Table of Contents
- Is the Best Organic Beer Healthy?
- How Does Organic Beer Help the Environment?
- Best Organic Beer
- #1 Blue Moon Belgian-Style Wheat Ale Beer
- #2 Aslan Organic IPA
- #3 Founders All-Day IPA
- #4 New Belgium Brewing Trippel
- #5 Fremont Interurban IPA
- #6 Kona Island Hopper Variety
- #7 Reuben's Crikey IPA
- #8 Elysian Space Dust IPA
- #9 Bale Breaker Brewing Top Cutter IPA
- #10 Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
- #11 Black Raven Trickster IPA
- Final Thoughts
Organic beer is healthier than conventional beer in that you do not ingest chemicals. Beer is a product of hops, yeast, malt, and water. But have you ever considered the origin of the ingredients used in beer?
Most conventional beers come from ingredients from farms that use pesticides, herbicides, and toxic inorganic fertilizers. Over the last decade, so many organic beer brands have come up to create an organic beer to reduce their environmental impact and offer healthy drinks.
When shopping for the best natural beer, consider the ingredients and the flavor you get. Organic beer is available in all flavors from Indian Pale Ales, pilsners, stouts, lagers, and sours. You can also consider the alcohol level in the beer – a bitter or stronger beer doesn't always mean a bad beer.
What is the Best Organic Beer?
Any beer brewed using organic ingredients is considered organic. It means that the malt, the hops, yeast, adjuncts, flavorings, and other ingredients must be organic. Most of these beers also come with an organic label.
Besides the organic ingredients, the brewing of the best organic beer is the same as standard beer. Based on taste alone, you cannot tell organic beer apart from standard beer.
The idea behind brewing organic beer is to create a healthy drink whose brewing process does not harm the environment. The ingredients grow in fields where pesticides, herbicides, and inorganic fertilizers are never used. This way, the farmers and brewers can keep these chemicals off the environment. They also help protect you from ingesting these unhealthy chemicals.
Levels of Organic Beer Certifications
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are three levels of certifications for multi-ingredients products, such as beer. These include:
- 1100-Percent Organic. A beer brewed from all organic ingredients. For this kind of a beer, you can be sure that there are no pesticides or inorganic fertilizers used, and the end product is free from chemicals.
- 2Organic. Any beer labeled organic contains 95 percent organic ingredients. In such a case, the brewery would not find organic ingredients for the remaining five percent. On both organic and 100-percent organic beers, you might see the USDA organic seal.
- 3Made with Organics. These beers feature 70 percent organic ingredients. Most of these beers do not have the USDA organic seal. In most cases, breweries use either organic hops or malt, and all the other ingredients are not natural. Organic malt is the easiest to find, and most of the "Made with Organics" beers feature only malt and hops as the organic ingredients.
Organic Hops In Beer
In beer, hops are preservatives. Although they are essential in every beer, the hop plant is delicate to grow. The plant is ever under attack from pests, mold, and mildew. The plant requires experienced farmers to produce a viable harvest even with inorganic fertilizers and chemicals.
It is a struggle for breweries to find organic hops as the plant requires chemicals to grow healthy. Until 2013, the USDA did not require organic hops to label a beer as organic. Today, any beer that comes to the market as organic must have organic hops.
Changing the regulations has seen the organic hops industry flourish. Today, more than 50 farms grow organic hops in the U.S. alone.
Is the Best Organic Beer Healthy?
Organic foods and drinks are healthier than conventional foods, according to research. With organic beer, you will not ingest any harmful chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, and inorganic fertilizers. Better yet, the USDA certifies all the ingredients labeled as organic.
How Does Organic Beer Help the Environment?
Natural beers ensure that harmful chemicals do not find their way into the environment. Most breweries focus not only on organic ingredients, but also on ecological causes such as wastewater treatment, sustainable logistics operations, local ingredient sourcing, and sustainable packaging.
Due to the challenge of sourcing for organic ingredients and the high price of these ingredients, you will pay at least $0.25 more for a pint of organic beer. If you would rather pay less, you can brew your organic beer at home -- the startup cost might be too much for someone who only takes a few bottles every week.
Choosing the Best Natural Beer
When shopping for the best organic beer, consider the following characteristics:
- USDA Label
A USDA Label guarantees you that the beer is genuinely organic. However, not all organic beers have the label, especially if they are only 70 percent organic or are imported beer. While the tag is essential, it shouldn't be the only thing you consider. If the beer lacks the label, look at its ingredients and the source of the ingredients – most beers come with informative labels. - Canned or Bottled Beer
Canned beer is the best when you need to store your beer for long, as beer in a can is not affected by the effects of light. When you buy bottled beer, the bottle fee is part of the price, so you pay a little more. - ABV (Alcohol by Volume) and IBU (International Bitterness Units)
These are the most common labels on beers. ABV shows the amount of alcohol (the strength of the beer), while IBU is an indication of taste. Most organic beers have an ABV of between 4 and 9 percent and an IBU of between 60 and 80.
A stronger beer is not necessarily better or worse – it depends on the blend of ingredients and the taste. A good beer should balance its strength with its taste.
Natural Beer Ingredients
Beer comes from four ingredients; malt, hops, water, and yeast. Some come with flavorings such as fruits and coriander.
Malt is the main ingredient, and it comes from barley, wheat, oats, maize, or rice. Barley is the most common malt, thanks to its rich flavor. Hops add the bitterness and sweetness of the beer.
Water makes up to 90 percent of beer and may also influence the final flavor of the beer. Yeast is the one that converts the sugars in malt into beer. You can choose a beer with flavorings if you need a specific flavor, say lemon, citrus, or grapefruit.
Categories of Organic Beer
Organic beer falls in the same categories as conventional beer – ales and lagers. Ales were the first types of beer. They use top-fermenting yeast under higher temperatures to produce esters as byproducts. It is these esters that make ales sweeter. Popular brews include Amber Ale, Indian Pale Ale, Bitter Ale, Pale, Ale, Stout, and Porter.
Lager uses bottom-fermenting yeast at temperatures as low as 1 degree Celsius. They have a smooth and crisp flavor and include Pilsner, Bock, Dunkel, Marzen/Oktoberfest, and DoppelBock.
Best Organic Beer
With the rise in craft beer, so many breweries are going organic. You can attend beer tasting festivals such as the Edmonton's International Beerfest and The Great International Beer Festival, where you will learn more about beer, including organic beer, craft beer, and many other types of beer. You also get to taste so many types and brands of beer and learn how to choose the best.
If there is an organic brewery in your area, you can visit the brewery once and taste the beer and feel the difference. Note that, as much as you have to concentrate on getting an organic drink, ensure that you also get a great-tasting beer.
#1 rated
#1 Blue Moon Belgian-Style Wheat Ale Beer
- The Blue Moon Belgian-Style Wheat Ale Beer tastes like a blend of orange peel, wheat, and coriander. You can choose from two flavors, honey, and mango, and each delivers a rich taste.
- The beer is crisp and refreshing with a balance of citrus sweetness. Besides its wheat ingredients, the brewer adds orange peel and coriander to give the beer a natural taste and aroma.
- All the ingredients are natural and organic.
- At 5.4 percent ABV, the beer is not strong enough, and neither is it weak. It is able to balance sweetness and strength for a great taste.
- It comes in a pack of 12 glass bottles.
Features
- 5.4 percent ABV
- Belgian-style beer
- Wheat beer
Pros
Cons
#2 rated
#2 Aslan Organic IPA
- The Aslan Organic IPA features a right blend of different flavors and tastes, including the bitterness of Summit, the crispness of citrus of Citra, and the sweetness of Chinook and Palisade.
- It is made from hops, including Citra, Chinook, Simcoe, and Summit. It also has malt, including 2-row pale and wheat. The combination of these ingredients makes Aslan Organic IPA a tasty drink best served chilled.
- The beer has an opaque orange color that gives it a juicy look to complement its delicious taste. It comes in cans so you can store for longer.
- At 7 percent ABV and 65 IBU, the beer is strong enough to leave you staggering a little.
Features
- 7.0 percent Alcohol by Volume (ABV)
- 65 International Bitterness Units
- Made of Hops and Malt
Pros
Cons
#3 rated
#3 Founders All-Day IPA
- The Founders All-Day IPA might be an excellent choice for you if you need a relatively less bitter and less strong beer. It is rated 42 IBUs with 4.7 percent ABV, just enough to give you the feeling of a good beer without sending you staggering.
- The beer features a vibrant blend of malts, hops, and grains that give it a great, but complex beer taste.
- Each bottle is brewed and packaged in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with ingredients from organically tended fields.
- According to the brewery, the Founders All-Day IPA is a beer for those who love a drink that tastes different. Each pack comes with fifteen 12-oz cans so you can drink for longer.
Features
- 42 IBUs
- IPA style
- 4.7 percent ABV
Pros
Cons
#4 rated
#4 New Belgium Brewing Trippel
- The New Belgium Brewing Trippel is a beer for those who love a strong beer, so you never have to take a second bottle. It is a Belgian-style ale made in the U.S. and delivered in glass bottles.
- It features spicy noble hops that give it a fruity aroma as a result of the traditional organic Belgian yeast.
- It also features Pilsner and Munich malts to deliver a classically smooth but sophisticated drink. The malt also gives the beer a note of sweet citrus with a pleasantly dry finish for a warm and strong sip.
- Each bottle is a product of organic ingredients that make this craft beer special.
Features
- 8.5 ABV
- Craft beer
- 65 IBUs
Pros
Cons
#5 rated
#5 Fremont Interurban IPA
- The Fremont Interurban IPA was named after the sculpture, Waiting for Interurban in Seattle.
- It is a hoppy drink for the adventurous beer lover. It is neither too bitter nor too firm nor too sweet. Ideal drink when all you need is to enjoy a chilled drink at home.
- It features a blend of organic Seattle hops, Northwest Pale Malt, and wheat to deliver a rich taste and flavor. Each of the ingredients is hand-selected to guarantee a rich taste.
- The beer comes in a pack of twelve 12-oz cans that you can store for a very long time.
Features
- 6.2 ABV
- IPA-style beer
- Hops, malt, and wheat
Pros
Cons
#6 rated
#6 Kona Island Hopper Variety
- Unlike other packs that come in bottles of the same taste and flavor, the Kona Island Hopper Variety comes in four different beer varieties. It comes with three bottles of Kua Bay IPA with 7.3 percent ABV, three bottles of Castaway IPA with 6.0 percent ABV, three bottles of Longboard Island Lager with 4.6 percent ABV, and three bottles of Big Wave Golden Ale with 4.4 percent ABV.
- Whether you love the taste of different beers, or you are buying a pack to enjoy with friends who love different strengths of beer, this pack will deliver.
- The beer comes in glass bottles named Liquid Aloha. It carries the sweet hops from Hawaiian organic fields.
Features
- 7.3, 6.0, 4.6, and 4.4 percent ABV
- 12-pack 12-oz bottles
- Hops-rich drinks
Pros
Cons
#7 rated
#7 Reuben's Crikey IPA
- The Reuben's Crikey IPA features a strong but smooth taste that makes it ideal when you need a drink during a busy day. At 6.8 percent ABV, a single bottle is enough to give you the scintillating feel of beer without getting overly drunk.
- All ingredients for the beer are naturally sourced from organic farms to provide you with a healthy brew.
- The beer has hops and malts to give the beer a rich taste and a complex flavor.
- It comes as a pack of 6 cans, every 12 ounces – it is ideal when you need a small package that you can store for long.
Features
- 6.8 percent ABV
- IPA-style beer
- Hops and malt ingredients
Pros
Cons
#8 rated
#8 Elysian Space Dust IPA
- The Elysian Space Dust IPA has a light to medium body that makes it feels relatively heavy and sweet in your mouth. It is less bitter but with significant hoppy characteristics to deliver a great taste all year round.
- At 8.2 percent ABV and 73 IBUs, the beer is strong enough for you not to need a second drink if you are just enjoying the drink at home.
- It is brewed to pair well with spicy foods, thanks to its rich blend of organic hops and malts.
- It comes in a pack of six 12-ounce glass bottles for instant drinking.
Features
- 8.2 percent ABV
- 73 IBUs
- IPA-style beer
Pros
Cons
#9 rated
#9 Bale Breaker Brewing Top Cutter IPA
- The Bale Breaker Brewing Top Cutter IPA is a well-balanced yet aggressive beer that gives you a great taste of beer after the first bottle.
- It is a product of the organic Yakima Valley hops with Simcoe, Ahtanum, Citra, and Mosaic. The blend of these ingredients gives the beer citrus, floral, and fruity aroma and flavor.
- The beer derives its name from the farm equipment that removes hop vines from the trellis during the harvesting of hops.
- It comes in a pack of 6 cans, a small pack for when you need to order on budget. Each can is delicious with a full-hop taste.
Features
- 6.8 percent ABV
- 70 IBU
- IPA-style
Pros
Cons
#10 rated
#10 Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
- The Sierra Nevada Pale Ale sports unique piney and grapefruit aromas. It is a product of whole-cone American hops from organic farms.
- The brewer uses bittering hops, cascade hops, and finishing hops to give the beer an all-hops flavor that provides the beer with a great taste.
- All the ingredients from this beer are natural and sourced from organic fields to deliver a fresh beer to all drinkers.
- You can pair this beer with any food you have, but the brewer recommends grilled steak, Thai curry, citrus salad, and roasted vegetables.
- The beer comes in a pack of six beer bottles for a refreshing taste.
Features
- 5.6 ABV
- Pale Ale
- Whole-Cone American Hops
Pros
Cons
#11 rated
#11 Black Raven Trickster IPA
- The Black Raven Trickster IPA is named after the wild nature of the black Raven, especially the fact that it doesn't follow standard rules – it is a trickster.
- This IPA is well-balanced with a light fruit flavor, citrus, and piney hop. Generally, the beer features a full hop flavor.
- The brewer balances malt and hops to deliver a strong but delicious beer at 6.9 percent alcohol.
- It comes in a pack of six cans and is available all-year-round. It is a product of ingredients from organic fields in Redmond, Washington. If you prefer a full-hop flavor, this might be an ideal drink for you.
Features
- 6.9 percent ABV
- 70 IBUs
- IPA-style beer
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts
The best organic beer is the same as any conventional beer, with the only difference being that the ingredients for organic beer are sourced organically. You do not have to try all the beers above. I recommend the Aslan Organic IPA as it comes with organic certifications to guarantee that the hops, malts, and other ingredients are from organic fields. Not only is it natural, but it also delivers a rich hoppy taste and a blend of so many ingredients to give you a refreshing feel with every sip. It is strong, yet smooth and delicious. If you are looking for a beer that leaves a sweet taste in your mouth, however, makes you feel tipsy, the Aslan Organic IPA might be what you need.
