The Peoples Pint – Making Our Environment More Vibrant One Pint At A Time

This past Labor Day weekend was beautiful. The sun was shining. The weather wasn’t too hot nor to cold. It made for the perfect weekend adventure. I didn’t stray too far from home. I wanted to continue exploring the world that surrounds me. Living in southern Vermont, I am roughly 40 minutes to my home New Hampshire, 40 minutes to upstate New York and 40 minutes to my birth state Massachusetts. The options are virtually endless where I live. It will take me years to explore it all. This weekend adventure brought me to Greenfield, MA. What I love about Greenfield is that it takes me the same amount of time to get there from my new home in Vermont as it does from my old stomping grounds in Keene, NH. My husband and I find ourselves in Greenfield often for his sporting events. They have a fairly competitive men’s basketball league that plays during the summer and winter months. Most of the time I spend in Greenfield is spent, cheering my husband on during his games. I have been to this town more times than I can count. Yet, I have never experienced it passed the basketball court. This was a real treat. I had made the plan to treat my husband to dinner. {{more}}

“Create Healthy Habits, not restrictions.” – Unknown

Some say there is an epidemic happening with us today. While others say there is no epidemic but rather due to the increase of human communication through the power of the internet and media people are becoming more aware and increasingly more involved. I myself lean to the second option more. You may have noticed that there has been increasingly more information erupting containing knowledge about diet habits, diet restrictions, health complications associated with diet and of course the environmental impact that our food sources are playing when it comes to pollution, and our carbon footprint. Now, I am not trying to turn this into some kind of political statement or debate. With this said, I do believe that what we put into our bodies does play a big part in our health. I do think that diet issues are becoming increasingly more common and or we are all becoming more educated about them. I also feel I would be naive to think that in a world as populated as it is, we are not as a human race causing an increase in pollution. With all of that said, I would be a liar if I said I eat all organic foods and I waste not and therefore need not. I am in fact HUMAN. I know I could be doing better.

One of my biggest struggles is that I live in a foodie country, and I have dietary issues. I live in the land where food is obtainable at every corner. It is on my phone, tv, and radio constantly. Food is the bond that brings us together here in America. Sharing a meal with family and friends can create some of the best memories. I was raised to always eat at the table as a family. Those were the times, we chatted and got to know one another on a deeper level. Food is not a matter of survival for me, but rather has become a necessary social bond. In fewer tech terms. I am a FOODIE!!!! I enjoy gathering over a good meal. Because I am a foodie deep within my soul, I have found that my dietary struggles have been a real downer for me recently. They make finding a good place to eat quite the challenge. Put your worries behind you friends, because The Peoples Pint is for the people and those people include people like us! The struggle is no longer real… Let your foodie sides be free!

The Peoples Pint, was established in 1997. They are not only friendly for foodies of all kinds, but they are also environmentally friendly as well. Their mission is to leave as little of a carbon footprint as possible. When you arrive you will take notice that they have hardly any paper products on the table. In fact what you will find is your silverware wrapped in a cloth napkin, salt, pepper shakers, and your beer list. The first thing our waitress did was bring us each a glass of water. Now I didn’t ask for a straw because I saw on the front of their menu their mission front and center. They do offer compostable straws for those of you that truly want one. I opted out. I was delighted by their mission and enthused by their story. At The Peoples Pint, it is their priority to provide you their guests, with fresh drinks and tasty food, but to do so with as little waste as possible.

“I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use.” – Mother Teresa

As I said, I have been spoiled and I am not always the best with my waste. I think the better way to describe me is that I am uneducated in waste management. I do try to give back. I do recycle and I do compost. I thought I was doing an alright job of this till I read how The Peoples Pint have NEVER, thrown out more than ONE BARREL of waste per day! THAT IS TRULY INCREDIBLE!!! I sat there in awe when I read this. I was wracking my brain over how they are accomplishing this. I worked in restaurants for years. I have seen how much waste a slow Monday night can acquire let alone a whole day’s worth. This was seriously an eye-opener for me. How do they accomplish this, well that is even more remarkable.

At The Peoples Pint, as per their mission to have as little waste as possible, they not only use as little of paper goods as possible, those paper products they do have such as to-go boxes and straws are compostable. Any table scraps that are compostable they compost. The remaining is used to go to feed for local farm pigs and chickens. This stands true for their brewing operation as well. Any leftover grains go back to the farms for feed for the animals. The very farms that they compost for and send grain for are also the farms they gather their, hops, free-range grass-fed meats from and their organic produce. When you are inside they have a board hanging up of all the local farms they are in support with. On the menu in their story, which I hope you will take the time to read as I did. You will find that they also base their menu on what is in season. They use seasonal fruits and vegetables with their brewery and pub. They buy organic and local whenever possible. This is the environmentalist, dietitian, organic, clean eating, red-meat/mash potatoes, vegetarian or vegan’s DREAM. I am telling you! Oh and did I mention even the beer menu, they are crafting up brews that have a lower gluten content and are trying to create a brew that can be consumed for those who are intolerant. WHAT!!!!? They have found a way to lower the gluten content within some of their brews. The Peoples Pint really is for the People and the environment that surrounds us. And for a reasonable price no less!!!!

“People who give you their food, give you their heart.” – Cesar Chavez

The people have spoken, and there is no doubt about it The Peoples Pint, have given us their heart and soul in all that they have created. Now I know it was a holiday weekend, but I would be lying if I didn’t say I was still shocked to walk up to The Peoples Pint to find there was a wait. There were people lined up outside the door waiting for a table. LITERALLY. This spoke high volumes to me as there were other establishments within eye site that were also open and yet… the people on the sidewalk were all waiting for The Peoples Pint. That was my first clue about this place. Prior to going, all I had to go on about this place was the word of one friend and a few internet searches. Let me tell you it was worth the wait.

When we got inside, I noticed the large bar and the boards displaying the array of beers, specials and more. The menu contains what appears to be a European influence that met with the Mediterranean sea and a dash of Spanish flair. The food menu had many options that left my mouth watering. I had an extremely hard time selecting. I opted for one of their hand made maple chipotle sausages with a side of mashed sweet potatoes, black beans, and fermented green beans. YUMMY! The sausage was incredible. I settled on this, but It was a hard choice. For the first time in a long time, there were more options than I could eat instead of a HUGE list of what I can’t. They offer tofu wraps, salmon burgers, homemade black bean burgers, veggie bowls, sausage plates, pulled pork, chicken dishes, Mediterranean dishes and so much more. My meat and potato loving husband went for the cheese steak sandwich. In which I call death by cheese and meat. I can only really handle a nibble. Naturally, I had a bite. AMAZING! But… I enjoyed my handmade sausage 1000 times more. Which is nice because well normally I am very envious of my husband’s choices.

“Save the Earth; it is the only planet with Beer!” – Unknown

The Peoples Pint, not only knows how to cook up something delicious, they know how to craft up some spectacular brews as well. The Beer menu was vast. They had a variety of Pale Ales, Ales, Stouts, IPA’s and even some Sours. There are plenty to choose from. Here you can get yourself a flight of four, four-ounce samplers or a pint of your choosing. Normally I would have opted for a flight. This visit I opted for a full pint. I got the Undertow, which is an American Gose with an ABV of 4%. This salty, sour was the perfect balance with my choice of meal. I had a little sweet with the sweet potatoes and the hint of maple. I had the salty from the sour and the beans. Then the spicy savory from the sausage. PERFECTION! I know sours are an acquired taste you either love them or you don’t. I happen to love them. This sour was nicely done. It wasn’t overpowering, make your lips pucker, but rather had just a hint of sour with a fruity flavorful punch. If sour is not for you never fear there are more than enough other styles of brews to choose from. They even had on the board what they called blended brews. They have a list of brews that they blend together to make a completely new beverage delight. One of them I saw on the board had one of their IPA’s blended with one of their Double IPA’S now this did not sound like the drink of choice for me, but I had stated in other reviews IPA is often too bitter for my pallet, I can appreciate them but they are not my go-to if left to choose my own full pour. I know IPA’s are quite the popular choice and The People’s Pint, has quite the array of IPA’S.

More than just pints of handcrafted brews, you can find handcrafted soda as well. They make their own ginger ale and root beer. My husband being the DD for the evening, ordered himself a ginger ale. I took a sip. I have never had a fresh ginger ale before, it was incredible. I found it to be light and refreshing. The ginger wasn’t overpowering. It does have a delayed kick, but that is how I knew they use real ginger. It was the BEST ginger ale I have ever had. I do not think I can ever go back to store-bought ginger pop!

The Peoples Pint really knows how to make a first and lasting impression. From their environmental influence to their meal options, to their handcrafted beverages. I see clearly why this place is a popular place in town. Their sense of community, mixed with the heart and soul they have put into this establishment you surely will leave with a lasting impression as well. I am enthusiastic about a return visit to my new friends. I am compelled to learn from my friends and learn more ways I too can contribute to bettering our environment and improving our local community.

A big thank you to The People’s Pint for creating a relaxing, down to earth environment, where friends and family can gather to share in a great meal and toast over a fresh handcrafted brew.

Till our next adventure friends. Cheers!

-Sarah E. Blair

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