Before we get started, what do we mean by genetically modified organisms? Genetically modified organisms refer to a process where a food or edible product whose genetic makeup has been altered in a lab with the use of transgenic techs or genetic engineering.
In the end, the process gives birth to combinations that would not occur naturally. In a much simpler term, it is when the genetic makeup of an edible product has been modified and the gene from another origin has been introduced into the product.
With that said, the consumption of GMO products can have detrimental effects on our health. Some of these detrimental effects are cancer, infertility, liver toxicity, antibiotic resistance, and many more. That is why it is important to avoid GMO products as much as you can. Below are some of the dangerous GMO ingredients:
- GMO Corn Syrup
- Propylene Glycol
- Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
- Natural Flavors
- GMO Sugars
- Caramel Coloring
- Insect-Based Dyes
- Carrageenan
- BPA
- GMO Corn
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Fish Bladder, and more.
Choosing Non-GMO beer brands can be quite tasking. As not all beer brands make use of ethical production practices in their products. But do not worry. We got you covered. In a moment, we will walk through top Non-GMO beer brands you should explore. Here’s a breakdown of these brands:
- Heineken
- Northcoast Brewing Company
- Elliot Bay Brewing Company
- Otter Creek Brewing Company
- Eel River Brewing Company
- Merchant du Vin
- Coors Brewing Company
Non-GMO Beer Brands
1.Heineken
It all started in 1873 when 22-year-old Gerard Adriaan Heineke bought De Hoolberg brewery in Amsterdam and recruited Dr. Elion to develop Heineken. Over the years, the brand has been building genuine human connections and breaking barriers. With their consumers in mind, Heineken has been able to brew one of the best beer brands in the world.
The brand’s brew is pale in color and has only 5% alcohol by volume (ABV). Heineken has over 300 local, regional, international beer brands on its belt. Few of them are Heineken Pilsener, Heineken Lager, Heineken Extra Cold, Heineken Premium Light, and Heineken 0.0. All these beers are created with ethical production practices and that includes sustainability. Moreso, it’s safe to say the brand is a Non-GMO beer, and here is why.
For many years, Heineken has made it a tradition to utilize four ingredients that includes water, barley, hops, and yeast (of course). As mentioned earlier, Heineken is 5% alcohol and 95% beer. The production team has been able to ensure that the beer brand has the highest standard when it comes to choosing sustainable sources, procession, and purification procedures. Barley is a raw material used for brewing, hops affect the flavor of a beer, and yeast is essential for making beers.
2.Northcoast Brewing Company
The beer brand started as a local brewpub in a town known as Fort Bragg in California. Northcoast Brewing Company was pioneered by Mark Ruedrich in 1988. The beer brand is a leader in sustainability and philanthropy.
NBC has Certified B Corp, Benefit Corporation, and True Platinum Zero Waste Certified. In 2017, the brand received Non-GMO Project Verification. It has always endeavored to avoid genetically modified ingredients in its beverages. As of this writing, Northcoast Brewing Company has a total of 14 different Non-GMO beers and makes conscious efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. Some of these beer collections are:
- Acme IPA
- Blue Star
- Brother Thelonious
- Foggy Day IPA
- Laguna Baja
- Le Merle
- North Coast Steller IPA
- Old No. 38
- Old Rasputin
- Old Stock Ale
- PranQster
- Red Seal Ale
- Scrimshaw
- Tart Cherry Berliner
3.Elliot Bay Brewing Company
The next on our list of Non-GMO beer brands is more of a family-owned enterprise. The brand was co-founded by Todd Carden and Brent Norton in 1996. Today, the brewing company has grown to become an advocate of sustainability and Philanthropic support. Elliot Bay also has a sense of community.
Since 2008, the brand has made it its life mission to be a manufacturer of different certified organic house-brewed ales. Also, the brand has shown its commitment to the environment and its consumers with its sustainability. Elliot Bay Brewing Company makes use of 100% barley as its base malt in all the beer products. It is with USDA Organic Certification.
With that said, the company’s decision to be organic was inspired by the need to support grain and hop farmers who are committed to staying away from the utilization of synthetic fertilizers and other kinds of GMOs. Some of their products are:
- Alembic Pale Ale
- B-town Brown
- Highline IPA
- Hop Von Boorian, and many more
4.Otter Creek Brewing Company
Vermont’s Otter Creek Brewing Company has been around since 1991. The beer brand has sustainability as its center point. First off, Otter Creek Brewing Company has been able to reduce its waste stream and is constantly looking out for innovative ways to improve its stand on sustainability.
Also, the remains of yeasts and hops are donated to local farmers as alternative fertilizers. And spent grains are fed to local dairy cows. Apart from that, the brewery is making a concise effort to capitalize on the Non-GMO project to authenticate its ingredients. Some of their beer collection are:
- Copper Ale
- Bonus Stage IPA
- Free Flow IPA
- Daily Dose IPA
- Berner IPA
- Raspberry Sour
5.Eel River Brewing Company
Eel River Brewing Company was founded in the heart of the Redwoods in Humboldt County, California back in 1995. The beer brand brews its products with first-rated organic hops and malts. Some of their collection are:
- Triple Exultation
- Cellar Aged Vertical Series
- Raven’s Eye Imperial Stout
- Climax 100
- Emerald Triangle IPA
- Organic Amber Ale
- Organic IPA
- Organic California Blond Ale
- Clarity Meyer Lemon
- Clarity Mango, and more.
6.Merchant du Vin
Merchant du Vin was founded in 1978 when America was far from finding a classic beer style. Its goal is to enhance people’s lives through unrivaled flavors and aromas in beers. With their collections of beers, the brand has been able to educate the consumers and stir their curiosity to know the difference between classic beer styles. And the available purchase in stores and bars.
The best part about Merchant du Vin beers is that they are Non-GMO. Some of their beers include:
- Ayinger
- Green’s
- Lindemans
- Orval
- Pinkus
- Rochefort
- Samuel Smith
- Traquair
- Westmalle
- Zundert
- Ales
- Lagers
- Organic
- Seasonal
- Wild Fermentation
- Trappist Ales
7.Coors Brewing Company
Coors Brewing Company is an American brewery. It was founded by Adolph Coors and Jacob Schueler back in 1873. The brewing company is owned by Molson Coors. CBC’s beers are made with ingredients like barley malt, water, yeast, hop extracts, and wheat in some of their beverages. Their beers are definitely free of GMOs.
The beer brand ensures that the safety and quality of its products are prioritized. All these are done with strict compliance with the health, food safety, ingredients, and labeling regulations. As stated earlier, ingredients like water, barley malt, and yeast are utilized. These ingredients are GMO-free and none of them have undergone genetic modification.
Coors Brewing Company produces, promotes, and distributes varieties of alcohol beverage brands. Some of their popular beverages are:
- Coors Banquet
- Coors Light
- Blue Moo
- Keystone
- Miller Lite
- Old Vienna
- Hamm’s Brewery
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Heineken Light GMO free?
Yes, the beer brand is GMO-free. Heineken is known for its policy of no GMO. From Heineken Pilsener, Heineken Lager, Heineken Extra Cold, Heineken Premium Light, to Heineken 0.0. are without GMO ingredients. All the brand products are made of traditional ingredients like Water, Barley Malt, Hops, and Yeast which are safe and healthy.
Is Guinness GMO-free?
Guinness Beer is one of the brands with GMOs. Although the beer products consist of basic ingredients like water, barley malt, hops, and yeast. It also contains some genetically modified ingredients such as Fish Bladder and High Fructose Corn Syrup.
Is Coors a GMO?
No. Coors Brewing Company is one of the beer brands out there that stick with ethical production practices. Genetically modified ingredients that could have adverse effects on your well-being are avoided.
What is the healthiest beer to drink?
As mentioned earlier, the healthiest beers are the ones that are considered sustainable and free from the strains of GMO ingredients. The consumption of these beer beverages will not put your health at risk in any way.
Some of these beer brands are Heineken, Northcoast Brewing Company, Elliot Bay Brewing Company, Otter Creek Brewing Company, Eel River Brewing Company, Merchant du Vin, Coors Brewing Company, and many more.
But if you like to explore beyond these beer brands, you must make findings on whether a beer beverage is made of GMO ingredients or not.
Conclusion
Now that we have that out of the way, I believe you have picked one or two pointers on Non-GMO brands you should try out. The beer you consume should be nourishing and refreshing. Therefore, it is paramount that you only decide on the ones that will not put your health at risk.