SeeCalifornia.com

To do its part during the COVID-19 crisis, KROBAR Craft Distillery is repurposing its distillery from distilled spirits to hand sanitizer. The Paso Robles-based small business quickly changed its production facility to produce high-alcohol sanitizer last week. Called KROBAR Sanitizer the new product helps equip hospitals, emergency services and public works departments, and the general public.

The key ingredient of sanitizer is high-level alcohol which KROBAR literally produces by the tankful. Co-owners Joe Barton and Steve Kroener said the moment they heard hospitals and healthcare workers were struggling to find hand sanitizer they went to work.

The hand sanitizer made from 80% ethanol alcohol is in compliance with the FDA’s strict guidelines and is approved for use by hospitals, emergency responders and the general public. KROBAR Sanitizer can be used for hand cleaning as well as a surface disinfectant.

KROBAR has already donated hand sanitizer to local, regional and state agencies, including: Atascadero Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, Cal Fire, City of Bakersfield, Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Compass Health, Mee Memorial Hospital (Salinas), Paso Robles Fire Department, San Luis Obispo Fire Department, SLO Paramedics and the SLO Food Bank.

Word-of-mouth news of the distillery’s pivot to hand sanitizer production resulted in an outpouring of calls from hospitals, as well as government agencies. As a result, KROBAR’s owners and staffers are working around the clock and upping production. See info at krobardistillery.com