For breweries, it's not enough to make good beer. It needs to be sustainably made, too.

The movement is apparent in Colorado, where big and small brewers are making investments to minimize their environmental impact.

• Coors is modernizing its Golden brewery ahead of the company's 150th anniversary in 2023. The new system will save 100 million gallons of water a year, reduce energy usage and cut waste.
• Denver Beer Co. is expanding its effort to capture carbon dioxide naturally produced during fermentation, and set a goal to be a 100% solar-powered brewery.

What's more: Denver Beer's work began as a pilot project in 2020 supported by the state's environmental agency.

• It saved the equivalent of 93 trees' worth of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, the company says.

What they're saying

Consumers of alcohol in Colorado want to see a greater emphasis on social responsibility among beverage makers, according to a new poll.

Why it matters: The Purple Report survey, led by pollster David Flaherty and business analyst Ryan Frazier, found that an investment in environmental, social and governance best practices is good for the bottom line.

• The poll focused on the alcohol industry but offers broader insights about what shapes customers' decision making.

By the numbers: 62% said they were more likely to purchase products from breweries, wineries and distilleries that focus on ESG practices, according to the poll provided to Axios Denver.

• An equal number said it was important for these alcohol makers to have diverse leadership teams.
• The top priority among consumers is ensuring the health and safety of workers, and providing a living wage.

What else: A majority of the consumers went as far as to say they support a policy that would require breweries, wineries and distilleries to disclose their ESG standards.

The return of La Niña for the second straight year means winter in Colorado will bring warmer temperatures and less precipitation than normal, according to a new forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Why it matters: Dry conditions have fueled some of Colorado's most devastating wildfires, including last year's East Troublesome Fire, which blazed for more than a month and destroyed nearly 194,000 acres.

😬 Zoom in: Nearly the entire state is expected to see above-average temperatures this winter.

• Drought across the Western Slope and northern part of the state is expected to worsen, while regions without dry spells, including southeast Colorado, will see them develop.
• Mountain snowpack during La Niña varies, but experts say to expect fewer major snowstorms.

See our drought forecast

😷 Colorado leaders are working on a new public health order related to COVID-19 to address low hospital capacity, but Gov. Jared Polis is refusing to comment on the issue. (Colorado Politics)

✈️ Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington pledged to open four temporary screening lanes by early next year to cut down on long security lines and improve traffic flow. (Denver Post)

💰 Westminster's former city manager Don Tripp quietly received a $455,000 severance package when he resigned this month — money that comes out of the city's general fund. (Denver7)

🚩 Denver's newly announced sanctioned homeless campsite in the Lincoln Park neighborhood is already seeing backlash from residents who say they had no input in the process. (Fox31)

💉 More than 26,000 Denver residents — or about 5.5% — are overdue for their second shot, according to data from the Public Health Institute at Denver Health. (9News)

Our national colleagues pinged us on Slack the other day with a question:

"If you had to recommend a restaurant in your city, which would it be?"

• It instantly set off a virtual debate on which local eatery to recommend.

What to know: Here's an edited version of the Slack convo sharing our favorites and why.

John: In Denver, my top two picks are Hop Alley for the family-style, modern American-Chinese fusion or Super Mega Bien for dim sum-style Latin American fare.

Alayna: I've only tried Hop Alley from your picks and thought it was great. (Though I think Q House is better when it comes to top-notch Chinese food in town.)

Gigi: Throwing out El Taco de Mexico, The Wolf's Tailor and Beckon.

John: Wolf's Tailor is good — real, real good. But the menu can be limited sometimes, and I hate the three-hour wait.

Gigi: That's entirely fair, but the chef is very thoughtful about what he puts on that menu.

Alayna: For what it's worth, chef Jennifer Jasinski told me that's one of her fave restaurants, too.

John: I’d also put Safta on the list for damn sure.

Alayna: Oooooo. I love Safta!!! Aka where Middle Eastern food meets heaven.

John: But let's go with our earlier consensus, Wolf's Tailor. It's hip, unique, good, and — like Denver — it's hard to get into.

Read our colleagues’ restaurant picks (scroll to #6) … and hit reply to share your top spot

Costumes and candy aren’t the only ways to get into the seasonal spirit this Halloween.

• Oversized spider webs, skeletons on chairlifts at "Screamboat" and so much more are on display around Denver this month.

See more hair-raising residences ... and send us your own spooky sightings

😍 Allow us to introduce you to Captain America.

• Alayna met him over the weekend at the Denver Zoo, and days later, she's still charmed.

Why he matters: Apart from practically demanding your salute, this brilliant beauty stands out as the zoo's only blue-streaked lory.

• At nearly 21 years old, he's also the most senior resident in the Lorikeet Adventure exhibit, where he's lived since it opened in 2006.

Pro tip: You can hand-feed birdseed to Captain America and dozens of other lorikeets for $3. But don't be surprised to find a feathered friend perched on your hand — or head — if you do.