Arcadia Brewing Company
 | |
| Industry | Alcoholic beverage |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Timothy Suprise |
| Headquarters | Battle Creek, Michigan |
| Products | Beer |
| Website |
www |
The Arcadia Brewing Company[1] (also known as Arcadia Ales) is a brewery in Kalamazoo, MI, U.S. Arcadia Ales beers are distributed in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and in craft beer clubs in Washington, California and Canada.
In 1996 Arcadia Brewing Company was founded by Tim Suprise [Founder and CEO] along with several other shareholders. For 20 years now, Arcadia Brewing Company has been committed to a British Inspired – American Brewed stable of beers.
Arcadia's first 25 barrel batch was brewed on a Peter Austin Brick Kettle Brewing System from England at the flagship Battle Creek, MI location. Fast-forward 20 years later – today every batch is produced in a new 50 barrel American-made brewhouse at the Kalamazoo Riverfront Brewery, Pub, and Garden. Only domestic and English malted barley, along with Pacific Northwest and Michigan hops are used in the brewing process.
On May 8, 2014 Arcadia opened a 30,000 square foot, $6 million dollar second home in Kalamazoo, MI where they had the opportunity to rehabilitate and give new life to 400 feet of downtown Kalamazoo’s riverfront that had sat unused for over 20 years after being a coal-burning electric plant for over 80 years. On June 1, 2016[2] Arcadia added to the renovation by partnering with Consumers Energy and Helios Solar in facilitating an even more sustainable landscape by installing solar panels on the roof of the Kalamazoo Riverfront Brewery and Pub to capture and re-sell clean energy. The solar panel installation adds to numerous energy conscious, sustainability initiatives that Arcadia Brewing Company implements including Bio-Fuel production, spent grain reallocation to local farmers to use as feed, water conservation, and even a car charging station installed at the Kalamazoo Riverfront Brewery and Pub. Arcadia Brewing Company is also a proud participant in the Sustainable Brewing Program, launched in 2015 by Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. The program focuses on helping future brewers find ways to minimize the environmental footprint of breweries in regards to the use of municipal water sources, wastewater treatment, and energy use.
Each Arcadia beer has been traditionally created using a single distinctive, proprietary yeast strain in open fermenters. However, on August 1, 2016,[3] Arcadia Brewing Company ushered in a new era of brewing possibilities with the installation of two new 100bbl cylindroconical closed fermentation tanks delivered by Kalamazoo based Kandler Tool Co. from W.M. Sprinkman in Franksville, WI. The unitanks will most importantly allow the integration and use of new yeast strains while maintaining the integrity of the open fermentation cellar where Arcadia’s proprietary yeast strain continues to be cultivated and used to brew traditional Arcadia Ales. Custom designed with a manway at the top, the tanks will provide the flexibility to top crop yeast as has been traditionally done by the brewery. The ability to brew with new yeast strains will open up the Arcadia Brewing Company portfolio of offerings, allowing for their brewers to be creative in ways that were not previously accessible and broadening the scope of beers produced.
Arcadia Brewing Company also hosts two brewpubs. One is the flagship location which is a cozy, classic pub style restaurant located on the main drag of downtown Battle Creek, MI. The other, located in Kalamazoo, MI, provides a different atmosphere with communal seating and deli-style food service. The Kalamazoo Brewery, Pub, and Kitchen also has a pet-friendly riverfront beer garden with direct access to the Kalamazoo River for kayaks and canoes and over 20 miles of Kalamazoo River Valley Trail’s paved bike and pedestrian pathways. The beer garden also provides a variety of outdoor games including shuffleboard, cornhole, disc golf, and giant Jenga as well as a gas-lit council fire.
Arcadia in Battle Creek has become known for its BBQ, made fresh daily on a Southern Pride smoker, as well as wood-fired pizzas, made in a brick oven from Italy. The Kalamazoo location takes Arcadia's passion for BBQ to a whole new level with an all wood-fired Oyler BBQ smoker from Texas, burning pure hickory. Most of the meats are locally sourced, with many being a byproduct of whole animal/seam butchery. Additionally, their chefs also regularly feature unique vegetarian and gluten free options.
For Arcadia, it’s always been about commitment; to creating quality beers, to building relationships with customers, and to supporting their communities. Hosting a monthly fundraising event entitled "Drink One Down for Your Town" each brewpub location hosts a different charitable organization or non-profit, then tallies the day's tap sales to make a matching donation. One of many charitable events Arcadia participates in and hosts, other fundraising events can be found on the events section of their website.
Awards
1998 World Beer Championships
- Angler's Ale - Bronze Medal
- Whitsun - Silver Medal
- India Pale Ale - Gold Medal
2002 World Beer Cup
- Arcadia Loch Down Scotch Ale - Silver Medal - Category: Strong Scotch Ale
2003 World Beer Championships
- London Porter - Gold Medal
- Starboard Stout - Silver Medal
- Imperial Stout - Silver Medal
2007 Great American Beer Festival
- Cereal Killer Barleywine - Silver Medal - Category: Barley Wine Style Ale
2009 Great American Beer Festival
- Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cereal Killer Barleywine - Gold Medal - Category: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer
2015 Great American Beer Festival
- Arcadia IPA - Silver Medal - Category: Classic English-Style Pale Ale