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Tapping the Ice Caps
Posted by Su Avasthi on August 2, 2006 - 1:39am.

What's that old saying? If life gives you melting ice caps, make a lot of beer?

That's the upbeat approach they're taking up in Greenland. A new microbrewery is using ice melt from virgin polar ice caps to make beer.

Greenland Brewhouse —the first-ever Inuit microbrewery—is situated in a tiny hamlet some 400 miles from the Arctic Circle. It is producing both dark and pale ales, which will be bottled in Northern Germany and sold in Denmark. They hope to expand into other countries soon.

It seems to be going over well with tasters in Denmark. They described it to the AP as "different from other beer," and "smooth, soft but not bitter."

Greenland Brewhouse also plans to release a special Christmas brew (which I can only assume is brewed by Santa's elves themselves.)

According to BBC News, the brewers say that because the ice was 2,000 years old, it's free of pollutants, minerals and such. Good to know, though pollutants aren't the first thing I worry about when I hear about melting ice caps.

Melting ice — especially ice that's 2,000 years old — makes me worry about global warming and climate change and greenhouse gases. The larger implications of polar ice melt are downright depressing.

Then again, it is comforting to know that as the planet gets hotter & hotter, at least we'll have plenty of brewskis to help us forget our troubles.



<em>Anonymous</em>'s picture
so is this the upside of
by Anonymous on August 2, 2006 - 9:34am
so is this the upside of global warming? kinda sad.
<em>Anonymous</em>'s picture
cheers global warming then!
by Anonymous on August 2, 2006 - 10:20am
alcohol, the legal drug addiction of choice for western civilization, is now made with pure, virgin melting polar ice? am i the only one who thinks that this is pathological. granted the inuit's homeland is melting out from underneath them, but this is almost as tragic as native americans turning gambling or indigenous tribed being forced to clearcut their land to survive economically. god help us!
<em>Anonymous</em>'s picture
Cheers
by Anonymous on August 2, 2006 - 11:31am
That's a good comparsion because the Greenland Inuits are like second-class citizens in Denmark. Greenland is controlled by Denmark and their situation is like Native Americans in this country. It really is tragic that all the Native and indigenous people wind up supporting our vices like gambling and alcohol at the expense of their land. You are NOT the only one who thinks it is pathological.
<em>Anonymous</em>'s picture
Well...
by Anonymous on August 2, 2006 - 10:21am
We're all screwed, might as well get drunk. Is that it?
<em>IBrown</em>'s picture
get them to the US, pronto
by IBrown on August 2, 2006 - 3:01pm
...just in time for lunch! not gonna lie, im excited.
<em>Anonymous</em>'s picture
They're Inuit Now
by Anonymous on August 2, 2006 - 1:55pm
Yes, while it is discouraging that the Natives are brewing their homeland right out from under themselves...it's been happening in the Southwest desert for years. In the form of gaming and golf. Check out those swaths of 18-hole greens,lush with water pumped out of the dying rivers and streams. It's business, after all.
<em>Anonymous</em>'s picture
It's melting anyway.
by Anonymous on August 3, 2006 - 12:48pm
The Polar Ice caps have been and will continue to melt. Nature has a way of continuing on with or without our help. This great earth was here long before mankind and will more than likely out live us. If the Inuit have an opportunity to create a better living for themselves and create a great ale at the same time, then God Bless them. I look forward to tasting that brew. I don't believe that this can be compared to tearing down rain forests and draining dying rivers. Your comparing apples and oranges. If life gives you lemons then make lemonaide or in this case a fine ale. Bottoms Up and Cheers. Today is a great day to count our many blessings.
<em>Anonymous</em>'s picture
This is bad
by Anonymous on September 18, 2006 - 4:01pm
I think this is very bad.Some one help!!!

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