Brewery to start making hand sanitizer

A Huntsville brewery is joining the fight against the spread of coronavirus

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A huntsville brewery is shifting its focus away from craft beer and joining the fight against the spread of coronavirus.

They're now making hand sanitizer for police officers, health care workers and others.

Waay 31's ashley carter spoke with the general manager of yellowhammer brewing to learn more about what they are doing.

Ethan couch, general manager yellowhammer brewing: "i was like well that's going to be pretty hard to do we're not used to doing that."

This was ethan couch's initial response when a team member brought the idea to him that they should start making hand sanitizer in their distillery.

Alabama rules restricting indoor seating diminished the need for some equipment to keep making beer.

And after the world health organization put out the recipe and the federal government opened up the licensing for them to make it....couch wasted no time in answering the call for help.

Ethan couch, general manager yellowhammer brewing: "it was like a natural transition at that point."

For safety reasons, i wasn't allowed to take my camera inside the distillery where the hand sanitizer is being made .couch told me it will most likely only be produced for people who need it the most ethan couch, general manager yellowhammer brewing: "i don't think we're going to provide to small amount of customers, like a personal customers just because the need by the health care professionals and the police departments and the state agencies that are having to work right now and are desperate for it."

The sanitizers will be delivered in bulk to these agencies... couch said yellowhammer's first batch of sanitizer was pretty much claimed 24 hours after its availability was announced.

Ethan couch, general manager yellowhammer brewing: "it's shocking how much the sanitizers in need."

That was waay 31's ashley carter reporting.

Couch says yellowhammer wants to start distributing the sanitizers by friday.

He says right now they have a license to make it until june but depending on how long the coronavirus crisis and the shortage of