Green Beer for St. Patrick's Day

Go ahead and enjoy a brewskie that's been dyed green for St. Patrick's Day, but then check out these beers that are even greener because the companies that make them are working to lighten their carbon footprint. If you know of any others, we'd all love to hear about them.

Then maybe we can enjoy a green-green beer!

New Belgium, maker of the ever-popular "Fat Tire" beer and many other Belgian-style beers, is based in in Ft. Collins, Colorado. In 1998 it became the first U.S. brewery to source its energy from wind power. Employees dipped into their bonus funds to help fund the switch -- very cool.

Using sun tubes and daylighting throughout the facility, they reuse heat in the brewhouse, and continue to search out new ways to close loops and conserve resources. Recycling at New Belgium takes on many forms, from turning "waste" products into something new and useful (like spent grain to cattle feed), to supporting the recycling market in creative ways (like turning keg caps into table surfaces). They've installed motion sensors on the lights throughout the building and evaporative cooling in their new packaging hall.

Meanwhile, over at Sierra Nevada in California, they've installed four 250-kilowatt co-generation fuel cell power units to supply electric power and heat to the brewery. This produces most of the brewery's electrical demand, and the co-generation boilers will harvest the waste heat and produce steam for boiling the beer and other heating needs. And get this: Their fuel cells use the waste methane generated at the wastewater treatment plant as a fuel source.

And hey, they're recycling fools! In 2006, Sierra Nevada kept 33,738 tons of materials --97.8 percent of their total waste, out of the landfill. They continue to earn a WRAP Award (Waste Reduction Awards Program) from the State of California as they have every year since 2001.

The natural fermentation process produces CO2, a greenhouse gas, but these guys installed a system to recover and recycle most of this gas for use around the brewery and during the bottle-filling.

You've heard the saying "It's the water" in regards to beer production. Well, Sierra Nevada continually audits the process to minimize wasteful practices, and have reduced their water usage to almost half of what's typically used by breweries.

They also encouraged and reward employees for reducing their emissions by riding their bikes to work, to run errands, or just for fun.

Cleveland, Ohio, is home to the Great Lakes Brewing Co., where you can climb on board their beer delivery truck and shuttle bus (called "The Fatty Wagon") that runs on straight restaurant vegetable oil! They've cut their trash removal fees in half by recycling the usual stuff, plus brewer's barley. They print newsletters, menus, beverage napkins and promotional items on 100 percent recycled paper. In addition, all packaging (i.e., 4-packs, 6-packs, 12-packs and the unbleached "eco-carton", which holds a case of beer) consists of recycled content.

In the brewery there's a cooling system that brings in cold air during winter months to cool the beer. Skylights and light sensors have been installed in the Tank Farm and cooler to allow in natural light and minimize the use of electricity. An "air curtain" is in place in the brewpub to keep warm air from escaping when patrons enter and exit.

Hats off to the Brooklyn Brewery which, in 2003, became the first company in New York City to switch to 100 percent wind-generated electricity. Community Energy, which manages the 20 wind turbines that produce electricity for the beer house, estimates that Brooklyn Brewery's green power stops 335,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, 1,500 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 500 pounds of nitrogen oxide from being emitted into the atmosphere annually.

And, finally, a shout-out to Orlio, which makes 100% organic beer.

Got a beer-lovin' friend? Spread the word before St. Paddy's!

Comments

[Vicky Watts]

If we're talking organic. The First Organic Brew Pub in the nation is in Northern California in Mendocino County... Ukiah Brewing Company

[Paula Shatkin]

Don't forget Russian River Brewery in Santa Rosa, California. They even grow their own hops. Local, artisan beer can't be beat....

[Mark Van Wormer]

Some of my favorites there, but the idea of supporting our local breweries was never mentioned in the article - We should all be mindful of the environmental costs of shipping beer across the country. I'm with you Paula!

[Melissa]

My vote goes to all the microbreweries in Vermont, especially Otter Creek Brewing (which also brews Wolaver's Organic line) who has recently implemented a number of efficiency measures and is working with an environmental consultant to reduce their impact further.

Yay for Orlio (a subsidiary of Magic Hat Brewing in South Burlington, VT)

[DAVE SCHANK]

CHECK OUT 360 VODKA. SEEMS TO BE VERY GREEN.

[DALE]

WHY BUY BEER THAT'S SHIPPED HALFWAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY? BUY LOCAL! MOST MICROBREWERIES MAKE GOOD, FRESH BEER. AND YOU SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY AT THE SAME TIME.

[clevelandchick]

Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland also has an plot at a neighborhood community garden (The Kentucky Garden) where they have created a solar powered hothouse to grow organic greens and herbs all year round for their restaurant. They are also host and sponsor to the monthly Entrepeneurs For Sustainability meetings. www.e4s.org.

[margghi]

How about the solar powered Mendocino Brewery in Booneville?

[Jezcab]

Anderson Valley is green too, they actually went solar!!!

[Sara in St Louis]

Schlafly in St Louis has The Tap Room in a RESTORED brick building, and their Bottleworks holds a series of organic gardening workshops and Outdoor Farmers' Market every Wed,
May-Oct. I'm with you on the Buy Local!

[Roy Jorge]

Northern California definitely brews my favorite beer and it is so great that so many are green/organic. I love Russian River, Ukiah Brewing and Sierra Nevada. Hopefully the others will follow suit.

[James R Pitcher Jr]

Send them green messages each day. Thank you. I am a lifetime Sierra Club membeer.

[Egilsson]

Even in Massachusetts!
This from _THE PEOPLES PINT_ Greenfield, Massachusetts: Our priority is not only to provide you with fresh drinks and tasty food but to do it with as little waste as possible. You might notice that no disposable plastic and a minimum of paper items will appear on your table. Also, you may be pleased to know that all kitchen and dining room food scraps are composted and all plastic, cardboard, paper, glass and metal is recycled. Our brewery grain is fed to Guilford, Vermont goats or composted. As a result, even on our busiest night, we have not disposed of more than one barrel of trash. We hope that the knowledge of your participation in this ongoing act of environmental goodwill enhances the time you spend at The People's Pint.

[Glenn VanVolkom]

I would also mention Michigan Brewing Company who is working with Michigan State University to use biodiesel from waste cooking oil to run their entire brewery.

[Dave Dronkowski]

The Greenest state in the Country is Oregon! When you look for truly Oreganic Beers, you will truly find them in Oregon! Go to http://www.guestontap.com/byview.php?id=60307

[Adam]

New Belgium is awesome. Wind powered, bicycle friendly, great beer and free tastings Tuesday-Saturday. Definitely worth stopping by!

[Dave Dronkowski]

If you want Sustainable Beer, read this story by Abram
http://pdxbeer.blogspot.com/2007/11/sustainability-in-brewing-industry.html

[Jeff]

One other option not mentioned- brew your own. Most towns with brew pubs also have home brew supply stores. Or you can order by mail (a couple pounds of malted barley or grain and a few ounces of dried hops). Re-use the same bottles, no need to recycle.

[Abram]

These breweries are commendable for their efforts in sustainability, but this article ignores many of North America's pioneering organic breweries. Take for instance Crannog Ales in Sorrentto British Columbia, an on-farm all-organic brewery. They grow their own hops, feed spent grain to livestock, and treat their water on site. Anderson Valley is also a pioneer with solar energy and a "living system" of waste water treatment ponds.

I invite anyone interested in organic beer to join us in Portland for the North American Organic Brewers Festival June 27-29, 2008.
The festival which benefits the Oregon Food Bank, Leukemia Lymphoma Society and Oregon Tilth featured more than 50 organic beers last year.

I would be happy to write a more in-depth piece on organic and sustainable brewing for your magazine.
Cheers/Slainte
Abram Goldman-Armstrong

[Lisa]

How about a shout out to Anheuser-Busch. They've been "Green" since green was just a color. Who knew that they were the nation's largest recyclers of aluminum cans? Or that they utilize bio-energy recovered from their own waste streams? Not to mention, they make some great beer. Check out www.ourpledge.com. Its not just the micros who care about the environment.

[Alth]

Spread the green beer cheer! A new one from Australia...

http://www.fosters.com.au/mediacentre/40C711FE44664123A68139930F3899EC.htm

[Javaun Moradi]

I'm a huge New Belgium fan. They went to all sustainable power before it was fashionable and they made it profitable, which paved the way for others to do the same. I also love their bike culture, and if you look at their website under philanthropy, they've also given away millions to charity. They set a great example.

That being said, I do agree though with the previous posters: try to find something local to drink. It sort of negates the point of a green brewery if you're going to have it trucked across the continent. Local brewers do support your community. So local brewers, take notice of what New Belgium has done and your customers will love you.

[TheGreenMiles]

Don't forget Peak Organic!

[greenPRIDE]

Check out Lucky Lab Brew Pub in Portland, Oregon. http://www.luckylab.com/html/story.html

[David C.]

YARDS Brewery in Philadelphia does a lot of what's been described, and-- they've re-invigorated a depressed industrial neighborhood, and-- they're a major sponsor of SBN, the Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia, and BALLE, the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies. Go Yards! Oh, and they make a complex, enjoyable ale.

[Barry]

BUY LOCAL!!!! The North Country Brewery in Slippery Rock is within cycling distance and makes the BEST brews on the planet!!! N really.....the BEST brews on the planet!

[jane]

Be green, Go Veg! Check on meatOut.org for the coming international and national event across the United State.

[two hawks]

Oh, I LOVE beer! Thanks ALL of YOU for being so smart and well informed! I have a whole new list of beer to sample and feel even better about!

A few toasts for you:

Beer drinkin' don't do half the harm of love makin'.
--Old New England proverb
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May your Guardian Angel be at your side to pick ya up off the floor
and hand ya another cold stout from the store.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An Irishman is never drunk as long as
He can hold onto one blade of grass and not
Fall off the face of the earth.

[Wendy W.]

Wow! I've never seen so many entries on this site so early in the day. Beer is definitely a favorite! So now we can feel green in partaking on this happy St. Pat's Day!
Go green and have a brew!

[HollyChristine]

Out of the Chicagoland area, some friends and I actually brew our own beer. We just made an IPA using our homegrown hops.

[Tristan]

How "green" is the most important staple of St. Patty's Day, Guinness? Can anyone recommend a great "green" stout?

My choice of "green" beers veers toward the local rather than organic: Bloomington Brewing Company and Upland, both in Bloomington, Indiana, make terrific beers! As does the more widespread Bell's, in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

[Mark]

Pisgah Brewing in Black Mountain, NC: certified organic craft goodness!

[Sue]

Lisa-thanks for the info on Anheuser Busch. I went to the site you mentioned and felt good about drinking my favorite beer-Bud. I never knew they were so green!

[Padre Michael]

Remember that transported beer may be as eco-friendly as local beer. A low-impact beer from across the country may end up using less carbon, etc., per serving than a local beer that isn't careful about environmental impact and energy use!

[Kathy Pensinger]

How do I decide which is better; local or green production?

[Keith]

Re: How do I decide which is better; local or green production?

This is a common question when trying to purchase any kind of product with green in mind, and it is often hard to say. But in my book either is better than neither.

Plus, craft-brewed beer (with over 1,400 brewers in the US alone, brewing literally hundreds of different styles) is much more about personal taste, than say, where your milk is coming from. So drink what you like, and hopefully feel good about what you drink.

Best bet, I say, is to take a tour of your favorite local craft brewery and ask them about their commitment to various "green" practices (energy consumption, organic ingredients, etc.) And if they haven't yet tried to go in that direction, encourage them to do so.

Cheers!