Craving a healthier beer buzz?
Drink organic, health food proprietors say.
To allow more markets in the county to sell organic alcohol, Howard County state delegates plan to ask the Maryland Legislature to create a new organic beer and light beer license for markets.
“It offers organic food markets in the county the opportunity to offer the choice,” (of organic) said Howard County Council Chairman Calvin Ball.
My Organic Market, a health food store with locations in Maryland and Virginia, would seek the license for their East Columbia store, said Lisa Delima, the company?s vice president of grocery and marketing. The store already offers organic wine and beer at its Rockville and Alexandria, Va., locations she said.
The beer they supply is made from organic grains, hops, barely and wheat. The wine comes from organically grown grapes and usually contains no sulfates, a common wine preservative, Delima said.
Organic alcohol is a healthier choice, she said. “There are no pesticides and hormones, so its better for the environment and better for your body.”
But how does it taste?
“They do taste good ? you wouldn?t even know they are organic,” said Randy Overbaugh, general manager of the Great Sage restaurant is Clarksville, which offers organic beer, wine and liquor.
My Organic Market is the only store in the county that expressed interest in the license so far, said Jeff Meyers, a senior administrative analyst for Howard County.
According to the proposed legislation, an applicant would be able to hold no more than two other liquor licenses when it applies for the organic beer and light license. It must also prove that the alcohol is certified organic.
