The Lucky Lab brewery is coming up with some “green” beer and not the kind that’s just for St. Patrick’s Day.

Crews installed a new thermal solar system at the Hawthorne pub in December and said it’s the first of its kind in Oregon.

Lucky Lab

Now on the roof are 16 solar panels to heat the water that will eventually become the pub’s signature brews.

“It will definitely help with the energy costs,” co-owner Gary Geist said. “Last week we had three days of sun and we got 900 gallons of water up to 145 degrees, well on the way to the 160 to 200 degrees needed for brewing. It will be exciting to see what will happen with several days of sunshine in the spring and summer.”

The owners also plan to install a similar system at the location on NW Quimby.

They expect the solar energy to help cut their costs.

And coming to Portland this summer will be Lucky Lab’s Sun beer -- which they’ll present at the Portland Brewer’s Fest.