A soil microorganism, identified as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus , was cultivated on ethanol as a sole source of carbon. This organism grew with a maximum specific growth rate of 0.7/h. The pH optimum for growth was between 6.5 and 7.5, and the temperature optimum was between 32 and 35 C. Ethanol metabolism by this organism was inducible by ethanol, and the presence of acetate led to the repression of ethanol dehydrogenase. At higher cell densities the cessation of growth on ethanol was accompanied by the accumulation of acetate or acetaldehyde, or both. These accumulations were attributed to a reduction in the magnesium or sulfur content of the medium and a lack of feedback inhibition by acetate of alcohol dehydrogenase.