By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
For probably the first time in its history, Blue Skye Brewery and Eats made something people wouldn't want to drink.
Because of the COVID-19 stay-at-home order, the downtown establishment at 116 North Santa Fe Avenue is only doing delivery and to-go orders, causing its brewery to sit idle, owner Monte Shadwick told Salina Post Thursday.
"Knowing this, Great Plains Manufacturing approached us to see if we were willing to use our equipment to make sanitizer. They are an essential industry and have stayed open during this pandemic," Shadwick said. "The shortage of hand sanitizer and disinfectant spray has led them to be creative in making sure their facilities operate safely."
He noted that making ale and making sanitizer are quite different.
"It doesn't have any characteristics of ale using malted grains and yeast," Shadwick said. "We were just able to use our brewery equipment to safely make the product in a controlled environment."
Shadwick explained that Great Plains Manufacturing provided the recipe and sourced all the ingredients needed to make the sanitizer. In less than a day, Blue Skye made 250 gallons of sanitizer, he said. For now this will be the only time the brewery makes such a product, Shadwick added.
"People have asked us through Facebook if we are selling this to individuals but this was financed by Great Plains and will be given to them for use at their facility and donated to their causes," he said.
Those causes include health organizations, first responders, and several not-for-profit organizations, Shadwick explained.
According to Shadwick, the pandemic has had a significant impact on Blue Skye's business. With the facility being closed to in-house dining and drinking, business is off approximately 80 percent, he said.
"However, Salina has been very supportive of our carry out and delivery options and we will survive this! We miss our Blue Skye family and can't wait to be part of the recovery. Downtown will still be the heart of the community and Blue Skye is proud to be a part of it," Shadwick said.