The best beers from sustainable breweries

Sustainability is a complex and broad subject in beer, which is a drink involving industries notorious for high emissions, such as farming, packaging and distribution. This topic could be book-length and I have only a couple of paragraphs, so the very short version is that we should look to breweries that prioritise using ingredients grown using regenerative farming techniques, that use packaging from responsible sources, are dedicated to sustainable practices in energy and waste management, and look after their staff.

You might wonder how you’re expected to find all that out. One way is by looking for B-corp certification – firms are rigorously assessed on their entire social and environmental performances.

As drinkers we can demand and choose products made in ways that consider the environment as well as wider social concerns and causes, and that means drinking beer can be something that has a positive impact – if you choose the right ones.

Regenerative beers

Farming is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions in the beer supply chain, so aim to choose beer that uses ingredients produced via regenerative farming, which aims to naturally support the soil and lock in carbon.

Five of the best beers from sustainable breweries

Long Man Brewery Pale Ale, England 4.2%

Brewed on an East Sussex farm that grows barley using regenerative farming, this pale ale is juicy, zesty and tropical. Try with this filo-wrapped feta. £36 for 12 x 440ml, available from Long Man Brewery

Brewgooder Lager, Scotland 4.5%

Brewgooder has a foundation that uses beer to support and empower global communities. Its crisp, lemony lager is great with lemon and oregano chicken wings. £22 for 12 x 330ml, available from Brewgooder and Co-op stores

The Hop Shed Frizzle IPA, England 5%

The brewery is on a Worcestershire hop farm, which uses regenerative growing methods. Frizzle is a crisp, grapefruity, floral-and-bitter English IPA. Sip with a sausage roll. £28 for 12 x 500ml, available from The Hop Shed

Toast Brewing Grassroots Pale Ale, England 4.1%

Surplus bread goes into the firm’s beer and its profits go to environmental charities. Grassroots has a stone fruit hoppiness, ideal with lamb chops. £25 for 12 x 330ml, available from Toast Brewing

Utopian Unfiltered British Lager, England 4.7%

This toasty, crisp Devon lager uses all British ingredients in a brewery dedicated to sustainability. Try with this seasonal jersey royal and crab salad. £15 for 6 x 440ml, available from Utopian Brewing

Browse more more expert beer picks from Mark.