Tavour highlights the breweries that support Earth-first brewing practices.

Press Release

Planting trees, installing solar panels, driving low-emissions cars, and… drinking beer? 

With more than 8,000 breweries in the U.S. today, it’s more important than ever for the beer industry to make environmentally conscious choices. And, some breweries are setting an example by looking at their environmental impact and striding toward a sustainable future. 

Fortunately for craft beer fans seeking to explore the nation’s “green” breweries while supporting the sustainability movement, Tavour offers easy access with the swipe of a finger. The app-based retailer delivers beer from independent breweries all over the country straight to customers’ doorsteps!

Breweries like Hardywood Park Craft Brewery in Virginia. 

“Ever since we first opened, it was all about renewable energy,” says Doug Sulanke of Hardywood. The first brewery in Virginia powered entirely by green energy, they participate in a state-sponsored program that allows them to harness solar and wind power more efficiently. The team also gives their spent grain to local farmers to be repurposed as animal feed. 

Hardywood is known by craft fans nationwide for their barrel-aged beers and dessert-inspired seasonal releases, many of which appear on Tavour. But, those who get a chance to visit the brewery can see an additional “green” effort up close – the taproom is paneled entirely in wood from fallen trees!

“We’re all about keeping everything as natural as possible,” Sulanke says.

Across the country, other breweries are also hard at work minimizing their impact on the planet.

“We're always looking for ways to improve our environmental footprint,” says Dan Powell of Moonraker Brewing Co., whose brews have been on Tavour since spring of last year. 

The California brewery actually opened on Earth Day in 2016, but it’s more than just an anniversary date – the brewers make year-round efforts to reduce their footprint. 

Currently, Moonraker has 1,200 solar panels feeding into an electric boiler, making their brewing process “100% solar powered,” according to Powell. And, being in California where droughts are common, Powell and his crew also place high priority on water recovery.

Further up the West Coast, sustainability is a community effort for Wander Brewing (who started sending beer to Tavour in late 2020). In addition to giving their spent grain to local farmers, the Washington-based brewery frequently hosts “Green Drinks,” a meeting for environmentally-minded community members. And, that’s not all!

“Whatcom Creek borders our brewery parking lot,” says owner Chad Kuehl. “We do a community cleanup of the creek every Earth Day.”

Even though rain is far more common in their region than down in California, the Wander team still has their own detailed water recovery program in place. 

“All cooling water used on brew days is captured on the backside of our heat exchanger and is then the hot water we need for subsequent brew days,” Kuehl says. They also use a “high efficiency steam boiler” to power the brewhouse.

For Tucker Kalberg of Montana’s Bozeman Brewing, focusing on water is pivotal to sustainability as a whole.

“I think the biggest thing that everyone’s going to have to start thinking about is water,” he says. “It’s our largest, most precious resource.”

Thanks to their own recovery efforts, Bozeman currently averages four barrels of water for every one barrel of beer – compared to the industry standard of seven-to-one. 

In addition, the Bozeman team also offsets “about a third” of their annual energy consumption via solar panels. Kalberg says they also use a cold air recapture program, which allows them to use the cool, outdoor Montana air for refrigeration. Currently, the only way to experience Bozeman’s eco-conscious craftsmanship outside of the state is through Tavour. 

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is also impacting breweries’ sustainability practices. Though the past year brought numerous challenges, it also caused brewers to focus more on how they package their beers. 

“In 2020, we transitioned our year round beers from bottles to cans, increasing the recyclability of our packaging and reducing our carbon footprint,” Kuehl says, noting that Wander Brewing also has “robust recycling efforts” in place for cardboard and shrink wrap.

Both Wander and Bozeman Brewing also participate in PakTech, a program based in Oregon that makes can packaging handles from 100% recycled materials. Tavour is also active in the program, recycling all of the PakTech handles they receive at their warehouse in Washington. They also recycle all of the corrugated cardboard that comes with shipments. 

Nevertheless, representatives from all four breweries acknowledge that there is still a lot of work to be done for sustainability in the brewing industry as a whole.

“It’s a long game,” says Kalbeg. “We’re okay with playing the long game when it’s in the best interest of Mother Nature.”

Earth Day is on April 22 this year, but every day is a good day for promoting sustainability! Check out Tavour for easy access to “green” breweries around the nation all year long.