4 By 4 Brewing becomes Missouri’s first green-certified brewery

When 4 By 4 Brewing Company opened its doors in 2016, the goal was simple: build a brewery rooted in community. Founded by four couples—“four by four”—the Springfield-area brewery quickly became a gathering place, offering approachable beers for every palate. Nearly a decade later, that mission has grown to include not just people, but the planet.

A Free, Hands-On Path to Sustainability

Earlier this month, 4 By 4 became the first craft brewery in Missouri to earn the Missouri Green Brewery Certification, a recognition of its commitment to sustainability. The program, run by the Missouri Craft Brewers Guild in partnership with Missouri State University’s Ozarks Environmental and Water Resources Institute (OEWRI), guides breweries in reducing their environmental impact through energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and community engagement.

For head brewer Mitchell Wilhoit, the certification is more than a plaque on the wall. “We aim to lead by example in making sustainability as refreshing as the beer we pour,” he said. At their new Fremont Hills facility in Nixa, Wilhoit and his team worked with OEWRI researchers Harley C. and Doug Neidigh, who conducted a free, hands-on assessment of the brewery’s operations. Over six to eight months, they walked the site, flagged opportunities for improvement, and coached the team through changes—everything from rethinking cleaning chemicals to fine-tuning the reverse osmosis water system to reuse more wastewater.

“The brewing process itself hasn’t changed,” Wilhoit explained. “But the processes around it—cleaning, water use, chemical choices—are now far more efficient. It’s about making the same beer with less impact.”

Beer for Every Palate

That beer remains the heart of 4 By 4’s identity. The brewery’s philosophy, Wilhoit says, can be summed up in one word: approachable. Their menu stretches from light American lagers to big double IPAs, rounded out with in-house ciders, seltzers, and even draft cocktails. Parkside Pineapple, a juicy New England-style IPA balanced with pineapple flavor, is a perennial bestseller that often wins over those who claim they “don’t like IPAs.”

With distribution stretching from the Lake of the Ozarks to Warrensburg, 4 By 4 is steadily spreading its reach. But for Wilhoit, success isn’t measured only in barrels sold. “Community has always been at our core,” he said. “Sustainability is part of that—it’s about respecting our neighbors, our environment, and making this a place where everyone can feel welcome.”

At 4 By 4 Brewing, the beer is cold, the vibe is communal, and now the mission is certified green.

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