Organic Beer - What's the Point?

It seems like every time you turn around these days someone is hawking green this or sustainable that – sometimes to the point of being obnoxious and downright pedantic. While one can argue the net effectiveness of the “green” movement – I certainly cannot claim to have anywhere near a complete understanding – I do not think there is any doubt that it will be with us, as a movement, for the foreseeable future.

Obviously now there are many “green” products available to the consumer and I can certainly understand the emotional response that people seem to have to “organic” products, especially in the food area. But organic beer – now isn’t that taking things a bit too far?

Actually, I think not. As a producer of a line of organic beers – Oxford Organic Ales – let me share with you our motivation for doing this.

I am not an enormously “green” person. I like the concept and will usually be supportive, but the pragmatic side of me will always exert a great deal of influence over my purchasing decisions. And truth to tell – I do not think organic beer tastes any different from non-organic. The real reason we decided to do this has more to with supporting kindred spirits than it has to do with being green.

As a small brewer, what do I do? I make small batches of products, by hand, to the highest level of quality, integrity and PURITY, that I possibly can. And what do the small organic farmers do? The very same thing! Consequently, I believe that small brewers and small organic farmers are coming from exactly the same place. So by dedicating a part of what we produce to specifically supporting these small farmers, we are encouraging their efforts and following with real economic support.

Anyone who is a beer fan has certainly noticed that prices have increased significantly over the last two years. Much of this increase is due to huge price increases in the cost of the agricultural commodities upon which our industry depends. Never before in my 20 year brewing career has the relationship between brewer and farmer been more obviously clear. Understanding that tangible interdependence, and creating new ways to celebrate it (to our mutual advantage), seems to me not only personally satisfying, but is good business to boot. So if by brewing organic beer it makes me a “greeny”, I guess I am OK with that.