state is at the forefront of sustainable brewing and distilling efforts

By Steve Graham

Colorado beer and liquor makers are always getting greener — and not just around St. Patrick’s Day. Sustainable brewing and sustainable distilling have become standard practice in the industry, but some businesses are taking the next step in really becoming green breweries.

Of course, that Fort Collins craft beer behemoth is known for sustainability. The Fat Tire-riding employees who co-own the wind- and Sunshine-powered beer plant have won awards from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Colorado Environmental Coalition, among many others.

However, smaller breweries are also doing their part for the environment. Here are six green breweries in Colorado taking the extra step to be eco-friendly.

Asher Brewing Co.

Boulder’s Asher was one of the first all-organic breweries, focusing on locally sourced ingredients that are reducing the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Moreover, the spent grain is then donated to local organic farms for livestock feed.

Asher also uses Xcel Wind Source to offset 100 percent of energy use in the brewery and tasting room, where the brewery relies on energy-efficient lighting.

Montanya Distillers

Montanya is a Green America Certified Green Business that crafts rum in Crested Butte. Nearly the entire sustainable distilling operation is wind-powered, and the carbon emissions from the natural gas-fired stills are offset in other ways. In fact, the distillery has an innovative offset program for all its carbon production from shipping to airline travel.

Montanya also buys sugar cane directly from a biomass-powered co-op, and the cane is unrefined, so much less energy is expended in getting the raw ingredients to the distillery.

Horse and Dragon Brewing Co.

You can sit down on an artifact of this Fort Collins brewery’s commitment to reuse and recycling. Many of the taproom tables and chairs are made from recycled pallets and electric wire spools.

Horse and Dragon is also a fully wind-powered EPA Green Power Partner, and gives spent grain to local farmers. This green brewery is housed in an old airplane hanger, and it added translucent panels to the walls and ceilings when remodeling as a cost-effective way to add natural light to the brewery.

The brewery also supports local cycling causes and sells bike helmets and lights at cost — the best deal in a town full of bike shops.

Declaration Brewing Co.

Declaration installed a heat-recovery system on its boilers and gives its spent grain to local farmers. These measures are part of the reason the brewery, near Ruby Hill Park, was named the city’s first Green Brewery by the Certifiably Green Denver program.

Bristol Brewing Co.

Bring back a six-pack holder to Bristol’s renovated 100-year-old building and you can get a discount. They like to reuse when possible, and print all their labels and six-pack carriers on recycled paper and cardboard.

Based in Colorado Springs, the sustainable brewery also runs primarily on wind energy, recycles water throughout the plant and uses a heat recovery system.

Crazy Mountain Brewing Co.

Finally, Crazy Mountain is acting locally by combatting the beetle kill epidemic in Colorado. All the tap handles in the Edwards and Denver taprooms are crafted out of beetle-killed trees, foraged and hand-cut by Crazy Mountain employees. Each handle is unique and takes about two hours to craft.

Steve Graham is a Fort Collins writer who enjoys the outdoors and great beers.