Green beer

Great Basin Brewing Company has brewed what’s reportedly the first certified organic beer in Nevada. It’s the Truckee River Red Organic Ale, and it just passed USDA inspection a few weeks ago.

“We’ve been working on this for four years now,” says Tom Young, brewmaster at Great Basin. “We’ve been brewing beer organically for a long time, but legally, we can’t call them ‘organic’ without the certification.”

Young describes the Truckee River Red as being fashioned under an American style of Irish Red Ale, using American and New Zealand hops.

The bad news for beer drinkers is that the brewery is out of it right now. The good news is they’re brewing up a big new batch to serve on June 18 for the Nevada Land Conservancy benefit at the brewery. The benefit begins at 5 p.m. and will also feature live music. Great Basin Brewing Company is at 846 Victorian Ave., in Sparks.