In honor of my recent 21st birthday (last Wednesday, as I’m sure you’re all wondering), this week’s edition of SHEI: Vert will focus on green booze – and not the kind you’ll find on St. Patrick’s Day. If you’re interested in drinking your alcohol responsibly AND sustainably, read on for some eco-friendly ideas!

Beer

Peak Brewing

Peak is a craft brewery located in Maine that only uses organic ingredients. They sell a smooth citrusy Pale Ale, a hoppy India Pale Ale, a smooth, nutty Brown Ale, Pomegranate Wheat Ale, and an Amber Ale brewed with organic, fair-trade espresso.

Dogfish Head Brewery

While Dogfish Head isn’t an organic brewery, as a craft brewer using traditional methods of brewing it has far less environmental impact than larger companies. Dogfish Head lays claim to being Delaware’s first brewpub, and has a huge range of beers. Highlights include Midas Touch, a mead-like beer that the company says is brewed using an ancient Turkish recipe, and the 90 Minute I.P.A., which Esquire magazine said was “perhaps the best I.P.A. in America.” Rhiannon Haller, however, thinks Arbor Brewing Company’s Sacred Cow I.P.A. (see below) is better.

Arbor Brewing Company

Known as “ABC” by locals, Arbor Brewing Company has locations in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. The main pub and restaurant is situated on E. Washington near Main Street and features a full menu with plenty of local, organic, and even vegan options. While beer is brewed at both locations, the main production (including bottling!) takes place at Corner Brewery in Ypsi. If you’re a budding brewer yourself, they’ll often let you make a small batch of your own right there and sell it on tap to the public! The most popular ABC brews are Sacred Cow I.P.A., Bavarian Bliss Hefeweizen, and Espresso Love Breakfast Stout, and you’ll find bottles of ABC on sale at most party stores in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area. As an added bonus, ABC has my Seal of Enthusiastic Approval. I checked it out last Friday and washed down a plate of red pepper hummus and fresh pita bread with a bottle of their Sacred Cow, and it was hands down one of the best Friday afternoon snacks I have ever had.

Grizzly Peak Brewing

As if one local brewpub wasn’t enough, Ann Arbor boasts another – Grizzly Peak Brewing Company. It opened on W. Washington St. (about a block away from ABC) in Ann Arbor in 1995, and passersby can watch beer being brewed from the street. Grizzly Peak features a full menu, and its brews include Victor’s Golden Ale, Grizzly Peak Pale Ale, and County Cork’s Irish Stout, which isn’t from County Cork at all.

Wine

Paul Dolan Vineyards

Not surprisingly located in California, Paul Dolan Vineyards is completely organic and even use a “Biodynamic” winegrowing process for some of their products. According to the site, Biodynamic farming is based on the teachings of Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner:

The foundation of Steiner’s approach to farming is the blending of prescriptive, holistic practices with the farmer’s experiences and observations. Steiner recognized the rhythms of the sun and moon, the benefit of applying biodynamic preparations such as horn manure and the wisdom of organizing the farm as an independent unit.

from: http://www.pauldolanwine.com/index.php/component/content/article/44#biodynamic

Organic wine is also available from various grocery stores and websites, like The Organic Wine Company, who will ship wines from around the world to your door. However, using that service would create an unnecessarily large carbon footprint, since plenty of American vineyards are going organic. If Paul Dolan doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, look into Oregon’s Cooper Mountain Vineyards (another Biodynamic vineyard) or California’s Bonterra Vineyards. Both companies stick to organic grapes!

Liquor

Maybe you’ve had a bad week and you need something a little stronger? Try Square One Organic Vodka, distilled using 100% organic American rye, or Peak Spirits’ CapRock Dry Gin. Peak Spirits, located in western Colorado, also sells organic vodka and brandy.