Last night, I was thinking of you, Jennie, when I resolutely abstained from the gross three dollar PBR. Unfortunately, it seems that PBR is the only thing that Spaceland has available on tap, so instead of ending up with a washable glass of beer, I ended up with a disposable bottle of Amstel Light. I hope they recycle! I actually almost thought about putting the empty beer bottle in my purse and taking it with me to ensure it was recycled, but I didn't because it seemed possibly illegal and at best, very sketchy. "Hi officer, why yes, I DO have a beer bottle in my purse. But I'm not a drunk who carries around beer bottles, I'm just a wacky environmentalist!"
Yeah, no.
So I might have to go back to the PBR, gross and hangover-inducing as it is. Because A#1, it's three bucks, A#2, it's on tap, and A#3 it's domestic, right? So fewer fossil fuels?
Or maybe I should be drinking liquor. I dunno, people, anyone have an idea of what my greenest option would be at a standard bar with a standard drink list? I kind of think given that I drink one serving of alcohol 1-2 times per week, bottled, imported beer is probably the least of my concerns, but on the other hand, the quality difference between an Amstel Light and a PBR is probably not THAT huge that I couldn't just deal.
1 year ago
13 comments:
Haven't we seen your freezer? Little hard to believe the 1-2/week bit.
Uh yeah, take it hard. Less glass, more ass. And no, I didn't make that up...
Oooh, I knew the picture of my freezer would come back to haunt me!!
sounds like you need a new bar. PBR is all they have on tap! Oh, the beer snob in me shouts out again. I'm not sure what type of impact hard alcohol has on the enviro.
Go with your gut on this (or better yet your taste buds), and I'd be 99% sure the bar recycles. They want to get that 5cent deposit back, or isn't it 10 in CA. In fact the bar I use to live by collected all their bottles and the distributor would pick them up when they dropped off the new shipment and the bar would get credit on their account for it.
Don't you have micro brews over in L.A.? I love micro brews! Since the beer is brewed in house, less waste and they are always on tap.
You shouldn't be drinking Amstel Light OR PBR. Both are gross. If the beers that shitty, I'd rather have a glass of water. Get yourself a nice microbrew.
New Belgian Brewing Company has a delicious organic wheat beer called Mothership Wit.... Mmm, beer.
Um, how about this as an option? Brew your own. You'd save on the energy to get to the "bar", no danger of run-ins with police, impress your friends, use your own glasses, and great taste.
C'mon, it'll only suck up every spare moment of your time learning how to do it, taking pictures, and blogging about it. (Not to mention drinkin' it.) And the only cost is the initial set-up and a few supplies.
Yeah, I know. This isn't the answer you wanted. Somebody's gotta be obnoxious, though, and too often that ends up being me. (shrug)
Sorry, guys, I should have clarified a few things in my post. Spaceland's not a bar, it's my favorite music venue in LA. I've started to go to music shows a couple times a week and while the music is awesome, they have pretty standard bars. But I still enjoy having a drink while listening to music.
And Chile, I love you because I can count on you to suggest stuff like making my own beer! You always push me further, and it's great. :) But in this case, I don't think it's a workable solution for all the time/space/I'd suck at it issues, but beyond that because ... maybe it's because I live alone, but I almost never drink at home unless I have company. I like having a drink when I'm with friends or when I'm seeing live music or such, but for me, personally? I never really have the urge to have a beer when I come home from work. So if I made my own beer, I'd either end up with way too much beer that I never, ever drank or I'd end up just drinking beer way more often than I do currently. Neither of which I really want.
Here is a thought. If your favorite music venue already recycles beer bottles, less guilt for you. But if it does not, suggest the recycle idea to them. If they need the money, give the money to the musicians there. Easier said than done, I know. I am still trying to get all my bits of courage together to suggest a real recycling program for my kids' school.
Cindy, that's a great idea. I think you're 100% right. I'm going to work up the courage to ask if they recycle. :)
Beer enjoyment should remain simple.
first off, I love PBR!! secondly, Mel and I were just talking about how we also like to bring bottles home to recyle them (water bottles that is!)
I second New Belgium Brewery... they are windfarm run, recuse their cleaning supplies, and turn their waste grains into food. (More on their website).
But... of course, it is 20 miles from my house, so it is the ultimate of low impact beer. It's on tap EVERYWHERE in Colorado. Lucky us!
Would a lime or a lemon slice help that PBR go down a little smoother? If it's anything like the bar I worked for, they recycle just because they are too CHEAP to pay for the trach pickup, so yo uMIGHT be OK there.
Thanks for the info on New Belgium Brewery, I already love Fat Tire and now I have a reason to love it more! Of course, it does leave a carbon footprint getting it to Chicago, but I couldn't live without Fat Tire!!! (I know, we have Goose Island, but it's not quite as tasty in my opinion.)
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