Who wants weak 68 calorie yellow beer trucked halfway around the US? I’d rather drink…water. 

These days, I’m trying to green my drinking habits. Why? Because if I can substantially reduce the miles my beer, wind and liquor (and their attendant containers) are traveling, I’m going a long way toward reducing my still-far-too-large effect on our growing-smaller-all-the-time planet.

I live in Boulder, Colorado—and for 10 years the wind-powered New Belgium Brewing company has earned my beer bucks. Fat Tire’s has long been one of my staples—when I used to live at ‘Round Midnight, and I walked in, Chuck would pour one for me without asking. Then I fell for NB’s Sunshine, in any season. Now, I go 100% with Mothership, the greenest beer I know.

Why? Because, for my four bucks or whatever, I get a great-tasting local beer that is missing something key: chemicals. Yum. I give it a B+ on taste (still love Sunshine, or Mountain Sun‘s Kind, I’m a hoppy kinda guy), and an A+ on the greenometer of eco-responsible drinking/living. Be sure not to drink it too cold, btw. 

More info:

(PRWEB) August 21, 2007 — About a year ago, New Belgium Brewing entered the realm of organic beer making with the aptly named Mothership Wit. Although it’s been available to tasters at the Mothership (the beloved nickname of the brewery in Ft. Collins) and a few other chosen markets, it has recently been rolled out to all existing markets.

“With Mothership, we wanted to make something truly Belgian, but with our own twist,” said Assistant Brewmaster Grady Hull. “Going organic with this beer is in keeping with our efforts to produce beer in an environmentally friendly fashion. As an added bonus, the beer tastes great.”

Mothership Wit Organic Wheat Beer elevates the zesty Wit or White beers of Belgium with wheat malt, coriander and orange peel spicing — all of which are organically grown. The Mothership experience begins with a cloudy pale yellow appearance capped by a creamy white head. Next is the alluring, slightly spicy, floral nose. The refreshing taste is the result of a gravitational balance of citrus and sour flavors held in suspension by a bright burst of carbonation.

New Belgium’s roll out of Mothership began in the Pacific Northwest and swept into California, with great success along the coast. Mothership Wit is one of the three initial brews (in the company of Fat Tire and 1554) to enter New Belgium’s newest markets Iowa and Minnesota.

Beer lovers can find most or all of the New Belgium line in Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arkansas, California, Minnesota and Illinois.

New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces six year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visitwww.newbelgium.com.