How to Throw an Organic Beer Tasting Party

If it seems that you've been attending an indistinguishable parade of dinner parties week after week, and it's getting tedious, perhaps it's time to spice up the format. Same goes for company holiday parties-really, O esteemed Regional Manager, you're booking the same room at the same bar for the seventh year in a row?

How about throwing a little green flair into the proceedings-try an organic beer tasting party. I must say at this point that this idea did not materialize in my mind as the laws of motion did for Newton, genius though I may be. No, I got the idea from attending an Organic Oktoberfest at the excellent vegan restaurant Counter in New York City. The event gave me some ideas about what it would take to throw an organic beer tasting party in your own home-or even at that same ol' bar for the annual office party.

1. Pick Out a Diverse Range of Organic Beers

Organic breweries new and old are producing some of the finest lagers, ales, porters, pilsners, and stouts on the market today. There were 42 different green beers to sample at Counter-that may be overdoing it for a dinner party with some friends. Try picking out eight. Then have each of your friends, couples, or coworkers each bring a six pack of each (there'll probably be leftovers, but good luck finding 32 oz. bottles or singles of organic beers).

2. Get Creative

Add organic hard ciders, organic raspberry framboise or organic espresso beer (yes, they're all real-all three were on show at Counter) into the mix to spice up the tastings.

3. Give Everyone a Glass

Give everyone a glass (use smaller 8 oz. glasses if you have them) hat they'll keep throughout the tasting. Don't be tempted to use disposable cups—it might make the tasting seem more authentic, but it'll generate loads of unnecessary waste. Plan in advance if you're throwing an office party, and have volunteers bring plastic cups from home. Tell everyone where the nearest sink is so they wash out their cups between tastes if they're so inclined-but after the first three drinks or so, I'm willing to bet it goes unused.

4. Keep the Organic Theme Going With the Hors D'oeuvres

4. Keep the Organic theme going with the hors d'oeuvres: get a selection of organic cheeses and pair them with the beer. Cheese doesn't just go with wine, you know. Add some organic nuts, maybe quick cucumber pickles, and throw in some locally bought fruit-grapes and apples go great with beer-and you've got yourself a fine organic spread to match your beer.

5. Set up Stations

Assign each beer to a small table or counter, and have the beer in coolers or buckets of ice on each. At Counter, they grouped beers by the same brewer each to a table. If your party is smaller, just keep the beer in the fridge, and make up an order to taste the beers in. Try to stick to it-it'll give you a chance to talk about each beer as you taste, and it'll be more fun.

6. Drink Up

Enjoy the fresh taste of organic beer.

Here's A List of Recommended Organic Beers to Include in Your Tasting:

1. Orlio Organic Ales: Try the award winning Common Ale

2. Peak Organic: The Pale Ale is a popular favorite

3. Wolaver's Organic Ales:Give the creamy, smooth Brown Ale a go

4. New Grist (Gluten-free beer): A truly unique organic beer

5. Anderson Brewing Company Beers: Organic and solar powered; they might make the greenest beer money can buy

6. Eel River: 100 percent organic. Try the potent Raven's Eye to add a punch to your party

7. Butte Creek Beers: The chocolaty Porter is absolutely delicious

8. Sierra Nevada: Not exactly organic, but their entire brewery is solar powered. Try the Celebration Ale—everyone's had the Pale Ale

9. Doc's: Try any of their organic hard ciders. You might have to get both the Hard Apple and the Draft Framboise—they're both sparklingly tasty.