During university, I worked at a liquor store part-time. Maybe it was my limited budget at the time, maybe it was my disdain for eco-friendly mass-consumerism, maybe it was my ardently traditionalist beer tastes, but I was pretty skeptical of the organic beer in our cooler.
After all, my love of beer dates back to my childhood when the warm, toasty smells of my Dad’s home-brew used to permeate our kitchen. I still can’t smell hops without thinking of punching down unlabelled bottle caps on small brown bottles. My taste for ale deepened during my unofficial beer tour of Europe in my late teens and early twenties. I’ll try anything once micro-brews, exorbitantly-priced Belgian imports, or decadently flavoured novelties.
It was inevitable that one day I would try the organic beer not for my health, or even for the sake of the environment. No, I would try the organic stuff simply because of my deep, unshakeable love of beer.
And lo and behold, it was awesome.
For those who have yet to dedicate their lives to sampling and loving as much beer as possible, organic beer has a lot of other benefits. Many people with sensitivities to sulphites (a.k.a. the infamous red wine headache) can drink sulphite-free organic brew without risk of discomfort. As well, both the hops and malt in organic beer are grown organically (without pesticides), so those who imbibe can be certain that they are not adding unnecessary chemicals to their bodies or to the environment (operating under the assumption that alcohol is, of course, a necessary chemical). Finally, as beer brewed organically is extremely low in preservatives, its short shelf life means consumers are guaranteed a fresh product.
Did I mention it also tastes great?
For an amazingly nuanced, yet still crisp, organic ale, look no further than Fish Brewery‘s Organic Amber Ale. This is not only my favourite organic beer, it is currently vying for the title of favourite beer of all time. (It now ranks just behind a glass of Pilsner Urquell drawn in Prague and a pint of Extra-Cold Guinness from a pub I worked at in Dublin.)
It was the first organic beer I ever sampled, for which I am deeply grateful. Had I tried a different type of organic beer, I may never have become such a devoted follower of earth-friendly brewing practices. Though Fish Brewing is a relatively small brewer without a large distribution in Canada, its beer does pop up in places where you would least expect it. Keep an eye out for this Oregon-based beer you will not regret shelling out the extra dollar or two for this fine example of organic brewing.
Crannog is a small organic brewery located in Sorrento, BC, with a penchant for brewing great beer out of local ingredients and naming them with the gusto and extravagance they so greatly deserve. Most noted on the best of the brewery list is the fiercely rich, Back Hand of God Stout and the Beyond the Pale Ale. As the brewery is located on the farm where the hops are grown for the beer, it boasts a zero-waste operation. Its customers also operate within a zero-waste framework ensuring that each drop of beer, ale and stout that comes from the bottle is consumed in a timely and efficient manner.
An honourable mention in the best beer list for me is Phillips Brewery from Victoria, BC. Though the brewery is not organically certified, its commitment to reducing transport costs by only supplying stores within British Columbia is certainly in line with my consumer values. Sadly, those living outside the province will never be able to enjoy the amazing Phoenix Lager or the Draught Dodger Maple Cream Ale that comes from this tiny, yet incredible, brewery that until recently, operated in a storage locker just outside of the city proper.
The thing about these beers, and all beers, is that they exist to be enjoyed. For me, one of the greatest pleasures of drinking organic is the knowledge that I have supported a business that supports the earth.
Of course, the second greatest pleasure is that these beers rock.
