The Sierra Club has put together a handy list of earth-friendly brews for those who want to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a green beer – minus the food coloring.

The brewers who made the list use organic ingredients and incorporate renewable energy, efficiency and recycling into their businesses.

No Maine brewers were selected, although Peak Organic Brewing Co. in Portland would be one local green choice.

In other St. Patrick’s Day environmental news, an organization called the Irish American Climate Project is warning that the Emerald Isle may not be so lush and green for long.

Frequent, soft rains are what make Ireland so verdant and its potato farms so productive. But as the earth heats up, they may be replaced by warm, dry periods that turn the landscape brown and periodic heavy rains that cause erosion and “bog bursts,” which are a peat version of mud slides, the group says.

But don’t let that put a damper on your St. Patrick’s Day. Ireland, after all, has gone through plenty of change and hardship, and it still knows how to have a good time.

“We celebrate the fact that Ireland is still green, still lovely beyond compare,” said Kevin Sweeney, director of the Irish American Climate Project.

Look here for the Changing Shades of Green report.

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