Comments on: Can you get good organic ale? http://grizzlygrowler.com/2008/05/13/can-you-get-good-organic-ale/ Craft Beer... Tue, 15 May 2012 14:17:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Dan Leithauser http://grizzlygrowler.com/2008/05/13/can-you-get-good-organic-ale/comment-page-1/#comment-1307 Dan Leithauser Sat, 24 May 2008 14:19:04 +0000 http://grizzlygrowler.com/?p=243#comment-1307 Your comment about fungicide in hops production was interesting. I have grown hops, and I have a friend that grows a lot more hops every year. The main problem we had growing hops in Colorado was aphids. My friend would sometimes use the proper pesticide at the correct time (max effect on the bugs, greatly reduced risk of residual at harvest time). I used systemic pesticide--since I was not using the hops for brewing--they were strictly ornamental for me. My friend also used ladybugs which seemed to work about 75% of the time. He did have a couple of great batches of what we called aphid ale. Unfiltered, it had some aphids in it. Most people would not drink it, but it tasted great to me, and was one of those things that people would say, "hey, you have a fly in your beer".... and you would drink it anyway. We never had to use fungicides--probably a function of the lower humidity in Denver, drier growing conditions, etc. I suspect in cooler valley growth areas (like Yakima), along with all sorts of other agriculture in the area, that fungus might be a bigger problem. Of course, there are what might be considered natural pesticides derived from flowers, etc... but not sure on whether they are certifiable or what the process would be to allow their use. Your comment about fungicide in hops production was interesting. I have grown hops, and I have a friend that grows a lot more hops every year. The main problem we had growing hops in Colorado was aphids. My friend would sometimes use the proper pesticide at the correct time (max effect on the bugs, greatly reduced risk of residual at harvest time). I used systemic pesticide–since I was not using the hops for brewing–they were strictly ornamental for me. My friend also used ladybugs which seemed to work about 75% of the time.

He did have a couple of great batches of what we called aphid ale. Unfiltered, it had some aphids in it. Most people would not drink it, but it tasted great to me, and was one of those things that people would say, “hey, you have a fly in your beer”…. and you would drink it anyway.

We never had to use fungicides–probably a function of the lower humidity in Denver, drier growing conditions, etc. I suspect in cooler valley growth areas (like Yakima), along with all sorts of other agriculture in the area, that fungus might be a bigger problem. Of course, there are what might be considered natural pesticides derived from flowers, etc… but not sure on whether they are certifiable or what the process would be to allow their use.

]]> By: Brad Simshaw http://grizzlygrowler.com/2008/05/13/can-you-get-good-organic-ale/comment-page-1/#comment-1290 Brad Simshaw Wed, 14 May 2008 21:46:36 +0000 http://grizzlygrowler.com/?p=243#comment-1290 There is much more to an organic beer than just ingredients. In a truly organic beer not only must all ingredients be certified as organic but also the production process used in brewing the beer must be certified as an organic process. All parts of the process are scrutinized; the storage of the organic ingredients, the milling of the organic grain, the flow of the wort and beer through pumps and hoses, etc. The organic certification process is a rigorous inspection that even involves a check of sales records to determine if more organic beer is being sold than was produced. This inspection is completed annually. Only then are you allowed to declare that the beer is an organic beer. At Blackfoot River Brewing Company (which, for the record, I am part owner) we are glad for the strict regulations regarding organic beers. This guarantees an organic product for the consumer. Our organic beer does not come in bottles, but the tap handle does sport the USDA/Organic label, something allowed only if the beer has been certified organic. For those who would like to try an organic beer on tap I believe our organic porter is in the Missoula market. There is much more to an organic beer than just ingredients. In a truly organic beer not only must all ingredients be certified as organic but also the production process used in brewing the beer must be certified as an organic process. All parts of the process are scrutinized; the storage of the organic ingredients, the milling of the organic grain, the flow of the wort and beer through pumps and hoses, etc. The organic certification process is a rigorous inspection that even involves a check of sales records to determine if more organic beer is being sold than was produced. This inspection is completed annually. Only then are you allowed to declare that the beer is an organic beer. At Blackfoot River Brewing Company (which, for the record, I am part owner) we are glad for the strict regulations regarding organic beers. This guarantees an organic product for the consumer. Our organic beer does not come in bottles, but the tap handle does sport the USDA/Organic label, something allowed only if the beer has been certified organic. For those who would like to try an organic beer on tap I believe our organic porter is in the Missoula market.

]]> By: Slats http://grizzlygrowler.com/2008/05/13/can-you-get-good-organic-ale/comment-page-1/#comment-1289 Slats Wed, 14 May 2008 14:20:36 +0000 http://grizzlygrowler.com/?p=243#comment-1289 I love "Green Lakes", it's an easy drinker. Really similar to "Jubelale" but easier to session IMO. "Au Naturale" is another great organic beer http://www.grandtetonbrewing.com/AN.htm Keep in mind that beer is mostly water and I have my doubts that the water used to brew can be certified organic :) I love “Green Lakes”, it’s an easy drinker. Really similar to “Jubelale” but easier to session IMO.

“Au Naturale” is another great organic beer http://www.grandtetonbrewing.com/AN.htm

Keep in mind that beer is mostly water and I have my doubts that the water used to brew can be certified organic :)

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