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Take advantage of your time in Vegas and swing by our booth number 626. You can also take a peek at the future of Glycol chilling as we will have one of our new Elite 290 Propane chillers in the booth! Natural. Efficient. Tomorrow-Proof.

Lastly, don’t forget to pick up our annual CBC shirt as well. It is the original and best souvenir every year at CBC!  

See you there! Cheers y’all!

Craft Brewers Conference Expo Hours are: 

• Monday, April 22 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 23 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 24 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

BrewExpo America is the premier trade show for craft brewers and beverage alcohol industry. With hundreds of vendors and over 10,000 industry professionals all in one location, this is the place to shop for products and services for your brewery, brewpub, taproom, or beverage business. A great opportunity to meet national and international brewing leaders. To register and learn more follow the link here!

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To learn more, visit our Elite 290 product page or email us at info@gdchillers.com for more details. 

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by Paul Johnson, G&D’s Director of Technology and R&D

The refrigeration industry has been turned on its head recently with new and upcoming  refrigerant regulations. For the last thirty years, we’ve navigated the tightening of environmental  regulations – first focused on reducing a refrigerant’s ozone depletion potential (ODP); and now  focused on reducing the refrigerant’s global warming potential (GWP). This constant  progression, incrementally reducing the impact our chillers may have on the environment if a  leak were to occur, has pushed our industry to improve the technology we use, and lessen our  environmental impact. 

Twenty years ago, when we were in the process of moving away from the old industry standard,  R22, we tried to predict which refrigerant would ultimately win out. Which refrigerant had the  potential to be “tomorrow proof”? Would it be some new refrigerant we’d never heard of? Or a  natural refrigerant?  

At the time, we discussed refrigerants such as ammonia, CO2, and R290 (Propane). All of these  are natural refrigerants, each with their own pros and cons. While the team at G&D Chillers  agreed that propane was the best fit for our industry, and we discussed how we could make it a  reality, it was not feasible at the time. We’ve discussed it from time to time ever since and each  time came to the same conclusion; R290 is the right refrigerant, but now is not the right time. 

Twenty years ago, the environmental regulations focused on ODP and efficiency, then ODP  took a back seat. Now GWP is the primary concern. With the advent of new low GWP  refrigerant blends, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemicals have begun to contaminate the world’s aquifers and find their way into the foods we eat and even the air we  breathe. Watching the European markets, we believe that high efficiency and the elimination of  PFAS chemicals will be the primary concerns in the foreseeable future and lead to regulations  mandating the use of natural refrigerants. With the newest planned cuts to the allowable GWP,  and with the only refrigerants capable of meeting the new standards being flammable, high  PFAS refrigerants, we decided the time had finally come to make the leap and develop the  chiller technology to safely use R290! 

Leading the shift to propane in the brewing industry is New Belgium Brewing. As a certified B  Corporation since 2012, New Belgium’s commitment to social and environmental accountability  starts at the foundation of its corporate structure. New Belgium follows a leading climate action  plan, a scalable philanthropy model, vocal advocacy in the policy arena, and a long tradition of  using its brand to mobilize customers in support of the world’s most pressing movements for  change. 

Andy Collins, New Belgium’s Carbon Neutral Engineer, helped the brewery research and  implement its first transition to using propane as a natural refrigerant to help achieve the 

company's goal to certify all brands as Carbon Neutral by 2030 and deliver on New  Belgium’s climate action plan validated by the Science Based Target initiative. 

“We’re really happy to work with a partner like G&D Chillers who was willing to build a propane based chiller with low-to-no GWP and help us significantly reduce the amount of HFCs used in  our refrigeration systems,” says Collins. “We’re excited to implement G&D’s new Elite 290  chilling technology and continue our progress toward our goal to become carbon neutral by  2030.” 

There are many reasons R290 is the best refrigerant for our application. It has a GWP near  zero; the latest testing preliminarily shows it at less than one. It is proven and reliable; one of the  earliest vapor compression refrigerants. It has a record of safety; we’ve piped it into our homes  to light on fire, and allowed the untrained attendants at the local gas station to refill our  barbeque tanks for the last hundred years. It has no glide; all the refrigerant evaporates at a  single predictable temperature at a given pressure, rather than over a range of temperatures  with different components of the refrigerant evaporating at different temperatures. It uses the  standard (familiar) vapor compression refrigeration cycle and components; with just a small  amount of safety related training, any refrigeration tech can work on these systems. It’s highly  efficient without any tricks: no need for ejectors, and trans-critical gas coolers or backup chillers  like CO2 might require, just standard refrigeration technology and components. And, unlike  CO2, it works even when it is hot outside, does not rely on mandatory heat reclaim systems for  efficiency, and doesn’t utilize an unfamiliar refrigeration cycle that is completely foreign to most  technicians.

We don’t have a crystal ball, but we do have the ability to see what’s happening in chilling  technology over in Europe. While we are early adopters of R290 in the U.S., as is usually the  case with refrigeration technology, we’re about a decade behind the European market where  R290 is already widely used in large outdoor chillers.  

We are highly confident that R290 is the future of refrigeration in the US. However, there were a  few challenges we had to overcome in the development of this chiller, determining the  applicable US codes to follow, working with the local agencies where our first R290 chiller will  find its home, making it safe even in the event of a leak, designing it to use the smallest  refrigerant charge possible, developing new service and maintenance procedures, and adding  new programmed safety mechanisms.  

We’re excited to see our first R290 chiller exceeding our expectations of performance as we put  it through its paces here in Oregon! In the end, this project serves as a roadmap for the future  and paves the way for a tomorrow-proof chiller. 

Stay tuned for more information about our new line of Elite 290 propane chillers, which will be  on display at the Craft Brewers Conference in Las Vegas April 21-24, 2024 at Booth #626.  To learn more product info about the NEW Elite 290 line, click here!

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April 15, 2024 – Junction City, Ore. – G&D Chillers, known for producing the most reliable  premium chillers used in commercial brewing, wine, cannabis, food processing and other  manufacturing industries for more than 30 years, is pleased to announce its trailblazing Elite  290 line of propane chillers.  

As the leading chilling manufacturer to bring innovative propane technology to the United  States, G&D Chillers sets a new standard for sustainability, efficiency and tomorrow-proof  chilling solutions. The Elite 290 series is designed to propel businesses toward a better future,  with chillers that boast near-zero Global Warming Potential (GWP) and significantly lower  energy costs. 

Over the past 30 years, the commercial refrigeration industry has undergone a transformative  evolution aimed at reducing businesses’ GWP. The emphasis on energy efficiency and  environmentally friendly refrigerants has led to an increased demand for alternative chilling  solutions. Government regulations combating climate change have further accelerated the  industry's pivot towards sustainable refrigeration methods. 

G&D Chillers' Elite 290 series, utilizing propane as a natural refrigerant, stands out as a game changer. This technology not only lowers a customer's GWP, benefiting a wide range of  customers from commercial breweries, wineries and distilleries to food processing customers  like dairies and other manufacturers, but also enhances overall efficiency. G&D Chillers takes  pride in being the first in the commercial chilling industry to reintroduce propane as a natural  refrigerant – offering a safer, more effective and efficient chilling technology. 

Propane, widely embraced in the U.K. and Europe, is now at the forefront of a movement  towards sustainable refrigeration in North America, led by G&D Chillers. The Elite 290 series is  designed to be future-proof, and exempt from HFC phase-out programs, ensuring longevity and  sustainability.  

"We are proud to be leading the way to bring propane technology to the U.S. market, marking a  significant milestone in the adoption of propane in North America. Our Elite 290 series is not just  a chiller… it's a statement. And it’s a commitment to a greener, more efficient future for our  customers and our industry," said Justin Thomas, president of G&D Chillers. 

G&D Chillers' Elite 290 series is poised to redefine the chilling landscape offering businesses a  pathway to sustainability, efficiency and tomorrow-proof refrigeration technology.

Leading the shift to propane in the brewing industry is New Belgium Brewing. As a certified B  Corporation since 2012, New Belgium’s commitment to social and environmental accountability  starts at the foundation of its corporate structure. New Belgium follows a leading climate action  plan, a scalable philanthropy model, vocal advocacy in the policy arena, and a long tradition of  using its brand to mobilize customers in support of the world’s most pressing movements for  change. 

Andy Collins, New Belgium’s Carbon Neutral Engineer, helped the brewery research and  implement its first transition to using propane as a natural refrigerant to help achieve the  company's goal to certify all brands as Carbon Neutral by 2030 and deliver on New Belgium’s climate action plan validated by the Science Based Target initiative. 

“We’re really happy to work with a partner like G&D Chillers who was willing to build a propane based chiller with low-to-no GWP and help us significantly reduce the amount of HFCs used in  our refrigeration systems,” says Collins. “We’re excited to implement G&D’s new Elite 290  chilling technology and continue our progress toward our goal to become carbon neutral by  2030.”  

G&D will unveil its Elite 290 chillers at this year’s Craft Brewers Conference in Las Vegas April  21-24, 2024 at Booth #626. To learn more, click here! 

About G&D Chillers  

Since 1993, G&D Chillers have been manufacturing glycol chillers specifically for the  commercial brewing, wine, dairy, cannabis, food processing and manufacturing industries. We  are proud to provide chillers for our industry leading customers such as Ninkasi, Willamette  Valley Vineyards, Sara Lee, Angry Orchard, Stumptown Coffee, Jim Beam, Samuel Adams,  Boeing, Diageo and Brew Dr. Kombucha. With well over 6,000 clients across the U.S. and  beyond, we’ve built high-quality chilling units for specialty installations throughout the United  States, Canada, the Bahamas, India, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Turkey, and the West Indies. No  matter what your cooling needs are, whether you require a permanent installation, a portable  chiller or a heater, we engineer the finest quality chilling systems in the USA. For more  information, visit www.gdchillers.com.

Media Contact: JulieAnna Giannini, Alliance PR / julieanna@alliance-pr.com

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Read on as we delve into the collaborative efforts of two distinct craft breweries, Big Grove Brewery and Chafunkta Brewing Co., who have both built world-class teams focused on delivering a premium product. Although each team navigates its own unique challenges, one thing they both have in common is a commitment to teamwork.

Celebrating a Decade of Successful Expansion

Our journey begins with Big Grove Brewery, who just celebrated their 10-year anniversary with the opening of their fourth location in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 2013, Big Grove Brewery opened its first location in Solon, Iowa. With a foundation of quality beer, great food, and genuine Iowa hospitality, their team has seen amazing success in the past decade.

According to Big Grove, “We’re committed to crafting authentic food and beer—and through that work, creating a better world for everyone.” A trip to Big Grove is a true taste of what locals call “Iowa Nice” and some of the best craft beer in the Midwest.

Head brewer Andy Joynt leads a team of 26 passionate people who all share a love of hospitality, and many of them have been with Big Grove for more than half of the past decade.

Joynt highlights what makes their team special and able to keep up with the impressive growth Big Grove has experienced: “We try to lead with passion. We’re passionate about the quality of our beer, of course, but we also try to keep lines of communication open so anyone across the organization can feel free to speak up. That’s allowed us to grow quickly but still maintain the integrity we want. Critical and open feedback and having everyone be comfortable with that has been so important.”

Like many breweries who have successfully navigated rapid expansion, the crew at Big Grove Brewery understands the importance of having a solid foundation.

“We’ve spent a lot of energy developing a culture here and communicating that culture to people, which has helped us grow the team and grow it the right way. We’ve also been able to land people from across the country who have moved to Iowa City from Hood River and Boise and Colorado—very desirable craft-brewing spots in the West—and it’s impressive to see people want to come and work with us here in Iowa.”

And why wouldn’t they? Big Grove’s emphasis on quality and culture has paid off. They were able to open their latest Cedar Rapids location, which is their fourth taproom, on time, on budget, and despite the challenges of opening a new brewery on the heels of the global pandemic.

Accelerating Growth Through Solid Partnerships

Joynt says that without dedicated engineering talent in-house, Big Grove relies heavily on its equipment suppliers, such as G&D Chillers, to help them with the construction process involved in a new project. “When you find good suppliers like G&D that can execute and deliver on what they say they can, that’s the path to building out facilities and breweries on a short timeline and doing it at a high level.”

Joynt notes how G&D Chillers became an integral part of their team, providing tailored solutions that aligned with the brewery’s needs. The reliability and efficiency of G&D's glycol chillers allowed Big Grove to focus on their craft, knowing that their chilling needs were in capable hands.

What advice does Joynt offer to other brewers who are evaluating suppliers? “When you find a supplier that makes high-quality equipment and can support it and will pick up the phone when you call, that’s massive.” Joynt also advises brewers to seek out partnerships with suppliers who share a dedication to quality and hospitality and a long-term vision for your brewery’s success. “It’s not a one-way street. We try to build long-term relationships across everything we do.”

We here at G&D Chillers have certainly seen the return on investment in quality and hospitality for Andy Joynt and the rest of the folks at Big Grove, and we can’t wait to see what they do next.

When asked what Joynt loves most about working at Big Grove, he answered with incredible perspective: “Here at Big Grove, we have a unique opportunity to be a part of people’s lives, whether they’re celebrating the good times or just spending time with friends and family. We take a lot of pride in that, and we want to make sure we’re adding to that. We lead with hospitality, and we know that we can deliver hospitality through our high-quality beer.”

Big Grove’s passion for creating exceptional craft beer is shared down south by another brewery with a similar approach to team building. Let’s meet Chafunkta Brewing Co.

Josh Erickson, founding brewer and owner, Chafunkta Brewing Co..

Building a Family Legacy

In Louisiana, founding brewer and owner Josh Erickson leads his small but mighty team at Chafunkta Brewing Co. with the same heart and hustle he had as a homebrewer. After getting bit by the brewing bug in college, Erickson brewed his first beer on the well-known Mr. Beer kit, but it didn’t turn out well, so he and wife Jamie focused on raising their family of four boys. In 2009, once their boys were older, Erickson and Jamie began homebrewing again as the craft-beer scene began to catch fire. From those humble beginnings, Chafunkta has seen tremendous success since its founding in 2011, including expanding its production capabilities by tenfold and opening a successful taproom as the 7th brewery in the state of Louisiana (where taprooms were illegal until 2015).

The word “Chafunkta” is the phonetic spelling of the Tchefuncte River, which was home to an early Indian settlement located in what is now the city of Mandeville, Louisiana. In true Southern spirit, Erickson and his wife run a family-oriented business that includes two of the couple’s four boys in day-to-day operations.

“Everything I do is with my family’s legacy in mind,” says Erickson. “Every person we brought on for a particular reason. They were people we’d meet in our taproom who eventually became friends. Trust and value are critical. We’ve been very strategic about allowing people into the family.”

As parents to four boys, the Ericksons are no stranger to growing pains. “It’s just a part of life, and as any parent knows, as you get bigger and start to grow, you realize you can’t do everything on your own.” So Erickson relied heavily on his tight-knit team to begin steadily expanding its production capabilities, first by acquiring additional square footage for its facility and custom-built equipment to support its ramped up production.

All with one focus in mind—legacy.

“When you’re in your 30s, most folks’ grandparents pass away, then in your 50s, it’s your parents. You start thinking about longevity and about your future. The last thing I want is Chafunkta to suffer if something happens to me.”

That focus on legacy allows Erickson to lead his team with heart, which supports their growth as a team. And establishing trust among your team is a critical component to growing sustainably and avoiding costly mistakes.

When DIY Pays Off

Erickson, along with two other team members, were able to channel their inner contractors and roll up their sleeves to complete a recent brewery expansion project. “We installed all of the infrastructure ourselves and installed the entire brewery ourselves, minus electrical, boiler, and some plumbing work, which we needed the help of certified professionals to complete,” says Erickson. “It was a very tough job.”

By figuring out how to DIY elements—such as piping for G&D Chillers equipment installation with support from G&D’s 24/7 engineering and support team—a lot of their expansion work saved the Chafunkta crew an estimated “tens of thousands of dollars.” Plus, Erickson and his team were able to plan for future growth by laying the groundwork for the next evolution of Chafunkta’s expansion.

“When you have a passion for what you do and you build a team that shares that passion, it’s not hard to put in the extra effort to finish a huge project like this,” says Erickson. Chafunkta plans to complete its third phase of expansion efforts this year as it moves from 12,000 square feet to max out the 15,500 square feet available in its current production facility.

When working with partners like equipment suppliers, it’s natural that Erickson applies Chafunkta’s signature family-oriented approach to the selection process. Whenever possible, Erickson prefers to keep partners as local as possible. “But we’re really looking for partners who are going to pick up the phone when we call and help us troubleshoot whatever problem we’re having.”

In Craft Brewing, It Takes a Village

As we reflect on the journeys of Big Grove and Chafunkta, a clear theme emerges—it takes a village to craft success in today’s craft-beer business. The seamless collaboration of talented and hard-working people, coupled with cutting-edge solutions from equipment providers such as G&D Chillers, is the recipe for a superior product, which both of these breweries have achieved many times over.

In the world of craft brewing, where every detail matters, G&D Chillers stands out as the premier chilling solution for craft-brewing teams of any size. Our commitment to understanding the unique needs of each brewery and 24/7 engineering support make G&D a seamless extension of any brewing team on their journey from concept to completion.

As the craft-brewing community continues to evolve in the face of new challenges, it's clear that success is not just about the beer; it's about building a solid team that shares the same commitment and dedication to the product, then carefully selecting partners such as equipment suppliers that share that same passion. The result is a quality experience that will set your brewery apart from the competition.

About G&D Chillers

Since 1993, G&D Chillers has been manufacturing glycol chillers specifically for the commercial brewing, wine, dairy, cannabis, food processing, and manufacturing industries. We understand working with customers like Big Grove Brewing and Chafunkta Brewing Co. because they’re just like us. G&D President Justin Thomas says, “We truly feel like our customers are our partners. We want to make them happy; we want to help them grow.” For more about G&D’s commitment to cold, listen to more of what Thomas has to say here.

We are proud to provide chillers for our industry-leading customers such as Ninkasi, Willamette Valley Vineyards, Sara Lee, Angry Orchard, Stumptown Coffee, Jim Beam, Samuel Adams, Boeing, Diageo, and Humm Kombucha. With well over 6,000 clients, we’ve built high-quality chilling units for specialty installations throughout the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, India, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Turkey, and the West Indies. No matter what your cooling needs are, whether you require a permanent installation, a portable chiller, or a heater, we engineer the finest quality chilling systems in the USA. For more information, visit www.gdchillers.com.

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This event will be attended by brewers, distributors, restaurants and hospitality, and home brewers.

Offerings at this summit will help teach a variety of experts on topics including research and development, market testing and trends, regulatory issues, brewing, tasting, and distributing.

Come to the G&D Chillers Booth 504 and talk to us about our new and upcoming plans for the near future.

We are always ahead of the game and looking on how to improve efficiency without sacrificing performance.

G&D Chillers, Inc. is dedicated to our craft watch us in action here.

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