3 ethical beers you need to try
It’s a well-known fact that the UK is full of beer lovers! In 2018, 8.5 billion pints of beer were sold in just one year… damn that’s a lot of beer.
But it’s even more water! On average, 1 pint of beer needs 8-10 pints of water. And no, drinking beer does not mean you surpass your daily water intake, make sure you drink at least 4 pints of that a day, ok?!
The beer process is super energy-intensive, with the water needing to be kept at a high temperature during the brewing period, and then stored at a low temperature afterwards. And that’s before you count for how much energy is needed to keep all the machinery running!
Beer has a huge carbon footprint. From resources to brewing, to packaging and delivery, to trading and storage, it all adds up. For example, the average long-distance bottle of beer from the shop has around 11kg CO2e (carbon footprint) with over ¼ of the footprint coming from electricity and fuel and about a fifth from its distribution. Not to forget the efforts and resources needed to create glass bottles. Opting for cans when you can is a much more sustainable choice... that is if you recycle them.
So typically, brewing isn’t a sustainable practice… but it can be!
What makes a beer sustainable?
So, yes it is an energy and resource-intensive product to produce, but some awesome beer brands are doing their bit to minimise that and curb the negative impacts that the industry has on the environment.
For every 1 litre of beer made, you need 185 litres of water (including what’s needed to grow the barley and hops), which is an insane amount of water! Some breweries are using the wastewater leftover from the brewing process to create even more beers. This means that almost 90% of the water used during brewing can be safely recycled. That’s pretty cool, right!
As well as combating water waste, another great way brewing can have a positive impact on the environment is through organic farming, local sourcing and using solar energy to power machines.
Damn, who knew that your after-work pint could be so good for the environment... Brb, we’re off to the pub to do our bit for the planet!
So what does Goodfind look for in a good beer?
> Sustainability practices (are they people & planet over profits?)
> How’s the shopping experience
> Packaging and delivery (can we recycle it?)
> And of course, does it taste good?
Since we are no beer drinking experts, we called in some favours.
Meet our Judges:
Candida: A beer fanatic with a love for ethical living
Matias: A friendly beer enthusiast
Kimberly: A yellow-haired, fully-fledged beer connoisseur. Catch her on insta doing her thing!
THE RESULTS
Toast Ale is tackling food waste by using surplus bread that would otherwise go to waste. The company’s ethos is tackling the problem of food waste, which is seen from start to finish in their products with all profits being donated to charities fixing the food system! Not to mention, they are a B Corp!
COST:
12 x 330ml for £24
Packaging:
No plastic in sight!
The experience:
Toast welcomes you to their homepage with an impactful statement, stating exactly what their mission is, “a beer with more taste, a world without waste”. They show off their google rating of 4.9/5, so you can rest assured others LOVE this beer.
Toast offers an awesome variety of staple beers, including IPAs, Lagers and Pale ales. All of their beers are made with surplus fresh bread, which means every beer does its bit to tackle the problem of food waste. Their taster packs offer a great opportunity for you to discover your favourites.
They are also offering 10% off your first order when you subscribe to their emails. So get yourself some great beer!
What our judges said:
“If you’re looking for a low alcohol option that packs a flavourful punch, then this is for you! This is tart but not overpowering. Made with wonky raspberries from Rubies in the Rubble, the smell and flavours are sublime. Definitely one of my favourite low/no options on the market right now - 4 out of 5”
- Kimberly tried Raspberry Sour, 0.5% ABV
“Toasty malty flavour, but not as malty as a traditional English ale. An easy-drinking pale ale, which makes it a great picnic beer… both of us would drink this again - I’d rate this 4 out of 5”
- Candida and Edd tried Pale Ale, 5% ABV
“Unexpected full-body flavoured Lager claiming to be "crisp & refreshing". Strong taste of caramel and honey, which is rather uncommon to get from a Lager… feels more like an ale - 2 out of 5 for me”
- Matias tried Craft Lager, 5% ABV
Stroud brewery makes beers from sustainably sourced malt and hops. They use organic farming (which means no artificial fertilisers or pesticides). And, they’re a B Corp too!
COST:
12 x 400ml for £34
Packaging:
All recyclable - down to the tape! Kudos to that!
The experience:
Like Stroud’s mantra, you really don’t need to panic, because they are organic! The brewery is dedicated to making great beer, from organically grown ingredients.
They have an impressive selection of beers (seriously, they have 10 different flavoured cans and draught beers). They even offer the option to get a mixed case of 12 so you can have a taste of each without having to commit to just one! That is exactly what we love to hear!
Stroud has a monthly beer subscription, where you can sign up to receive 12 beers, straight to your door, every month. If you’re ever stopping over in the Cotswolds, make sure to stop by the Stroud brewery bar for a quick drink!
What are judges thought:
“Pale and almost clear in colour, this beer is crisp and light. Almost makes me feel cleansed after sipping it - weird I know but maybe it’s the organic properties. Super feather-light to drink. Pleasant lemony after taste - 3/5”
- Kimberly tried LOL, 4% ABV
“Fruity and just the right amount of bitterness… A great new choice that will become part of my next beer shop. A definite 5/5”
- Matias tried IPA, 5.6% ABV
“A straightforward pale, definitely drinkable and enjoyable. Good balance… I’d definitely drink this again. We'd give this a 3 out of 5”
- Candida and Edd tried Budding, 4.5% ABV
Cannabrew specialises in CBD beers that have a positive environmental impact (and they’re vegan too). Cannabrew sources its hemp from eco-friendly providers in Colorado, where the health and safety regs on farms and warehouses are the highest.
Cost:
12 x 330ml for £34.53
Packaging:
Fully recyclable packaging - hats of to that!
The experience
Just because it didn’t really begin in a sesh, doesn’t mean it won’t end with one with Cannabrew’s CBD infused booze!
Cannabrew is all about making your pint enjoyable, and beneficial - for you and our planet.
From cider to lager, to IPA, Cannabrew offers a variety of ways to get your boozy CBD fix. This also includes a mixed pack of their Sesh IPA and Soul lager, in cases from 4 to 24, allowing you to pick your fav… it’s totally acceptable to pick both by the way!
Cannabrew is partnered with One Tree Planted, a non-profit organisation dedicated to global reforestation, which plants a new tree for each sale made. So drink easy knowing that each purchase funds the fight against climate change.
What our judges said:
“I rarely pick a Cider over a beer but on the hot summer day that I cracked this open, it was simply divine. Crisp and dry and seriously moorish, this is the UK’s first-ever CBD infused Cider. The apple aromas are so delightfully strong when you open the bottle and the taste is as equally as delightful. 4.5/5”
- Kimberly tried Cloud Apple Cider, 4% ABV
“I would drink this one again! It tastes like a nice bitter IPA, not too strong flavour-wise - 3.5/5”
- Candida and Edd tried Sesh IPA
“A unique IPA where the CBD oil adds a whole new dimension to these type of beers. You still get the fruity and hoppy flavour but the CBD infusion brings that extra uniqueness to it. 3/5”
- Matias tried Sesh IPA, 4.5% ABV
These are only a few of the many awesome breweries out that making beer that tastes as good as its impact on the planet. Earlier this September Heinkein announced that they will be trialling more eco-friendly ways to grow their barley in attempts to curb emissions. It’s so great to see some bigger corps following in smaller businesses footsteps. We can’t wait to see what this will bring! Find the ethical beer that’s right for you!
What are some of your favourite ethical beers? We wanna know! Head to our socials and join the conversation!
Words by Leonie Carver