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Backcountry Bartender: Craft Canned Beer Test

After testing 23 canned craft beers from across the country, we narrowed it down to our top choices--simply the best craft canned beers for backpacking.

by: Crystal Sagan

Mmmmm...beer: Craft canned beers for your pack. (Crystal Sagan)

Backcountry Bartender
Recipes

Beer has been available in a can since the 1930s, and just about everyone and their grandpa has drank something along the lines of PBR or Milwaukee’s Best in a can at some point. Over time everything evolves, and luckily, canned beer included! At the moment there are almost 80 craft breweries with at least one beer being produced in a can, a number that is set to reach 100 by 2011. Many of these breweries are very small and don’t distribute beyond their neighborhood, so to speak, so if you don’t see your favorite brew from back home listed here (like Upslope Brewing and Half Acre Beer Company), its not because we don’t love it too, but searched for canned craft beers available to a minimum of three states.

Avery Brewing Joe’s American Pilsner
Appealing nose of floral hops and grass with a refreshing balance of German hops and bready malt, just a touch of bitterness. A great session beer. 4.7%ABV; 12fl. oz.; www.averybrewing.com

Buckbean Brewing Black Noddy
Sweet, malty nose, on this traditional Schwarzbier. 3 different types of roasted malt give the Noddy a dark, rich color, and a nice depth on the palate. Relatively light body is sweet with a subtle balance of earthiness from the grains. 5.2%ABV; 16fl. oz.; www.buckbeanbeer.com

New Belgium Brewing Sunshine Wheat
Lemon zest and coriander on the nose followed by a palate initiated by lemon zest and orange peel, with cloves and coriander to follow. Light bodied and easy drinking. 4.8%ABV; 12fl. oz.; www.newbelgium.com

Stevens Point Pale Ale
Aromas of citrus and a light maltiness lead into a slight nutty malt flavor with hints of citrus and hops. Nice crisp hop finish. 5.4%ABV; 12fl. oz.; www.pointbeer.com

Sly Fox Dunkel Lager
A very light nose in general, just a hint of sweet maltiness and floral hops. Pours a rich copper color, malty and sweet up front, mild hops at the crisp finish. Medium bodied. 5.3%ABV; 12fl. oz.; www.slyfoxbeer.com

Uncommon Brewers Siamese Twin Ale
An unfiltered and unpasteurized organic Belgian-style Double that incorporates a fun mix of spices. Citrus, coriander, and wheat grass on the nose. Medium body, floral up front followed by touch of coriander, sweet malt, and a mild bitterness (likely from the kaffir lime leaves its brewed with). You’d never guess its strength based on taste alone. 8.5%ABV; 16fl. oz.; www.uncommonbrewers.com

Oskar Blues Gubna Imperial IPA
The strongest of the canned beers we tested (10%ABV), the Gubna is in a class all its own. A nose of citrus and grassy hops, leads into a palate reflecting the same. Rich hop flavor and bitterness with a hint of malt; finish lingers leaving you yearning for more. 10%ABV; 12fl. oz.; www.oskarblues.com

Oskar Blues Gordon Imperial Red
Gordon beat out 22 other craft canned beers to be our overall favorite. Intense floral hop nose is slightly deceiving, as the palate is not quite as hopped. Medium bodied and well balanced, hints of caramel, herbs, and yeast. An easy to drink red for hop lovers, especially considering strength (8.7%ABV). A great match for a meal made with Oskar Blues beer infused Gordon hot sauce. 8.7%ABV; 12fl. oz.; www.oskarblues.com

Not hiking too far? Try an aluminum mini-keg of Winter White Wheat or Hopslam Double IPA by Bell’s Beer. The 5 liter mini-keg has a self contained tap, holds 14 beers, and weighs little more than a gallon of milk. www.bellsbeer.com

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READERS COMMENTS

point the way ipa and torpedo ipa

Posted: Apr 26, 2012 eddie rico

Gandhi-Bot. double-ipa. twice the beer, half the weight, and a great beer!
Posted: Oct 08, 2011 Moontower

Nothing beats a Pabst
Posted: Jan 24, 2011 Dan

What the...?Where's the Pabst Blue Ribbon?
Posted: Jan 01, 2011 Kory D.

I've backpacked the GUBNA. Nothing like drinking that 10% badboy at 10,000ft up! bang for the poundage you carry!
Posted: Dec 11, 2010 wob

UPSLOPE!!! Pale ale, IPA, and now Brown Ale! The best!!!
Posted: Dec 10, 2010 Jeff

You all should consider a review of Paonia Colorado's Revolution Brewing (http://www.revolution-brewing.com). Canning a golden ale and red ale consistently, as well as seasonals weekly, this brewery is located near some of the best river-running, cross-country skiing, camping and backpacking in the country.
Posted: Dec 07, 2010 Gretchen King

Sly Fox goes everywhere with me...On the AT, canoeing on French Creek...you name it and Sly Fox is there. I am so impressed to see it on the list. I do however, prefer their Phoenix Pale Ale. Cheers!
Posted: Dec 06, 2010 Coreylynn Fuzi

I'm guessing not many Montanans have read this, since I see neither Kettlehouse's Double Haul IPA, nor Big Sky Brewing's Moose Drool, Scapegoat, etc. On the list. We like the K-Hole's full pint cans for long trips, and Big Sky's smaller cans for shorter ones.
Posted: Dec 03, 2010 JemG

Avery IPA is a must. Just recently out in cans but I've been drinking it for years in bottles!
Posted: Dec 02, 2010 cv

Ditto on the Keweenau Brewing Co. (KBC); yet, while backpacking, weight is the issue, and my cronies take whisky/brandy along in flasks. We save the beer for after the hikes, long or short; we honor the local brewhouses.
Posted: Dec 01, 2010 JCarpenter

Modus has been with me on about every camping trip this year. YUM! Also recently discovered Happy Camper IPA from Santa Fe Brewing. Hard to find outside of NM so far, so I've made a few special trips across the border.
Posted: Nov 30, 2010 Christa

FAT TIRE?!?! Are you kidding... shouldn't even be mentioned on such a board. I will try some of the OTHER recommended canned brews
Posted: Nov 30, 2010 Josh

I live 3 blocks away from where Oscar Blue's brews are crafted. I bet you know where my allegiance to major brands lay. Although for summer times, a cold PBR is worth it's weight in gold. Come winter time I'm happy with a couple of Dale's Pale Ale's in my backpack as I cruise the backcountry snowboarding.
Posted: Nov 29, 2010 Morgan

Anything less than 7% ABV is a waste of weight, so Oskar Blues remains the best brewery for both flavor, and selection. I've only seen Old Chub here in Portland, but very much hope to find Gubna or Gordon to round out my experience. 21st (not 22nd!) Amendment's Brew Free or Die IPA is a worthy companion to Old Chub, to span the flavor spectrum especially.
Posted: Nov 29, 2010 Ron Marsh

Oskar Blues rules! While Gubna, Gordon and Ten Fidy are luscious, they only come in 4-packs and are a bit pricey. Dale's and Old Chub are also very high on my list, albeit at opposite ends of the spectrum flavor-wise! Also nothing wrong with Sunshine Wheat for a tasty & refreshing summer beer.

Modus? It's great if you don't want to taste anything else for the rest of the night!

As long as it isn't opened, beer won't get flat just from carrying it in a pack and CO2 is not part of a beer's flavor anyway; it affects aroma and mouthfeel more than anything, and yer drinking it out of a CAN anyway!
Posted: Nov 29, 2010 bikernoj

Although we don't carry beer during our hike, after one of our first guided trips for the store the clients asked to stop for a beer. Since then we look for a local micro brew pub near our trip area as part of the trek. We've found some great brews that way and made many friends from our clients.
Posted: Nov 29, 2010 Blackstone Valley Outfitters

I don't know about beer on the trail. I still enjoy finishing a long hot day hike and going for a pint of draft golden ale afterward. On a colder day, I'll choose a porter or a stout. After a five day backpack, I choose the beer based on the experience and enjoy it much more AFTER the trip. Local beer tends to match the trip best.
Posted: Nov 28, 2010 Patrick

Black Butte Porter is the only way to go...
Posted: Nov 28, 2010 Ron