Choose organic beer

Organic beer is brewed with ingredients that are grown using sustainable, chemical-free farming methods. Choosing organic beer allows you to enjoy a beloved libation that is healthier for you and the planet.

Find it! Organic breweries

Beer brewed using organically farmed ingredients is commonly produced by independent craft beer and regional beer makers. However, in March and April of 2006, America's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch, introduced two organic beers, Wild Hop lager and Stone Mill pale ale, in several test markets. Listed below is a selection of domestic and imported organic beers available on the market, along with their state or country of origin.

Before you buy

Similar to other organic foods on the market, the price for organic beer brewed by both mass producers and smaller breweries is higher than that of conventional beers. Craft and organic beers also contain a higher alcohol content: generally from 4 percent to 8 percent by weight compared to the 3.2 percent to 5.5 percent of mass-produced, conventional beers. Conventional beers contain less expensive ingredients, such as rice and corn, that add sugar but lighten the beer, resulting in a more watery taste and a lowered alcohol content.

Choosing organic beer helps you go green because…

• The crops used in the brewing process are not sprayed with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which are detrimental to humans, wildlife, and the environment.
• Organic farming may help fight global climate change.
• Organic farmers do not use genetically modified seeds.