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How one Brewery is Redefining the term “Green Beer” — Blog Action Day

The Colorado-based New Belgium Brewery is putting an entirely new twist on the term Green Beer. The Brewery has adopted many sustainable techniques to produce great tasting beers that are also energy efficient in the brewing process.

In 2002, the company finished the installation of its own Process Water Treatment Facility. One of the most remarkable things about this system is that it allows them to pipe the wastewater byproduct back into the building where it fires a combined heat and power engine that produces both electrical and thermal energy. This method allows them to power about 10% of the brewery.

This is only one of many things they do to provide their product in an environmentally safe manner. In 1998, New Belgium became the country's first brewery to utilize wind energy. Aside from that, the company also practices Green House Gas Emission Reduction, Healthy Watersheds, Green Buildings, and the three "R's" (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). We also can't leave out the fact that they have their own Sustainability Specialist.

That's all fine and dandy, but how does the beer taste? The New Belgium Brewery is known for their award-winning Fat Tire Amber Ale. Hear that people? Award winning. I have sampled this wonderful beer and can attest to the award-winning comment; it really is a tasty beverage.

Be sure to check out The New Belgium website for more in-depth information on how they are making great strides to become the most environmentally friendly brewery in America.

Also be sure to check out Popular Mechanics Best of Green Design Series where they feature The New Belgium Brewery.