Joe’s Pilsner – Avery Brewing Company Boulder, CO

ABV: 4.7%

IBU: 50

One of my favorite times to drink is at the end of a good mountain bike ride. Happy hour rides, as we like to call them. A few friends get together, pedal through the woods until sufficiently worn out (or sufficiently thirsty) then meet back at the trailhead for a beer or two. There’s no better way to cap off a ride. What beer do you choose in such a situation? On the last Happy Hour Ride, it was Joe’s Pilsner from Avery Brewing.  It was a good choice and here’s why, based on a simple set of criteria for “outside beers” …

A) It has to be refreshing. I love the heavy, hoppy/malty beers as much as the next guy, but they have a time and place. Outside under the balls hot sun after sweating out 8 pounds of water weight is not that time or place. Joe’s is light enough to be refreshing and the hops taste is well balanced. With a middle-of-the-road 50 IBUs, it’s not overly bitter, and has a bit of a floral hint.

B) It has to come in a can. Cans are lighter and easier to transport, take up less space in a small cooler, and generally feel better to drink outside. Plus, many parks allow alcoholic beverages as long as they’re not in glass containers, so it’s a bit more legal as well. Joe’s, like many of Avery’s selection, is available in a can.

C) It has to not TASTE LIKE HELL when it gets a bit warm. Unless you’re trying to rehash your college glory days (which … well … just don’t do that) you’re probably not going to be shotgunning beers trailside. So while you’re sipping in the summer heat, some significant warming is bound to occur. Some beers handle that better than others. Even some very good craft beers (who shall remain nameless) tend to taste like cloudy bong water after a few degrees of temperature rise. Don’t pick one of those. Joe’s Pilsner is a safe bet in this category. Ideally, its served ice cold, but it handles warming fairly gracefully. You certainly won’t be grimacing on the last few sips.

Whether your porch is a trailhead, a park, or an actual porch, you’ll enjoy a sharing a Joe’s with friends on a hot summer day.