Beer, too, goes organic
Brian Stewart - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Metro
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Sharing a pitcher with friends may leave drinkers feeling less guilt as more breweries worldwide begin to produce organic certified brews.
Aiming to decrease their negative environmental impact, such breweries as Butte Creek Brewing and Goose Island Beer Co. began producing organic brews several years ago, and smaller breweries across the country are jumping on the bandwagon, appealing to consumers vying for a "greener" ale.
"When organic beers started out, it was more of a niche thing," said Abram Goldman-Armstrong, an organizer of the North American Organic Brewers Festival. "It has improved, and there are some really great organic beers that are as good or better than conventional beers."
Doug Alberhasky, the manager of John's Grocery, 401 E. Market St., carries several domestic and imported organic brews.
"In this day and age, with so many beers out there, you really have to set yourself apart," he said, adding that the organic aspect is just an added benefit and not a deciding factor for most customers.
New Belgium Brewery, the wind-powered Colorado brewer of Fat Tire, introduced its first fully organic brew around four months ago, said company spokesman Brian Simpson.
"To not have an organic beer, at this time, it seemed like we were missing a piece of the puzzle here," he said.
The Belgian wheat beer, called Mothership Wit, is made entirely from organically grown products - New Belgium brings in organic hops from New Zealand, and the remaining ingredients come from American sources.
Goldman-Armstrong noted that a majority of American breweries' organic hops originate in New Zealand, but a small supply is imported from Germany.
But some smaller-scale breweries have taken to growing their own organic hops, he said.
"That's really the future for organic brewers," he said. "Not trying to persuade the conventional brewers to switch to organic hops, but getting local farmers to plant organic hops seems to be the solution."
Aiming to decrease their negative environmental impact, such breweries as Butte Creek Brewing and Goose Island Beer Co. began producing organic brews several years ago, and smaller breweries across the country are jumping on the bandwagon, appealing to consumers vying for a "greener" ale.
"When organic beers started out, it was more of a niche thing," said Abram Goldman-Armstrong, an organizer of the North American Organic Brewers Festival. "It has improved, and there are some really great organic beers that are as good or better than conventional beers."
Doug Alberhasky, the manager of John's Grocery, 401 E. Market St., carries several domestic and imported organic brews.
"In this day and age, with so many beers out there, you really have to set yourself apart," he said, adding that the organic aspect is just an added benefit and not a deciding factor for most customers.
New Belgium Brewery, the wind-powered Colorado brewer of Fat Tire, introduced its first fully organic brew around four months ago, said company spokesman Brian Simpson.
"To not have an organic beer, at this time, it seemed like we were missing a piece of the puzzle here," he said.
The Belgian wheat beer, called Mothership Wit, is made entirely from organically grown products - New Belgium brings in organic hops from New Zealand, and the remaining ingredients come from American sources.
Goldman-Armstrong noted that a majority of American breweries' organic hops originate in New Zealand, but a small supply is imported from Germany.
But some smaller-scale breweries have taken to growing their own organic hops, he said.
"That's really the future for organic brewers," he said. "Not trying to persuade the conventional brewers to switch to organic hops, but getting local farmers to plant organic hops seems to be the solution."
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