produced during fermentation. We re-use that CO2 in other areas of producing our beer, including carbonation and packaging. This system prevents 1.4 million pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere every year.

Innovate with the Community

We’re constantly planning for the future, which for us means innovating with our communities.

  • BreWater

    Co-founded BreWater, a group that brings together breweries of all sizes to discuss water use in the industry and the health of our local watershed.

  • Local Sustainability Groups

    Our co-owners host meetings for local groups including Northern Colorado Renewable Energy Society, and the Sustainable Living Association. Co-owners participate in river clean ups with Protect Our Rivers and Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed. 

  • Old Yeast New Tricks

    Working with Fort Collins Waste Water Treatment plant to see if spent yeast can be used as a chemical-free method for treating city water.

  • Electric Charging Station

    Installed an electric car charging station at our brewer for public use in order to support the growing impact electric cars are making on our world.