“Bikes & Beers” Unites Cyclists and Local Craft Breweries

By Lee Heidel Published January 6, 2020

Combining beer with athletic endeavors may seem a silly premise. After all, beer is the nectar of the couch potato – one who would rather watch sports on television then actually participate, right? That stereotype has changed dramatically in recent years thanks to the proliferation of brewery-sponsored running groups, combination beer festivals and 5ks and the dreaded Beer Mile. Bicycle enthusiasts aren’t about to be left out of the fun, and Bikes & Beers is at the forefront of the beer and cycling movement.

Bikes & Beers organizes group bike rides with breweries in metropolitan areas around the United States. The events typically start with a check-in at the participating brewery (with coffee – no drunk riding, folks). Then, you have the option of participating in a 15 or 30 mile group ride. After the ride is over, you celebrate at the finish line with two free beers and get swag like branded pint glasses and raffle items. Food trucks and live music complete the festival-like atmosphere.

Bikes & Beers Official Pint Glasses — Image Courtesy of Bikes & Beers Image used with permission by copyright holder

As the saying goes, “nobody rides for free,” with typical Bikes & Beers signup costs hovering around the $40 mark. Teams of five or more qualify for discounts. The money raised goes to the organizers to offset the costs involved with the event as well as a bicycle-related area charity. For example, September’s ride at Sweetwater in Atlanta benefits the local chapter of Free Bikes for Kidz. The larger mission of Bikes & Beers is to promote cycling as a sport and hobby, and to influence pro-cycling legislation.

Recommended Videos

The altruism associated with Bikes & Beers is great, but it certainly doesn’t hurt that there are some stellar breweries associated with the rides like Bell’s in Michigan, Sierra Nevada in California, Dogfish Head in Delaware and Cigar City in Florida.

Learn more about Bikes & Beers and find an event near you at BikesandBeers.com.

Topics

Liquor, Beer, Wine & Drinks

Lee Heidel is the managing editor of Brew/Drink/Run, a website and podcast that promotes brewing your own beer, consuming the…

Food & Drink

The Best Fresh Hop Beers to Drink Now

beer hops types

When it comes to hop-forward beers like IPAs, the fresher the hops, the better -- any good brewer can attest to that. Anybody who has savored the 3-Way IPA or Pliny knows as much. It’s why beer heads scan for canning dates and ask for the just-made stuff. In terms of the extreme seasonality, freshness, and festive atmosphere, the fresh-hop run is the beer equivalent of Beaujolais Nouveau. Taste what they’re so stoked about with these standout fresh-hop beer options with beer glasses.
Related Guides

What are Hops?
Hop Growing Guide
New Types of Beer Hops

Food & Drink

Oskar Blues Brewery Releases French’s Mustard Beer

oskar blues frenchs mustard beer pr select 2

Mustard and beer is a great combination, but usually we're talking mustard used as a condiment on a sausage or pretzel alongside a pint. Colorado's Oskar Blues Brewery has taken this pairing to a whole new level with a new collaboration with French's Mustard, appropriately called French’s Mustard Beer. It's a tropical wheat beer that is literally brewed with French’s Classic Yellow Mustard, along with an infusion of fruit and citrus flavors including key lime, lemon, tangerine, and passion fruit. “We’re stoked on bold flavors at Oskar Blues Brewery and we never shy away from a challenge,” said Oskar Blues head brewer, Juice Drapeau, in a prepared statement. “With French’s Mustard Beer we elevated the Classic Yellow Mustard flavor with tangy lemon and lime to create a tropical wheat ale I’d pair with a loaded hot dog on the hottest day of the year.”

This isn't the first food crossover for French's, known for its bright yellow mustard that is ubiquitous at backyard barbecues around the country. Last year, the brand collaborated with Coolhaus to release a mustard ice cream that was available in New York and California for a limited time alongside a pretzel cookie. And Oskar Blues is no stranger to brewing uniquely flavored beer, as indicated by its "Death By" series of brews with such flavors as king cake, coconut, and even affogato.

Food & Drink

Chocolate lovers will adore this sweet coconut Coquito cocktail

An indulgent and creamy combination of coconut and white chocolate

coconut coquito cocktail mozart feature 1

If you're a chocolate lover, you might find yourself sadly low on cocktail recipes which cater to your tastes. There are classic dessert cocktails like the Mudslide, certainly, and if you like chocolate mint flavors then there's the Grasshopper. But with the cocktail world's fascination with bitter and moody flavors, the fans of all things sweet and chocolatey can find themselves overlooked.

But there are cocktails out there for the sweet-toothed, and they are often party favorites that are enjoyed by lots of people -- especially during the holiday season. We've got an example of a sweet and creamy cocktail with flavors of white chocolate and coconut that is perfect for making in large batches to serve to a crowd. It would be a great dessert cocktail to end a festive dinner, or you could even bottle it up and give it as a gift to the chocolate lover in your life.