tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501361286897702641.post-17552024452966362472008-01-09T09:22:00.000-06:002008-01-09T09:22:00.000-06:00Carpetguy, while I agree that it has become very popular and marketable to have organic products, it is about making a choice about what you want to support. I don't eat 100% organic or even always brew 100% organic. But the longterm benefits of using less chemicals to produce foods/beer is a postive thing in my mind. Here's an answer from breworganic.com:<BR/>By using organic ingredients the home brewer can better control what goes into his or her beer. Even trace residues of toxins present in the barley, hops, water, yeast, or adjuncts used to make beer can have an ill effect on one's health, especially over a long period of exposure. Many of the chemicals used in agriculture and food processing are known to be toxic. Traces of these toxins are sometimes found in the food that is grown, and many more migrate through the food chain and are found in meats, seafood, and dairy products. In agricultural areas many of the chemicals sprayed on the crops eventually filter into the ground water. Concentrations of agricultural toxins in the water supply have been found to be dangerously high in some communities. Conventional growers of barley and hops use chemical fertilizers and pesticides just as other farmers do. Studies have shown that many of the chemicals used by farmers can cause serious health problems such as cancer, reproductive disorders, respiratory ailments, and allergies.<BR/><BR/>Here's the link to rest of the answer about why to brew organic:<BR/>http://www.breworganic.com/whybrew.htm<BR/><BR/>I don't have a problem with non-organic beers, or believe that they are inferior or anything. It's just a personal choice for me to try to brew organically and try to be conscience of trying to be responsible in my beer buying/producing. I'm not trying to push an agenda, just sharing what I think is good, and if others agree cool. If they don't, that's their choice.<BR/>The dialoge is important. I don't think its just a marketing gimmick though, even though I can't deny it is definatley an "in" trend. Plus, organic growers tend to be smaller farmers, and being from the midwest, I've seen the ill effects of large corporate farms.<BR/>Hope that answers the question.The Bearded Brewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09272265527986943248noreply@blogger.com