Raise das boot to Oktoberfest and cheers to green beers!
Your average beer is a real environmental drain, between the enormous crop production and huge amounts of water and energy needed to brew your beers. Some brewers, however, are making strides in reducing their environmental impact by going organic, conserving energy, reusing water and reducing emissions.
Organic beers are just like organic foods. To be certified USDA organic, no toxic pesticides, insecticides or fertilizers can be used during production. However, as the law currently stands, there is an exemption for hops, a key ingredient in beer. It is one of several non-organic agricultural ingredients that are allowed in a USDA certified organic product, because the USDA certification only requires products to be composed of 95% organic ingredients and hops makes up less that 5% of a finished beer.
Many brewers are selling organic beers that may not be 100% organic. Still, it is a definite step in the right direction and even large national companies like Anheuser-Busch have begun selling organic brews (Wild Hop Lager and Stone Mill Pale Ale).
Other brewers, like Brooklyn Brewery have gone in for energy conservation. The building that houses the brewery has been powered entirely by wind energy since Sept. 2003, making it the first building in New York City to be 100% wind powered.
Personal Favorite: The traditional Brooklyn Lager, but the full bodied seasonal Oktoberfest brew is definitely worth throwing back.
Another eco-responsible company is Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. In 2008, they completed construction of one of the largest solar energy arrays in the nation, producing over 1.4MW (Megawatts) of AC (Alternating Current) energy for the plant. They have also joined the California Climate Action Registry to publicly report and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. In 2005, the plant also installed a CO2 gas recovery plant, and has a wastewater plant on site to reuse CO2 and greywater. *
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, the company’s landmark brewski, tops my list as my all-time favorite.
Apply the locavore movement to your drink choice and crack open a locally brewed and bottled beer for a greener choice. And always recycle your bottles and cans!
Source: BecauseAction.com
