Running-themed craft beer? Now there’s an idea with legs. Here are the top brews for runners sampled during the past year.
-
Amundsen Bryggeri – Run to the pils
A can featuring a skeleton in a headdress haring at a suicide pace with a beer in his hand. What’s not to like? This light but tasty pilsner is a great refresher if you’ve been running like a person possessed. With citrus and grassy notes, it’s a clean, crisp brew that pairs perfectly with warm-weather training.
-
Mikkeller – Beer Mile
This is a pale ale not just for runners, but for running. Developed specifically for Mikkeller’s Beer Mile contest, it’s made to be chugged. In this madcap event, racers down a can before each of four laps. The beer is therefore not too fizzy, with a sweetness that helps it slide down. There’s a nice yeasty fruitiness to it and definite citrus bite. Also enjoyable sipped cold right after an event, if races with penalties for vomiting aren’t really your thing.
-
Northern Monk Patrons’ Project 5.02 – Helvellyn IPA
Released early in the year as part of a series of collaborations with fell runner Ricky Lightfoot, this light IPA is encased in the stunning landscapes of Britain’s lake districts. Despite the relatively low ABV, there’s a nice resinous texture to this one, with British biscuit notes from the malt bill. Nice tropical tastes from the hops make this like sunshine in a can, which could come in very handy when taking on the usually rain-soaked trails of northern England.
-
Northern Monk / Bissell Brothers Patrons’ Project 5.03 – Ingleborough
A follow-up in the same series as the aforementioned IPA, Northern Monk teamed up with Bissell Brothers from Portland, Oregon, a state known for producing running greats, for this session porter. This brew continues the low-ABV theme so is again perfect post-run refreshment. Brewed to replicate the flavour of one of its boozier imperial brothers, coffee and vanilla come through strongly, though the mouthfeel is on the thin side. Perfect with a chocolate protein bar after logging a long training session.
-
Mikkeller – Energibajer
Yet another beer for runners from gypsy brewers Mikkeller, which was founded by former Danish champion runner Mikkel Borg Bjergsø. As a low-alcohol option it’s among the best of its kind. A fairly sweet wheat ale, it offers good texture and a healthy amount of hop bitterness. There’s a touch of banana and apricot and it’s eminently drinkable. Plus, being almost completely free of alcohol it’s a low-calorie isotonic that’s bursting with B vitamins. So put down that synthetic recovery shake and reach for the bottle opener instead.