Warming Trends: A Global Warming Beer Really Needs a Frosty Mug, Ghost Trees in New York and a Cooking Site Gives Up Beef
A column highlighting climate-related studies, innovations, books, cultural events and other developments from the global warming frontier.
May 1, 2021
A New Belgium brewer Andrew checks the water level of sparge bath at the brewery Credit: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images
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A Taste of Climate-Changed Beer
It’s the year 2050, and you’re sipping warm beer. There’s been an energy outage at the brewery and the refrigerators aren’t working. The brew has a smoky flavor from water that’s been tainted by a wildfire. And it’s missing the sweetness and freshness you remember.
Photo by Kevin Meynell
April is Earth Month and California Solar Electric Company recently became the first certified B Corporation in Nevada County.
The certification is another notch in the belt for the Grass Valley company that has worked for years to be a force for good. Early on, Cal Solar embraced a triple bottom line the idea that social and environmental sustainability carries equal merit alongside economic viability. In 2019, Cal Solar worked with Project Equity to become the first worker-owned cooperative in Nevada County and the first worker-owned solar company in California.
“We’re really seeing ourselves in the community as trying to build a better Nevada County. Our bigger work is beyond just installing solar,” said General Manager Lars Ortegren.
This new beer tastes like climate change, and it’s not good Kerrin Jeromin (New Belgium) There’s nothing quite like a cold beer to finish a long workweek. Unless, of course, that beer reminds you of the threats of climate change, whether suffocating heat waves, explosive wildfires, mega-droughts, devastating floods, or their risks to human health and the environment. That’s actually the goal of Torched Earth Ale, a new beer from New Belgium Brewing, based in Fort Collins, Colo. With each sip, you’ll get a not-so-subtle reminder that your favorite brew may no longer taste the same if we don’t take immediate action to slow climate change and adapt to its effects.
“If this was the beer of the future, I’d probably drink less beer. By
Story at a glance
Climate change is already threatening the production of beer in states across the country.
New Belgium Brewing Company is positioning itself to lead the charge in fighting climate change within the industry.
The Torched Earth Ale is raising money for Protect Our Winters, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing climate change legislation.
The reviews are in and New Belgium Brewing s latest Fat Tire ale is pretty awful. That’s the point, however, of the Torched Earth Ale, which tastes like climate change.
Colorado s New Belgium Brewing has released a new Fat tire brew that could make beer lovers more conscious of climate change.
Called Torched Earth, the limited-edition ale is made from smoke-tainted water, dandelions and drought-tolerant grains – the last ingredients that may survive a warming world.
According to New Belgium Brewing, this beer was developed to inspire the 70% of Fortune 500 companies who do not have a real climate plan to make one now.
Beer drinkers can purchase two four-packs of 16-ounce cans for $39.99, but the company says all profits are going to the Protect Our Winters (POW) organization.
Colorado s New Belgium Brewing has released a new Fat tire brew that could make beer lovers more conscious of climate change