I realize Tom is on the East Coast, but seeing as Grist is based in Seattle, it would have been nice to see some of the organic beers from Olympia's Fish Brewery included...

Tom,
Thank you for subjecting yourself to the pain of this testing for our benefit.  Although I do not expect it any time soon, I look forward to a round two of this tasting and propose you include a beer from the finest brewery around, New Belgium Brewery.  (And also quite possibly the most environmentally sustainable brewery in the world).

You have inspired me to conduct my own sampling from my local beer emporium, to find the finest local offerings.

Thanks

I'm not so sure "Why is beer good?" was the question perplexing humanity since the dawn of agricultural civilization, but rather "How do I get more of it?" ;)

Georg Schneider's (G. Schneider und Sohn) also makes an organic Edel-weiße.

It's absolutely amazing.  The G. Schneider und Sohn Brauerei ALWAYS impresses me.

It has a dark, apple cider color, with the good turbidity from the yeast.  The aroma is fruity, but the "musty" yeast smell is minimal (compared to most Hefe-weizens).  The flavor is EXTREMELY fruity, nuanced, robust (but not overpowering), with just a hint of bitterness, mostly creeping in at the finish...just ever so slightly.  Overall, a fruity, minutely bitter finish.

It's one of the best Weiß Biers I've had in awhile...So good...

And it's right out of the Vaterland in Kelmheim, Bayern (Bavaria) w/ 6.2% alcohol.  
No one makes bier like the Germans, and the Bavarians make the best Weiß bier...

The benefits of going local with your beer - less oil for transport, fresher, community relationships - are priceless, especially if you can find local, organic.  (How I envy those in Vermont for Wolaver's!)  Here in Philadelphia, we've got two great ones - Philly's Yard Ale and Victory Ales.  Not organic, but again, local.  Does anyone know any organic Pennsylvania beers?

Pinks Organic was the first organic bear.  Why didn't my friends at Grist mention this?

Beer, not bear.  Hehehe to much beer! :)

I think the most important thing is purchasing beer from your local breweries. With the hops shortage, large brewers like Anheuser-Busch are able to secure contracts with large hops producers. The smaller breweries don't have the purchasing power to do this. In addition to cutting down transport miles from brewery to mouth, you are supporting people who really care about the art of craft brewing. All of these beers are from outside of north carolina, where the beer drinkers gathered. 4 out of 6 were from overseas! I'm not busting anyone's balls here, I just think that local beers would be a better subject matter than organic beers. Anheuser-Busch is just figuring out a way to make more money and greenwash people even more with their domestic add junk lagers. I live in Michigan and love the breweries here. Long live local beer!

Fishtail IPA - Great IPA, although the price has REALLY gone up due to the hop shortage. Thanks again global climate change! ;P

Bison IPA - EXCELLENT IPA! I love their single-hop series where they use just one variety of hop to make a beer. Most breweries use a mix for bittering, and another mix for flavoring.

Wolaver's - Here in the northwest I find that Wolaver's looses it's taste. I've tried all types, and find that they all taste metallic by the time they get out here. I'm sure they're MUCH better fresh in Vermont, but what am I doing buying a beer from 3500 miles away anyway!?

Eel Creek Porter - Great choice of organic porter. Yummy malty goodness :D

New Belgium Mothership Wit - Great light style of beer, Wonderfully refreshing. Here's to hoping they expand their organic offerings.

Like another poster stated, buy local.

The environment is not well served when one drinks beer from far away, let alone overseas.

I've not had the chance to try any of these, but I have enjoyed Wolavers.  I would also add to this list New Glarus Brewery's Organic Revolution.  It's delicious, and (for me, at least) local.  

I choose local (made in my town) and purchased in a returnable, reusable party pig.  There are no bottles to manufacture or recycle.  I wish it was organic, but I think it beats buying a bottle of organic beer from thousands of miles away.