Try these 'green' beers for St. Patrick's Day
Green-dyed beer on St. Patrick's Day? Yeah, I confess to having quaffed a pint or two in my younger days. I'm not proud of it.
These days, the closest green gets to my beer is on the label. Unless you count a brewery's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.
Many brewers ship spent grain to farms where it feeds cows rather than clogs landfills.
Some breweries harness the power of sun and wind.
Three breweries have a management system program of environmental compliance practices as part of the Wisconsin DNR Green Tier business program. Translation: even though I’ve never heard brewers say they wish they had more expenses, regulations and paperwork — these breweries partner with the DNR to set energy reduction goals, track results and report findings.
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MORE BEER: Latest Wisconsin craft beer news
While this WisBrewView Pick 6 (green labels are not a coincidence, BTW) toasts the following breweries for green practices, it's hardly a comprehensive list.
ALE ASYLUM
THE GREEN: A 100-kilowatt rooftop solar electric system installed in 2014 is credited with keeping about 100 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere while powering more than 5 million bottle of beer fills.
THE BEER:Hopalicious. This is an appropriately named American pale ale — hoppy without being overly bitter.
BADGER STATE BREWING
THE GREEN: Purchases wind power Green-e certified Renewable Energy Certificates through Arcadia Power to offset 100 percent of the brewery's electricity usage.
THE BEER:Green Chop Session IPA. Low 4.8 percent ABV for IPA fans thirsty for a second pint; mild hop bitterness for the wary IPA drinker.
CENTRAL WATERS BREWING
THE GREEN: Green Tier participant with some 1,000 square feet of solar panels to help heat water. Also, a portion Shine On Ale sales are donated to the Midwest Renewable Energy Association.
THE BEER:Glacial Trail IPA. Shine On distribution range is somewhat limited, so this green-labeled IPA is for the rest of us. Slow down and enjoy the subtle piney tasting notes.
LAKEFRONT BREWERY
THE GREEN: The first brewery to earn the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Travel Green Wisconsin certification (May 2007). Efforts include purchasing renewable energy through WE Energies.
THE BEER:Lakefront IPA. Consistently one of Wisconsin's highest rated IPAs, it can be summed up in one word: smooth.
MILWAUKEE BREWING
THE GREEN: Efforts of this Green Tier business include engineering a heating boiler that runs on used restaurant vegetable oil.
THE BEER:Hop Freak. Fruity, floral and infused with tea flavors from nearby Rishii, it's the most unIPA IPA you will ever sip. I mean that in the best possible way.
NEW GLARUS BREWING
THE GREEN: Motor frequency drives and brewing vessels with thermodynamic designs reduce energy consumption even as the brewery's popularity grows.
THE BEER: Spotted Cow. As if anyone in Wisconsin needed another reason to love this easy drinking yet flavorful beer.
Daniel Higgins writes about food and drink for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Email: daniel.higgins@gannettwisconsin.com,
Twitter and Instagram @HigginsEats, facebook.com/gwmdanhiggins.