Cheers to Earth Day

Producers are responding to the increased demand for organic beer and spirits. Here are a few that caught our eye. Papagayo organic rums (plain and spiced), the world's first, come from a remote region in Paraguay. A project started in 1993 helped the local farmers, now some 800+, cultivate organic sugar cane. Because their crops are now ITFA certified the farmers benefit from higher prices, …

Preserve Tableware

The 39 billion disposable utensils and 29 billion disposable plates used each year in the U.S. create about 950,000 tons of waste—enough to fill more than 132,000 garbage trucks that bumper to bumper would reach Chicago from the east coast. Plastic is also made from petroleum products (no further comment necessary). So what can you do when it's not practical to use glassware, stoneware and …

Hitachino Nest Beer

Kiuchi Brewery has made sake in Japan since 1823. With a change in brewing laws they were able to launch their first microbrew beer in 1996, the highly lauded JCA, or Japanese Classic Ale. In the last ten years they have developed many new brews, including an incredible Red Rice Ale. The rice is milled and polished, the same as it is for sake, and …