Fourth Stop – Coop Aleworks

That’s “coop,” like where a chicken lives. Not Co-op, like where hippies do their grocery shopping. I found that out fairly quickly after arriving at Coop Aleworks and hearing co-founder/general manager/sales/marketing guru and all around busy man JD Merryweather refer to it as coop. Initially, I was very confused.

It was explained to me that the name “Coop” is actually a combination of a couple of things. First, it’s a play on “co-op.” Coop strives to identify with their local community so “co-op” is an homage to the multitude of grain co-ops around the state of Oklahoma.

Next, coop is a play off of “coopersmith.” That’s a person who makes barrels. Coop has made and is currently making a few beers that are aged in bourbon barrels from Templeton Rye (Iowa pride!). If you’ve ever had Templeton Rye then you should know the intensely good flavor that will be imparted to the beer from those barrels. It makes a lot of sense for coop to identify with their barrel-makers when the barrels they use were full of such delicious spirits.

One thing about the Coop logo that I think is important to point out is the use of an anvil’s image. That partially comes from a blacksmith’s usage of an anvil. It was also incorporated because at the founding of Coop the partners wanted their to convey an industrial image.

The largest reason I added Coop Aleworks to my itinerary at the last moment was their commitment to sustainable brewing. They participate in the wind energy program from their electricity provider. They use ultra high-efficiency equipment whenever possible. And Currently they exclusively kegs their beer. Part of that was because of the cost restrictions of bottling, but part was also because that is the most environmentally responsible way to sell beer. Kegs can be used and reused many, many times with nothing but a simple washing and sterilization.

Despite the fact that Coop will soon be branching out and canning their beer even that was an environmental choice. Oklahoma City doesn’t currently have a glass recycling company so aluminum was the natural choice since it is recycled in their main market.

As with my posts about my first few stops I only have so much time and space here so most of the interesting goodies will be going into the book. The final thing I wanted to touch on here was the outstanding art Coop utilizes for their beers. The drawings for five of their six beers are put together by different artists. The final beer, DNR (for “do not resuscitate”), is a picture of two feet with a toe tag sticking out from under a sheet. The photo is taken by JD Merryweather, who outside of his positions with the brewery also has over 25 years of experience in professional photography. I think it’s hilarious.

Yesterday I went to Live Oak Brewing Company in Austin. Watch closely for a post about it to be coming up in the next day or so.