Nov 16 2009
The Library Alehouse, Not Your Average Alehouse
The Library Alehouse on Main Street in Santa Monica is an institution of sorts. Sure, you’ve all been there but, there are a few things you didn’t know about the Alehouse. This is not your average Alehouse. If I dare say, I’d call it a modern day “green” Alehouse. What you will find here is good beer and good food, delivered to you via environmentally friendly, green practices. We’re not talking hit you over the head with patchouli oil and a pair of Birkenstocks, but a liberal approach to some rather progressive goals for a high volume, beer slinging joint.
If you’re a “hop-head” as they call them at the Alehouse then you already know about the beer selections. You race over there when you get a Twitter up-date that they have ONE keg of Blind Pig I.P.A from the Russian River (I thought they only made wine there?). If you’re community or environmentally oriented, you may know about the Alehouse’s fundraising and green efforts. If you are passionate about one, great; if you are passionate about all of the above, you will have a great friend in the Library Alehouse. As an armchair environmentalist myself, I’m madly in love with this place. They manage to combine one of the most interesting beer programs in Los Angeles with an operational philosophy that supports a greener way.
The way it started is that the Ale was approached by Santa Monica College to be part of a pilot program called Sustainable Works. They are now on their 3rd certification. Sustainable Works is a non-profit environmental education organization. Their mission is to create a culture of sustainability by offering programs that promote sustainable practices in businesses, colleges and residential communities. The programs reduce environmental impacts and promote sustainable lifestyles- ones that enhance our resources, reduce harm to human health and the environment, and sustain and benefit the local economy and community- for the sake of current and future generations. 
LED lights, byoplastic disposable tableware, recycling, composting, and as much local, organically grown food as they can get are a few of things that earn them their certification.
The Alehouse goes above and beyond what is required of them for this program, for example they process their own compost and grew their own tomatoes this year. Even the beer program gets a nod from the armchair environmentalist, by stocking beers that LEED EB certified breweries, such as New Belgium and others that have sustainability practices. Don’t look to see Stella hanging around their list for long. As Tom Kelley, the Director of Sustainability for the Alehouse, would tell you “why would you want a lager that has traveled hundred of thousand miles on a container ship for months? How fresh will that beer be? What is the carbon imprint of a mass produced so-so beer?’ In order for an import to make the list, it’s got to be extra special. Kelley can also boast that there is almost zero waste produced from a restaurant that serves up-ward of 300 people per meal.
And if the beer and the green practices were not enough to woo you heart, these people are god-damned do-gooders. The Alehouse brings their environmental practice full-circle by fundraising for local charities. That’s right, the first Tuesday of each month a local charity is selected for a fundraising night. In partnership with some of the brewing companies, 15% of sales for that night are donated to local groups. The Library Alehouse truly one of a kind Alehouse, they have given meaning to the concept of a community house. So, even if you are not a “hop-head” there are plenty of great reasons to patronize this fine establishment!