September long weekend is around the corner! For us, that means heading outdoors to soak up every last bit of sunshine, so you KNOW you’ll find us camping with a craft beer in hand this weekend. There’s just something about enjoying a beer outdoors, whether it’s during an epic kayak, hanging by the lake or lounging by the campfire. Everything just tastes better outside, and delicious craft beer is no exception.
BUT it’s taken our fair share of mistakes to get to the point of happily enjoying a crisp craft beer while camping. We have stories of shaken-up beer cans exploding in our pack, glass bottles being lugged out 15km, and many, many of our younger years were spent sipping warm beers while camping. So whether you’re planning a weekend of epic backcountry adventures or a weekend of peace and quiet among the trees, we have some tips and tricks to get the most out of your craft beer while camping.
Pack it in, pack it out
If you’re planning an epic hike to a secluded spot this weekend, make sure that you ALWAYS only pack what you plan to carry out with you in order to keep our forests and trails clean! That’s why we recommend packing cans rather than bottles, they’re MUCH easier to pack out and you don’t risk any messy breaks!
Nature’s Cooler
Don’t have a cooler? Or is the cooler already too packed full of delicious camp food? Use Nature’s cooler! If you’re near a river or a lake, just pop your beers in there to cool down and you’ll have a perfectly cooled beer in no time.
Old Yale Hydro Flask to the Rescue
If it isn’t clear already, temperature is KEY when it comes to enjoying brews outdoors. That’s why we always bring along one or two (your friends will thank you) of our Old Yale Hydro Flasks. This versatile 12oz Hydro Flask (cooler cup) is insulated to keep cold drinks cold! Use it as a can cooler or pop off the sleeve and use it as a cup. Seriously, you need this cup.
Insulated Growler
If you’re planning on bringing a growler of the good stuff (we definitely would) your best bet is to bring an insulated one! It’ll keep your beer chilled at the perfect temperature and you won’t risk the chance of the growler breaking. Our sturdy and reliable 64oz. Stanley Growler is double-wall vacuum insulated and leak proof with a steel-lined insulated lid, making it the ideal adventure buddy.
Bring Layers
We know, a real dad move here, but when camping, especially in BC in the late Summer, you need layers! And we’ve got ALLL the layers, from hats, toques, t-shirts, hoodies and raincoats made for the outdoors. So you can stay warm AND rep your favourite craft brewery. Shop online or swing by our tasting room to check it out.
Bring a Variety of Beers
Different activities will call for different beers! While out there kayaking or hiking you’ll likely want to reach for something light, crisp and refreshing (hello Knotty Blonde Ale, Moondance Mango Wheat, Off Trail Pale Ale, Poolside Peach Tea Radler or Head Shaker Honey Lager). But when you’re kicking back after a long day you’ll be in the mood for one of those exciting beers you’ve been waiting to crack at the perfect time! For this, we suggest one of our Trailblazers like our NEW Strawberry Dragonfruit Wheat Ale or our Gin Fizz Citrus Sour.
Bring Good Food
Do not skimp on tasty food. Like beer, delicious meals are best enjoyed in the great outdoors! Trust us, we know you can go a long way with a pack of hotdogs and a couple boxes of KD for a weekend camping. BUT we highly recommend making at least one meal that takes a little more preparation than boiling a pot of hot water - it WILL be worth it. Of course, our favourite camp recipes all include beer, try our Blueberry Bacon Beer Pancakes or our Off Trail Pale Ale Cheese Dip, IPA Mac & Cheese With Bratwursts, Off Trail Pale Ale Chili.
Mix it Up
There’s no better time than camping to mix up a beer cocktail! One of our favourites to enjoy in the great outdoors is a Blonde Radler. Yep, you heard that right! You can mix together Grapefruit Juice and our Knotty Blonde Ale to create your own Blonde Radler! It’s sweet, tart and sessionable! Plus you can totally try this with other types of juice, we just suggest Grapefruit because we love how tart it is!
Pro Tip: since you have the grapefruit juice in your cooler now you can ALSO mix it with our West Coast IPA for a Grapefruit IPA. Tart, bold and hoppy. A little extra tip… add a shot of Vodka and you’ve got a Greyhound IPA Beer Cocktail… mind blown right?? Want more pro tips? Check out our OYB Pro Tips blog post for a full list of our tips that includes beer blends, beer cocktails and more!
Have fun adventuring friends! Don’t forget to stop by the tasting room or find a liquor store near you to stock up on some Old Yale Beers before you head out! #YourstoExplore