Ale Street News Online

Being a drinking woman in America can leave you feeling pulled between two extremes. On the one hand, you’re a thrill-seeking party girl enjoying the booze-tinged good times that men have enjoyed for centuries with impunity. On the other hand, you’re on a death march toward liver disease, breast cancer, and brain damage.

In the last issue of Ale Street News, the altruistic, charitable contributions of breweries were highlighted. It probably came as no surprise that craft brewers are socially conscious. It is probably no more of a surprise to learn that they tend to be environmentally responsible as well.

While there have been organic beers on the market for several years, only recently have brewers, in force, begun to expand their portfolios to include organic ingredients. However, becoming an organic brewer is not as simple as placing an order for specialty malts.

The Boston Beer Co.’s Brewing Manager, Grant Wood, isn’t as much a celebrity as some of his peers in the craft brewing world — say, Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head, Garrett Oliver of the Brooklyn Brewery, or even Wood’s own boss, Boston Beer Chairman and Founder Jim Koch, who has starred in many a Samuel Adams radio and TV commercial.