Looking for a Great Beer This Summer?

Have busy workdays in the heat got you down? Is it backyard barbecue season in your neck of the woods? Are you looking for a great "green" beer to relax and refresh with this summer? Me too!

I've been wanting to try a good organic brew for months, and extend my earth-friendly practice into a new arena, but I had no idea where to start. Luckily with a little research on the subject, I've come up with a few options that are sure to tickle your taste buds.

What does it mean when I say "organic beer"? It means that at least 95% of the ingredients used in producing these offerings were grown without harsh chemicals and pesticides that can be devastating to humans, animals, and local ecosystems.

According to the Organic Trade Association, organic beer sales had reached $19 million by the close of 2005, and had grown to $24.6 BILLION by the close of 2008, demonstrating that the public's interest in organically brewed beers is no mere trend! Nevertheless, if you're looking to hop on the bandwagon - I'm here to help!

After devoting some time to studying up on the "green beer" options on the market, I've found a few brands to get you started in your search for the perfect "green" beer!

If you're looking for something you're almost sure to find at your local store, Anheuser-Busch recently added two of it's own organic beers. Wild Hop Lager and Stone Mill Pale Ale.

Looking for an organic offering from a company who walks thier talk? Check out New Belgium beers! This company brews a tasty organic beverage for sure, but the beauty of this company is far more than skin deep! New Belgium uses wind, solar, and methane (harvested from the company's own processes) to power their environmentally minded facility. Not impressed by alternative energy use and organic ingredients? Do publicly stated committments to the environment seem blazay? Well, this is one company that puts their money where their mouth is. This company is passionate about bicycling as an earth-friendly form of transportation! Apart from hosting bicycling events, and encouraging their employees to bicycle to work, we think you'll have to agree that any company who rewards each employee passing their one year anniversary with the company, with a brand new bike to do just that, is worth our admiration. Even without their extensive public outreach on bicycling, New Belgium is supporting earth-saving efforts around the globe through 1% For The Planet a group of businesses that donate 1% of all proceeds from sales and fundraising events to non-profit environmental groups.

Add one of their playfully named beverages such as Fat Tire, Skinny Dip, Trippel, Blue Paddle, or Mothership Wit to your next beer drinking

Looking for something to go with all this beer? Follow the link above to New Belgium's website and click on the label of your favorite beer to see just what kind of ultimate beer experience might be waiting for you (and let's face it, we all know that you can drink more beer on a full stomach than an empty one!)

Next on our list of must try organic beers, are a group of beverages from Eel River Brewing Company, the United State's very first certified organic beer. In fact, not only does this brewery hold the above honor, they also became the nation's first biomass powered brewery in 2007. Seven award winning beers grace their menu of liquid delights, Organic Amber Ale, Organic Porter, Organic Extra Pale Ale, Organic IPA, Raven's Eye Stout, Organic Triple Exaltation, and Organic California Blonde. (I suppose putting Organic in each beers title ensures that even folks who haven't taken the time to research will be able to choose wisely.) If you find that lineup impressive, just wait. This company offers two other organic products for your digestive pleasure - an organic cheese called Loleta, and brewery-raised organic beef.

Are you one of the many people who have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease? Has your new gluten-free diet given you the beer time blues? New Grist Beer was the first gluten-free beverage recognized by the U.S. government as beer. With recent research pointing to Celiac disease being almost 100 times more common than previously suspected (Scientific American - August 2009), we wonder - will there be more gluten free beers in our future? New Grist knows it is sure to be a hit with those who have craved a gluten-free alternative to traditionally brewed beers, but the company insists its beer is "really brewed for anyone with an appreciation for great tasting, handmade beer."

How about Wolaver's Certified Organic Beers from Otter Creek Brewing Company? Also among the first to be certified organic in the United States, this company has implemented numerous methods to incorporate responsible environmental stewardship into their production process. From reclaiming the energy from the heated water in the boiler and the use of a bio-diesel boiler to the use of environmentally friendly light bulbs, this company is aiming high when it comes to environmental goals, and plans to build a biomass drivel boiler sometime soon. Even in beer, there's always room for improvement...