Think about my shock after I realized that CamelBak, the corporate who’s pack I’d been devotedly slinging on my again for the final ten years, calls Petuluma, CA, dwelling. A mere hour’s drive from my residence in Oakland, CA,
So we jumped on the probability to check out CamelBak’s new ChillBak, a backpack cooler able to stashing twenty-four cans together with six liters of water in its hallmark pouch.
To rejoice, I’m rounding up the freshest 4-packs from these six top-notch NorCal breweries.
That’s proper, for individuals who simply did the short math, that’s twenty-four cans I’ll be throwing in my ChillBak and taking with me this weekend for a hike in Tilden Regional Park.
Now, let me lay some floor guidelines.
CamelBak developed the ChillBak to be an all-in-one journey instrument. It’s a backpack engineered for these trying to get out into the wild. Which means the beers I’m trying to sling over my again aren’t essentially West Coast or double IPAs. Though we love these bitter, dank darlings, for these adventures we’re trying extra for light-bodied, refreshing, and thirst-quenching quaffs.
Like CamelBak’s new collaboration with Oskar Blues, Bak Nation. A hazy pale ale bursting with a bevy of hops (Calypso, Mosaic, Citra LUPOMAX, Grungeist, Idaho 7, and Mandarina Bavaria), however crisp and clear within the end.
In my ChillBak you’ll discover a blonde, a pair pilsners, a hoppy lager, a saison, a Mexican-style lager, and (okay, you caught us) one hazy IPA.
After all, this is only one particular person’s opinion about what they will discover of their neck of the woods to take into the wild. You don’t must take our phrase for it.
With out additional ado…
Pils – Alvarado Avenue
Caramel-by-the-Sea, CA
German-Fashion Pilsner – Considered one of my favourite components of the brand new CamelBak ChillBak is the hands-free pouch that shops as much as six liters of water. I can carry this pack with me on a hike with six pals and hold them hydrated all day lengthy. But when I’m in search of a beer that’s hydrating. Properly, then I flip to a pilsner.
And lo and behold whereas penning this piece, Alvarado Avenue launched a contemporary batch of Pils, their German-style pilsner.
We’re big followers of this West Coast brewery that has made a reputation for itself with among the finest NEIPAS outdoors of the Northeast mixed with crystal clear West Coast IPAs, a number of of which have made our lists of the high beers we drank final spring and favourite beers of the week.
However what you could not know is that Co-Founder and Director of Brewery Operations J.C. Hill and his crew may nail lagers. For example, Monterey Beer, considered one of Humble Sea Head Brewer Nick Pavila’s favourite all-time seaside beers.
However I’m a giant fan of this crisp, clear, clear, merely named beer. I had Pils again in October whereas visiting the realm for a pal’s wedding ceremony, naming it considered one of my high beers I drank final October.
It’s only a rattling scrumptious beer that’s worthy packing away in my CamelBak ChillBak.
Guppy Glamping – Humble Sea Brewing Firm
Santa Cruz, CA
Hazy IPA – Humble Sea is by far considered one of my favourite Bay Space breweries. And I can solely say that now as a result of round this time final yr they opened a second location in Pacifica, CA (and a 3rd in Felton opened earlier this yr). However the brewery has humble roots in Santa Cruz. And yow will discover that California vibe injected all through the brewery.
For instance, Humble Sea grew to become recognized for coining the time period “foggy IPA” in reference to the well-known fog that creeps into the Bay Space each morning. We locals discuss with this mist as Karl (critically, there’s even a Twitter deal with—@karlthefog).
Principally, hazy IPAs with terroir, foggy IPAs from Humble Sea are so beloved that they by no means keep in inventory very lengthy.
Fortunately, my spouse likes to surf at Linda Mar, proper by their Pacifica location. So if I’m anticipating a day on the seaside I can cease by Humble Sea and replenish my CamelBak ChillBak.
Proper now I’m digging Guppy Glamping, which will get this sort of loopy lime and melon combine from a mixture of Citra, Motueka, Copper, and Riwaka hops.
Admittedly, that is the one beer on this checklist that may be a tad heftier. However that is just like the beer I’d have on the finish of the day across the campfire on the seaside. I might most likely solely do one, however break up that 4-pack between my spouse and two of our pals and we’re all good to go.
Delight Was a Riot – Whats up Pal
Berkeley, CA
Czech-Fashion Pilsner – When you haven’t heard of Whats up Pal, maybe you’ve heard of The Uncommon Barrel, one of many preeminent bitter breweries within the nation. Final yr, co-founders Alex Wallash and Jay Goodwin launched a non-sour model known as Whats up Pal.
We had been so excited that we named them considered one of our “10 Greatest Breweries to Watch in 2022.” With out the restraints of sours, Whats up Pal explores turbid IPAs, crisp pilsners, and even triple IPAs.
For my functions, the latest launch of Delight Was a Riot excited me essentially the most.
As a Queer particular person, I appreciated the message behind this beer. Brewed to rejoice Delight month in June, Delight Was a Riot honors the trans ladies of shade—Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Miss Main Griffin-Gracy—who first began the riot on the Stonewall Inn in 1969 (kicking off the modern-day homosexual rights motion). Accordingly, the brewery donated twenty % of all proceeds from this beer to TGI Justice Mission and commissioned label artwork from Queer POC artist @mud.witch.
Beerwise, one hundred pc Bohemian Pilsner malt and Czech Saaz hops give this beer that traditional noble hop character. Leveraging a single-decoction mash, Whats up Pal ensures {that a} complicated malt spine backs up the tremendous natural floralness.
Oftentimes throughout the summer time, yow will discover my spouse and I chilling in Dolores Park in San Francisco. It’s the proper place for a picnic. With the rolltop closure and trapdoor on the CamelBak ChillBak, I can pack a blanket on high of this thirst-quenching 4-pack, protecting the beer chilly, however concurrently, the towel dry.
Truthfully, they’d us at good day.
Daphne Blonde – Cellarmaker Brewing Firm
San Francisco, CA
Blonde Ale – Sure, I’ve discovered myself at Cellarmaker late at night time (and by late, I imply like 8:30pm) gobbling down their Detroit-style pizza. Their ooey gooey slices pair completely with their small-batch hop-forward beers. Even types like a blonde ale obtain an applicable dosage of the little inexperienced cones. Right here, Amarillo and Strata give Daphne a stunning bloom of lemon and pine that meld properly with a light-weight bready spine. Cellarmaker calls this one a “little hoppy crusher.” And I feel that aptly describes why I’d need to sling this one within the ChillBak for the path.
Temescal Especial – Temescal Brewing
Oakland, CA
American Gentle Lager – Since I reside a couple of twenty-minute stroll from Temescal’s beer backyard, it holds a particular place in my coronary heart. I’ve loved Delight events and celebrated birthdays of their unbelievable out of doors area. However past the chilliness, welcoming vibes, they’ve the beer to again every little thing up.
Truthfully, I had a tough time narrowing this one down. For example, I considered mentioning No Jerks, their Japanese rice lager with rice and Nelson hops. Or Pils, their aptly named pilsner that’s a go-to for me.
However in the end I went with Especial, their Mexican-style lager with Eraclea barley, a honey-like grain from a coastal area of Italy, and corn. Tremendous straightforward consuming, Especial could also be gentle in physique, nevertheless it’s full in taste from the malt invoice. Plus a skosh of Tettnang and Spalter Choose hops add that earthy, floral noble hop character that will get your tongue tantalizing for the subsequent sip.
To place it merely: This beer is a thirst quencher. And after strenuous exercise that causes me to work up a sweat, that’s precisely the fashion of beer I need to pour down my gullet.
Half-Day – HenHouse Brewing Firm
Santa Rosa, CA
Saison – A beer that encourages taking a half day? Oh, that’s for positive going to make this checklist. I imply what different beer might inspire me extra to pack up the CamelBak ChillBak, drive as much as Santa Rosa, and spend a day mountaineering the Santa Rosa Creek Path?
This tart saison with CTZ, Sorachi Ace, and Motueka hops hits all these acidic highs and hop lows. Lemon and lime nestle collectively on this canoe for a surprisingly zesty, juicy trip.
Honorable Point out: Dying & Taxes – Moonlight Brewing Firm
Santa Rosa, CA
Darkish Lager – Sure, it’s onerous to slim this checklist down to simply six breweries and twenty-four cans. So I needed to sneak in a little bit of a…darkish horse, you may say. Thought of a black lager, this beer from the Santa Rosa-based brewery is surprisingly crisp and light-weight.
Like a beer. Go determine.
With the feel and aroma of iced espresso, Dying & Taxes is bound to please the palette whereas staying crisp sufficient to qualify for a startling distinctive post-hike, post-ride, post-adventure beer.
