Whether you are taking the station wagon to the local park or backpacking the Appalachian Trail, having the right equipment is an imperative.
YETI Roadie 20 Cooler
Perfect for everything from car camping to canoeing, this beauty can hold fourteen cans of craft beer, is certified bear resistant, and will keep your brews cold for days. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth every penny. It’s available in multiple colors for $249.99.
www.yeticoolers.com
Growler Coolers
Never worry again about a growler getting warm the next time you take it to a party. These lightweight portable coolers use foam insulation and foil lining to keep your growlers cold. Assorted sizes and colors are available starting at $16.99.
www.growlercooler.com
Pat’s Backcountry Beverages Beer Concentrate
For those who travel fast and can’t be weighed down by growlers, bottles, or cans, Pat’s comes to the rescue. Available in two flavors (Pale Ale and Black IPA), these beer concentrates are designed to keep your pack light and your thirst quenched. Our informal office test showed that they don’t quite offer the flavor of great homebrew, but on day 3 of a backcountry trip, that’s a tradeoff we just might make. Mix with cold water, carbonate, and voilà! Beer. $9.99 for a four-pack.
www.patsbcb.com
33 Bottles of Beer Journal
No wifi or cell signal required to check-in beers here. The pocket-sized beer journals made in Portland, Oregon, are the perfect place to keep notes about your favorite craft beers (whether on or off the grid). Use their flavor wheel to quickly record your beer experience. And for you real nerds out there, the beer-colored ink contains a few drops of Brettanomyces-infused pale ale. For $4.00, one can be yours.
www.33books.com
Krave Jerky
So freakin’ good. When we got our paws on Krave’s jerky, we ended up wide-eyed at the texture and flavor of this phenomenal snack. This all-natural jerky is packed with protein and contains only 90 calories per serving, leaving plenty of calories for beer. It’s available in eight flavors, including Black Cherry BBQ and Garlic Chili Pepper. We recommend pairing the Basil Citrus jerky with a cold IPA. Each 3.25-ounce package is $7.00.
www.kravejerky.com