Stranahan’s increases grain capacity

American single malt distillery Stranahan’s in Denver, Colorado, has installed twin 24-foot silos, nearly doubling its grain capacity.

As well as increasing production, the new silos will have an environmental impact, reducing transportation emissions, increasing operational efficiency and reducing grain waste.

“Our distillery team deserve a lot of credit for their work on this project, which will not only have a positive impact on Stranahan’s carbon footprint, but will also enable us to better meet the growing demand for our American single malt whiskey,” said head blender Justin Aden. 

Each silo has a 60,000-pound capacity and can hold a full truckload of barley, reducing the number of deliveries needed and saving around nine tons of CO2 in truck emissions per year. A new grain conveyor and mill will allow Stranahan’s to use less grain for the same output, reducing the energy and resources needed for production, milling, and transport. With a more efficient milling process, grain waste is also reduced, which will decrease methane emissions from decomposition and agricultural use.

Stranahan’s is the number-one-selling American single malt according to recent Nielsen scans. Aden says that fans won’t notice any difference in the whiskeys, but that each of the five expressions in the core lineup will benefit from the new efficiencies.

While American single malt has grown in visibility in recent years, the style remains without formal TTB recognition, as proposed guidelines are still under review. Approval would help distillers like Stranahan’s educate consumers.

“We see TTB’s designation approval as a major opportunity to raise awareness and understanding and recruit new fans,” Aden said. “We talk about the pending designation and its significance at the start of every tour of our distillery.”

Stranahan’s was founded in 2004 and remains focused on giving people an accessible onramp to American single malt.