Our web store is up and running and we encourage you to take a look at the various merchandise items that we have assembled. Our merchandise line will be expanding quickly, and we will let you know when new items are added to our store. None of these items are available at local merchants and can only be purchased via our web site. Please visit our web store at http://www.tricitybrewing.com/merchandise.htm.

Brewery Details

The brewing equipment that we are installing was manufactured in Europe in 1997. It was originally purchased by Malt River Brewing Company in Albany, New York, where the system remained in use until it was decommissioned on June 1, 2006. The Tri City Brewing Company bought out Malt River and had the equipment shipped to Bay City where it arrived on three flatbed trucks on Friday, June 16, 2006.

The brewery we purchased is a 15 barrel Bohemian Monoblock brewhouse with a single batch capacity of 15 barrels. In the brewing world, one barrel (or bbl) is the equivalent of 2 half barrel kegs or 12 cases of beer. We have 120 bbls of primary fermentation capacity and 120 bbls of secondary fermentation or lagering capacity. At full capacity, we have enough volume to have 500 kegs or 3,000 cases of beer fermenting at one time.

At this point we are approximately 95% complete in the assembly and commissioning of the brewery. In addition to the assembly of the brewery, we have had to make several modifications to the warehouse we are renting. We have had to install a new electrical service, install and commission a 1 million Btu boiler, and clean, clean, clean! The devil is in the details! It’s sort of been like moving into a new house and discovering that the last 5% of the move consumes 95% of the time! But we can see the end in sight and hope to be brewing our first batch of beer very soon.

Phoenix Golden Ale

Our first beer will be marketed under the name Phoenix Golden Ale. The name comes from the old Phoenix Brewery that was once in operation in Bay City, Michigan. The Phoenix Brewery was the last independent brewery to operate in the Tri City Area when it closed it doors for good in 1951. So our first beer is named in honor of this last brewery!

People have asked us if Phoenix Golden Ale will be based on any of the recipes of the old Phoenix Brewery. No, Phoenix Golden Ale is our own recipe. In fact, the Phoenix Brewery brewed only lagers and did not make any ales. Also, no one involved with The Tri City Brewing Company has any ties with the Phoenix Brewery. Our only connection with the Phoenix Brewery is the name. So a piece of Bay City’s past will soon be a part of its future!

In terms of the style, Phoenix Golden Ale will be a German Altbier. In Germany, altbiers are brewed exclusively in Düsseldorf. Alt means old and is a reference to the prolonged aging that is required to produce the rich taste of altbiers. If you have ever been to Germany and have tried to find an altbier outside of Düsseldorf, you quickly find out how protective the Germans are in regards to their regional beers! In regards to the American craft beer industry, probably the best known altbier is Alaskan Amber Ale made by the Alaskan Brewing Company. Although Alaskan Amber is marketed as an amber ale, it really is an altbier.

Phoenix Golden Ale will have a deep golden color with a rocky white head. Phoenix will be brewed exclusively with imported German barleys, imported German hops, and pure altbier yeast based on the same strain of yeast used in the Düsseldorf alt breweries. The pure altbier yeast allows Phoenix to be fermented at slightly colder temperatures than most ales allowing for a slower fermentation that helps condition the smooth flavor profile. Phoenix will be slowly aged for several months prior to its packaging. There will be just enough hops in Phoenix to make this beautifully golden ale well balanced and very drinkable. Phoenix will only be available on draft at local bars and restaurants, but you can expect to see it available in bottles sometime in 2007.

This is a very exciting time for the Tri Cities! It has been 55 years since we have had our own local brewery. We plan on being here for a long time, providing many different beers for local consumption. Please encourage your favorite local bar and restaurant to have Phoenix on draft when it comes available. Prost!