Great beer and a rowdy mountain bike ride go hand in hand. Each of the beers selected for this Mountain Biking Ultimate 6er had to fit three criteria. First, it has to come in cans. When you’re packing the cooler to rip hot laps with the crew, bottles won’t do. Second, the brewery of choice must be based out of a premier mountain bike destination. Lastly, the beer must fall into one of two categories based on when it’s consumed.

Mid Day Rippers (MDR) or Post Ride Rewards (PRR). MDR’s should be light in body, low in alcohol, with enjoyable but not overwhelming flavors. The idea is to wet your whistle a bit then get back on the saddle. PRR’s should be what’s on your mind with 5 miles left on the trail. The flavor and crushability awaiting in the cooler should be the only dangling carrot you’ll need to finish the day strong. Slightly higher alcohol than an MDR but no barleywines or imperial stouts please. These should still go down easy.

 

Mid Day Rippers

White | Allagash

(Portland, ME)

Allagash White is hands down the best Belgian wit in America. Don’t at me. Light enough body not to hold ya back, but packed full of flavor that’s near impossible to match. Allagash really stepped up last year when they broke into the craft can market. White was previously available in 4 pack bottles exclusively. Buzzkill for versatility. Now they have options aplenty with 12- and 16-ounce cans. Boom Shakalaka! Maine is rugged, rough, and technical. You’re gonna need to reward yourself to muster up the motivation to get back out there for some mountain biking.

Los Locos | Epic Brewing Co.

(Salt Lake City, UT & Denver, CO)

Gatorade used to have salt in it to help athletes retain the water in their systems during games. While no scientific research has been done to make the same claim about sea salt in a Mexican Lager, let’s just do it anyway. This Epic Los Locs Pilsner-esque beauty has just the right amount of lime and sea salt to drive your taste buds wild without overwhelming your pallet. Utah is known for some of the most badass red rock desert riding in the country. Grab a 6 pack of Los Locos to keep the stoke level high when temperatures reach 100°. 

Roadie | Great Divide Brewing Co.  

(Denver, CO)

Yeah, it’s called Roadie not Mountainy but who cares? Radlers were designed to quench bicyclists’ thirst no matter how much tread is on your tire. Colorado has almost too much to choose from for biking trails. From the desert to mountain steeps to beautiful lake loops, Great Divide Roadie has such good distribution that you’ll find some at the store no matter where you ride. Whether you’re rockin’ a hardtail or a full suspension, you’ll be glad you’ve got this boozy grapefruit juice chillin’ in the cooler on a scorcher of a day when you’re legs are burnin’ but ya just can’t stop. 

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Post Ride Rewards

RPM | Boneyard Beer

(Bend, OR)

The unofficial IPA of Bend, Oregon. After a long day of rippin’ berms, RPM satisfies your taste buds. A silver lining of the COVID shutdown is that some breweries were forced to call an audible and start offering beer in cans that were previously draft only. One of those is RPM. Lucky duck! Malt forward with a caramel taste, RPM definitely leans more traditional West coast. After a long day when your whole body hurts, the level of bitterness really hits the spot. Bend,s local trail system and available downhill at Mt. Bachelor is legendary. Boneyard RPM is no exception.

Altbier | Occidental Brewing Co.

(Portland, OR)

Without a doubt the wildcard of the 6er. Most people have never even heard of an Altbier, let alone tried one. Everything else in this group has notes of sweet fruit or bitter hops. This lager style is essentially the German equivalent to an American amber or even a British brown ale. Similar caramel flavor with slightly less attenuation and a dryer finish in comparison. Occidental satisfies the need for something a bit richer, without being heavy. It was a no brainer to pair this beer with a classic Oregon ride. Dense forest, damp dirt, and a chill in the air from a recent rainstorm. One sip after flowing a tight jump line will make ya go, “Ahhhh.”

Focal Banger | The Alchemist

(Stowe, VT)

To be honest the only reason this isn’t Heady Topper is due to the fact that I don’t feel like responding to the comment section that says, “Focal is better.” Thanks for chiming in ‘contrarian Kyle’. Both beers are amazing. Deal with it. Based in Stowe, VT, Alchemist has been pumping out hazy IPA cans before it was cool. Stowe itself is surrounded by an epic trail system for mountain biking and en route to the legendary Kingdom Trails in Burke, VT. If you stop at the brewery in Stowe, catch some local single track then roll into town to grab a Focal and a burrito at the hybrid bike shop/restaurant called Ranch Camp for all of your full send and mountain biking needs.

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