Drink Your Beer the Tasty and Sustainable Way on St. Patrick's Day

Syracuse, New York, the city in the United States with the highest per-capita St. Patrick's Day celebration, starts the festivities with a delivery of green-colored beer to a prominent Irish pub. Fortunately, you don't have to visit Coleman's Irish Pub, or stock up on food coloring, to drink green beer this St. Patty's Day.

The easiest way to ensure your celebratory libations are green, as in eco-friendly, is to buy from the best sources. Whether you prefer east coast or west coast breweries, the first thing to look for is a company that is small and local. Many smaller breweries have embraced green brewing practices and have a smaller eco-footprint to begin with. Locally produced beer, just like locally produced food, has a smaller carbon footprint by virtue of the short distance it must travel from the brewery to your fridge.

Once you have found the ideal brewery for your tastes and location, consider trying an organic or even vegan brew. The organic hops and grains will be toxin free, which is better for the planet and your body, while vegan beers will be free of trace animal parts, like fish-bladder bits, commonly used to clarify beers without filtration.

The other thing to pay attention to is packaging. Search for beer that is packaged in boxes made from recycled materials and bottled in paper-free bottles. Or, for the most eco-friendly option, visit a local brewery and buy beer in reusable growlers. Either way, be sure to reduce waste by serving beer in glasses instead of plastic cups, reuse what you can, and recycle the rest.

These basics make it ease to get started with green beer, but for more help, check out Planet Green's Ultimate Green Beer Guide.