Continued progress, bike advocacy, and our most environmentally conscious beer yet<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
PRESS RELEASE \/ January 3,2025 (Somerville, MA) \u2013\u00a0Portico Brewing<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0has published its\u00a0second annual Environmental Handprint Report, documenting continued progress on\u00a0decreasing overall emissions, reducing taproom waste, bike advocacy, and charitable\u00a0support for local environmental non-profits. Summarized in a three-page infographic\u00a0available on its website, the results highlight a successful second year at the\u00a0microbrewery and taproom in Camberville (literally located on the Cambridge-Somerville\u00a0line).<\/p>\nPortico\u2019s all-electric brewhouse and kitchen, a design feature that eliminates Scope 1\u00a0(on-site) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improves air quality in the facility,\u00a0combined with its enrollment in Somerville\u2019s\u00a0Community Choice Electricity\u00a0\u201c100% Local\u00a0Green\u201d option decreased its Scope 2 (purchased electricity) GHG emissions by 38%\u00a0(compared to Eversource\u2019s basic service). Its voluntary participation in the municipal\u00a0program prevented 21.2 Metric Tons of CO2 equivalent (MTCO2e) emissions in 2024,\u00a0which according to the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA)\u00a0Greenhouse Gas\u00a0Equivalencies Calculator, equates to preserving 21.3 acres of US forest for a year.<\/p>\n
Portico also supported and advocated for bicycling as part of its effort to become a\u00a0certified bike-friendly business in 2025. The taproom hosted Cambridge Bicycle Safety\u00a0for a member meeting in February, a pair of staff members took on the Bike Month\u00a0challenge in May, the\u00a0Bicycle Benefits\u00a0program was implemented in July, and the\u00a0brewery\u2019s social media accounts continued to promote the importance of protected bike\u00a0lanes throughout the year. Fingers are crossed for the bike-friendly certified business\u00a0application which was completed and submitted in October.<\/p>\n
In celebration of Earth Hour in March, Portico debuted its most eco-conscious beer to\u00a0date, Earth Hour Hazy Pale Ale. Brewed with 100% local ingredients (Valley Malt (MA),\u00a0Blue Ox Malthouse (ME), Four Star Farms (MA)) and 100% renewable energy, it boasts\u00a0a notably lower carbon footprint than a typical beer. Initially intended only for on-\u00a0premises draft consumption, patrons loved the recipe so much that it’s now a year-\u00a0round flagship.<\/p>\n
To further decrease taproom and brewery waste, a consumer-facing, three-stream\u00a0(recycling and composting in addition to trash) disposal set up was implemented, and\u00a0two more materials \u2013 grain bags along with stretch-wrap \u2013 were added to recycling\u00a0efforts. The additions moved Portico several steps closer to its goal of zero-waste by the
end of 2025.<\/p>\n
A key component of an\u00a0environmental handprint\u00a0is its\u00a0net-positive approach to\u00a0sustainability which acknowledges material, energy and waste impacts (commonly\u00a0referred to as footprints) by countering them with positive actions that benefit the\u00a0community and the planet. Along with existing actions including quarterly litter pickups\u00a0and ongoing care for dozens of newly-planted neighborhood trees, Portico added native\u00a0pollinator plants to the patio and rescued a local tree in distress, which was\u00a0subsequently named \u201cBirch Reynolds.\u201d There was also a\u00a0\u00a0special River Trivia night to\u00a0raise awareness for nonprofit Mass Rivers and its river restoration advocacy, along with\u00a0adoption and support for the\u00a0NRDC Brewers for Clean Water\u00a0campaign.<\/p>\n
In addition to building on its existing environmental initiatives, Portico hopes to make\u00a0further strides in 2025 by eliminating all single-use food service ware, taking a closer\u00a0look at its overall energy consumption, piloting safer cleaning chemicals in the\u00a0brewhouse, and renewing its Green Brewery recognition from the\u00a0EPA\u2019s\u00a0BetterBev\u00a0program.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/massbrewbros.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/305835536_593620705803144_5604705580919811696_n-300x300.png\")
<\/a>About Portico Brewing<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nPortico Brewing is inspired by architecture and design of all kinds, and its approachable
beers are made for everyone to enjoy. Its focus is to rethink traditional styles and create\u00a0beers with classic ingredients and careful technique. Formerly a contract brand, Portico\u00a0debuted its own brewery and community focused taproom near the Somerville-\u00a0Cambridge line in Massachusetts in spring of 2023. Committed to environmental values,\u00a0it\u2019s part of the movement that believes in business for good.<\/p>\n
Portico\u2019s all-electric brewhouse and kitchen, a design feature that eliminates Scope 1\u00a0(on-site) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improves air quality in the facility,\u00a0combined with its enrollment in Somerville\u2019s\u00a0Community Choice Electricity\u00a0\u201c100% Local\u00a0Green\u201d option decreased its Scope 2 (purchased electricity) GHG emissions by 38%\u00a0(compared to Eversource\u2019s basic service). Its voluntary participation in the municipal\u00a0program prevented 21.2 Metric Tons of CO2 equivalent (MTCO2e) emissions in 2024,\u00a0which according to the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA)\u00a0Greenhouse Gas\u00a0Equivalencies Calculator, equates to preserving 21.3 acres of US forest for a year.<\/p>\n
Portico also supported and advocated for bicycling as part of its effort to become a\u00a0certified bike-friendly business in 2025. The taproom hosted Cambridge Bicycle Safety\u00a0for a member meeting in February, a pair of staff members took on the Bike Month\u00a0challenge in May, the\u00a0Bicycle Benefits\u00a0program was implemented in July, and the\u00a0brewery\u2019s social media accounts continued to promote the importance of protected bike\u00a0lanes throughout the year. Fingers are crossed for the bike-friendly certified business\u00a0application which was completed and submitted in October.<\/p>\n
In celebration of Earth Hour in March, Portico debuted its most eco-conscious beer to\u00a0date, Earth Hour Hazy Pale Ale. Brewed with 100% local ingredients (Valley Malt (MA),\u00a0Blue Ox Malthouse (ME), Four Star Farms (MA)) and 100% renewable energy, it boasts\u00a0a notably lower carbon footprint than a typical beer. Initially intended only for on-\u00a0premises draft consumption, patrons loved the recipe so much that it’s now a year-\u00a0round flagship.<\/p>\n
To further decrease taproom and brewery waste, a consumer-facing, three-stream\u00a0(recycling and composting in addition to trash) disposal set up was implemented, and\u00a0two more materials \u2013 grain bags along with stretch-wrap \u2013 were added to recycling\u00a0efforts. The additions moved Portico several steps closer to its goal of zero-waste by the
end of 2025.<\/p>\n
A key component of an\u00a0environmental handprint\u00a0is its\u00a0net-positive approach to\u00a0sustainability which acknowledges material, energy and waste impacts (commonly\u00a0referred to as footprints) by countering them with positive actions that benefit the\u00a0community and the planet. Along with existing actions including quarterly litter pickups\u00a0and ongoing care for dozens of newly-planted neighborhood trees, Portico added native\u00a0pollinator plants to the patio and rescued a local tree in distress, which was\u00a0subsequently named \u201cBirch Reynolds.\u201d There was also a\u00a0\u00a0special River Trivia night to\u00a0raise awareness for nonprofit Mass Rivers and its river restoration advocacy, along with\u00a0adoption and support for the\u00a0NRDC Brewers for Clean Water\u00a0campaign.<\/p>\n
In addition to building on its existing environmental initiatives, Portico hopes to make\u00a0further strides in 2025 by eliminating all single-use food service ware, taking a closer\u00a0look at its overall energy consumption, piloting safer cleaning chemicals in the\u00a0brewhouse, and renewing its Green Brewery recognition from the\u00a0EPA\u2019s\u00a0BetterBev\u00a0program.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Portico Brewing is inspired by architecture and design of all kinds, and its approachable<\/a>About Portico Brewing<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
beers are made for everyone to enjoy. Its focus is to rethink traditional styles and create\u00a0beers with classic ingredients and careful technique. Formerly a contract brand, Portico\u00a0debuted its own brewery and community focused taproom near the Somerville-\u00a0Cambridge line in Massachusetts in spring of 2023. Committed to environmental values,\u00a0it\u2019s part of the movement that believes in business for good.<\/p>\n