Best Beer for Bicyclists
For many riders, bikes and beer drinking go hand-in-hand. Standing around at the end of a long ride, telling stories and having a cold one can be almost as much fun as the actual day on the bike.
Maybe you think of fixed gears and Pabst Blue Ribbon. Or mountain bikers who have conquered some sweet singletrack, and at the end of it they're "heading for the mountains" of Busch beer next to a clear, icy cold stream. Then there's the classic Miller High Life commercial on alternative fuel. "That's the way, patriot. Let the OPECs keep their gasoline."
How about Fat Tire Ale by New Belgium Brewery? Those folks go all out for cycling, decorating with colorful classic bikes all around their brewery and promoting the joy of bikes and brews at festivals across the US, even celebrating bike commuting with one of my favorite videos of all time.
What beer do you think best embodies cycling? Or that makes you think of happy times on the bike? Take the poll, and then comment below, especially with your favorite if you voted "none of the above".
Comments
It’s hard not to support new belgium, but where’s the love for good ol’ pbr and high life? What’s with all the ‘other’ category? Heinie drinkers? Michelob ultra? Say it isn’t so!
Fireman’s #4 from Real Ale Brewery in Texas. It has a chainring on the label, and a crew of cruisers riding in support. The brewery supports a yearly ride for local charities.
It’s not really about any specific beer. It’s really about any number of local brewpubs where bikers hang out after their rides. Good beer of any kind, excellent pub food, and a place to share the ride with friends. Thats the beer-bike connection.
Fat Tire should be called flat TIRE. It’s really boring.
Give me a good, strong Belgian Ale. Val Dieu Triple is very nice.
Fetch us a pint of stout. Guinness or Sierra Nevada if you can. If there be no stout and no red wine, black coffee please.
Oh wow, too many to choose from.
Blue Moon, Corona, Dos XX, or, if I am feeling fat Beck Premium Lite or Miller 64.
I like all kinds of beer, believe me after a looong ride nothing can be more uplifting but if I have to chose I prefer a Sam Adams Boston Lager please!
After a good ride I prefer a robust brew, one of which is Highway to Ale Barleywine Style by Beer Valley Brewery, another is Ruination IPA by Stone Brewing Co. It’s not just about having a beer with friends, it’s about having a good beer; otherwise it’s just a beer. Our local brewery, Lagunitas, has a few good choices also
bike riders should partake in a cold Arrogant Bastard
Warsteiner Dunkel anytime, anywhere.
how about Bud? i love its smoothness… but Heineken or Corona will do it makes my stomach feel full. OK!
It’s all about the grain belt premium. You may have trouble finding this in your town but here in Minneapolis Minnesota, its more bountiful then snow.
Quality Craft Beer, the more local the better. Being a Minnesotan and a beer lover I am very partial to Surly Brewing Company but there is wonderful ale all over our vast country and the more flavors, calories and alcohol content the better I say. Nothing like a delicious meal in a bottle. New Belgium certainly deserves props for their efforts as does Team Wonder Bike, just remember that drinking local is often the best choice because as New Belgium just reported about half of their carbon footprint is due to shipping of raw materials. We can all make stereotypes but I don’t believe there is a proper answer to this question, though luckily most bicycle advocates I know do appreciate quality brew, when they can afford it and whatever is available as most people do when they can not. If you want more examples of the beers Midwest cyclists enjoy check out my blog.
I’ve gotta go with New Glarus Spotted Cow. Brewed a mere 2 miles from the Trek Factory in Waterloo Wisconsin, the two just go hand in hand. Although Shiner Bock isn’t too bad either, according to his Lanceness.
Last year for an environmental awareness ride my team made “Fueled by Sam Adams” shirts to wear during it.