One of the most cherished American rituals has got to be cracking open a cold one in the armchair after a hard day at work—but what are the best ways to enjoy crisp brews on the road? We’ve rounded up our favorite beer and gear for camping, hiking and backpacking.
Canned beers for the outdoors
Perfect for a light, hoppy buzz while trailblazing, Two Beers Brewing Co. pumps out a low-ABV set of summer seasonals in its Seattle-based brewery, including the well-balanced Day Hike Summer Session Ale, hop-forward Trailhead ISA and clean, dry Wildside IPL.
Portland’s Base Camp Brewing Co. recommends special treatment of its flagship 22 ounce aluminum bottles. “Soak in a mountain river. Chill in the snow. Cool off in a lake. Refrigerate if you have to.” The aptly named In-Tents IPL, S’more Stout, Northwest Fest, Lost Meridian Wit and Ripstop Rye Pils are available in durable, shatterproof packaging that keeps heat out and cools quicker than a typical bottle—making these brews ideal for towing on backpacking trips, snow day expeditions or any pack-out situation.
Growlers to go
The fifth Growler Station store location in the U.S. and the first to open in Washington, The Growler Station North Bend will fill your personal growler with fresh-from-the-keg craft beer of your choice (options aplenty). Growler Station takes care to replace oxygen inside the growler with carbon dioxide for extended freshness, and specialized taps reduce excess foam for a clean fill. Further South, Portlanders can fill up at Oregon’s Growler Station stop, Tin Bucket. With five locations throughout Oregon and two in Washington, Growler Guys provides its own variety of local brews. And just in case you needed more options, the folks at Tap Station are filling growlers in the West Seattle neighborhood.
Perhaps the unexpected gems of the average convenience or drugstore, small growler fill stations are popping up at minimarts across the Northwest and nation. Growler Station Express locations can be found in Pullman near the Washington-Idaho border, as well as scattered generously throughout Idaho quick marts. The unassuming Norm’s Market in Lake Stevens, Wash., proudly boasts 52 taps to fill your growlers with and Bartell Drugs offers a stop-and-fill for growlers at a number of their Puget Sound locations.
Make it portable
Portlanders Geoffrey and Valerie Franklin are dedicated to crafting unique and durable leather bike accessories at Walnut Studiolo—and we love the style and ease of their handmade beer accessory collection. Bring your favorite cans and bottles along for the ride with the 6-pack Bike Frame Cinch, strap on a growler or beer-packed cooler to share with friends using the limited-supply Rack Straps, or get a grip on any size Portland Growler Co. growler (hand-casted from locally-sourced clay) for easy toting with the Growler Leash attachment. On average, growlers will keep beer cold for up to a few hours once removed from the fridge—but for those planning a daylong or overnight excursion, The Growler Cooler Co. has you covered. The Open Top, Single and Double Growler Coolers are insulated and fit with a shoulder strap to accommodate your standard growler and deliver cold, fresh sips of your favorite microbrew for hours of trekking.
