How to Go Green: Beers : TreeHugger

beer green glass mug photo
Photo: Getty Images/Ryan McVay

Beer isn't just the poster beverage for college parties, your after-work wind down, and lazy Sunday afternoons everywhere—no, beer is also a key player in a multi-billion dollar industry that reaches into the far corners of the world. Everyone loves beer—even environmentalists—and that might be why there's been a recent boom in green, organic spirits, sustainable and alternative energy-powered breweries, and environmentally conscious, discerning drinkers.

That's why it's as pertinent time as ever to think about what we all can do to green our beer drinking—and there's more to do than you might think. From supporting sustainable, even solar-powered breweries, to drinking organic, pesticide-free beers, to steering clear of excessive packaging in cans and bottles, this in-depth guide to environmentally conscious imbibing dives into the wild, burgeoning world of green beer. You may never think of boozing the same way.

Read on for a quick taste of green beer tips from our new guide for How to Go Green: Beers.

green beer bottles recycle photo
Photo: Getty Images/Steve Allen

Drink organic brews

Organic beer is a growing force in the industry, with dozens of brands and even more brews to choose from. If a beer carries an organic label, that means it's been certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as adhering to strict, legally binding farming regulations. It means you can expect the barley and hops to be organically grown: no toxic pesticides, no artificial fertilizers, no chemical preservatives; just fresh, non-toxic ingredients. Drinking organic (and buying organic) is also a good way to support more sustainable agriculture, and even to combat global warming.

Support green beer companies

Keep an eye out for beer companies that are going the extra mile to achieve environmental responsibility—some companies are truly making a noble effort towards sustainability. The purveyors of the well known Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada, which powers its brewery with solar power. Another solar powered, sustainability proponent is Anderson Brewery in Chico, which may be the first truly 100 percent sustainable brewery. Or check out Cascade Green, an Antipodean beer company that offsets its emissions by 100 percent. And don't forget about New Belgium Brewing (full disclosure: New Belgium has advertised on TreeHugger in the past), whose wastewater management and renewable energy usage has lighten their beers' load on the planet.

Drink beer from draught instead of from bottles

The keg-inclined out there among us have reason to celebrate, greenly-drinking the draught is greener than downing the bottles. It only takes some simple visualization to understand why this is so: the kegs you'd buy for your college parties, and those that sit 'neath the counter at your favorite bar—how many beers does each hold? Depending on the size, it could be hundreds. That's hundreds of saved cans or bottles, provided you're reusing your cup (see below). Due to the resource savings from the packaging differences, draught beer has been found to have a 68 percent lower impact than bottled beer (according to a Life Cycle Assessment done on both).

What else is there to enjoying a green brew? Click on over to Planet Green for the full How to Go Green: Beers guide, and check out our guide to Buy Green: East Coast Beer, How to Go Green: Wine and the rest of the guides for How to Go Green while you're there. Cheers!