TAMPA, Fla. — Motorworks Brewing is giving their Grapefruit IPA, Pulp Friction, to Dark Door Spirits distillery to turn into hand sanitizer.
Dark Door is using stills to turn the beer into pure alcohol, then mixing it with glycerine and hydrogen peroxide to make the sanitizer.
COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS
This is in response to the coronavirus pandemic that has led to a global shortage of hand sanitizer.
The two local businesses are taking huge hits after the governor ordered the closing of all bars and nightclubs for 30 days.
But they say regardless, they want to do what they can to keep people safe.
"When things hit the fan and the FDA made that adjustment where distilleries were allowed to make hand sanitizer because there is such a global shortage right now, it was a no brainer," said Barry Elwonger, with Motorworks Brewing. "Let's turn this into something that’s going to benefit the community. Let's beat this thing and let's get back to normal."
Right now, the hand sanitizer is being given to hospitals, nursing homes and first responders.
"The phones haven’t stopped and the emails haven’t stopped. Nursing homes, hospice, hospitals and the county facilities are all calling us because they can’t get anymore hand sanitizer," said Matt Allen, co-owner of Dark Door Spirits.
Dark Door Spirits says hand sanitizer will be available on Friday to the public from noon to 4 p.m. in their warehouse at 4410 W Crest Ave Unit C, Tampa, FL 33614.
