Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Run Now, Beer Later!


I don't know if I've shared this on the blog, but my husband is a homebrewer. Before we had kids, he brewed beer all the time, brewing all different styles of beer and winning competitions. He also took the exam to become a beer judge, and so he's also quite knowledgeable about beer. After the boys were born, he stopped homebrewing, but has recently started up again. I'm happy about that because while I not a huge drinker, there's nothing better than a cold beer after a long, hot run or bike ride. Plus he needs a hobby.

Recently, I was offered a free entry into the latest Gone For A Run virtual run, the Run Now Beer Later 10k. The theme of the race got me thinking...what are my top 5 favorite post run beers? I put the question to my husband. And we started to argue discuss what constitutes a perfect post-run beer.

When I signed up for Chicago this year, I asked him to brew me a Wheat beer to enjoy after the race. To me, there is nothing more refreshing. There are several different styles of wheat beers. For example, a nice tall glass of German Hefeweizen tastes oh so good after a long bike ride. My new favorite example of this style of beer is not brewed in Germany, tho, but in Seattle by Sierra Nevada. Known for their excellent IPAs, Sierra Nevada outdoes themselves on this one. Kellerweis is just outstanding.
sierranevada.com

Goose Island is a local brewery that produces one of my favorite wheat beers, 312. Now owned by Anheuser Busch, my husband is still grieving that change of ownership. This so called "urban wheat ale" (an american pale wheat ale) is featured at the finish line of the Chicago Marathon, and is the perfect reward for a long, hard run on the city streets.

buddistributing.com

I also like the very commercially available and very drinkable Belgian wheat style Blue Moon (made by MillerCoors). For some reason, Blue Moon is served with an orange slice. I don't understand that, because it is pretty tasty on its own.

bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

Another beer that I love--but is not a wheat beer--is Spotted Cow from New Glarus brewery. I've talked about it on the blog before. Spotted Cow is only available in Wisconsin. That makes this beer an extra special treat. Spotted Cow is a cream ale style beer, which is similar to a lager. Except that it's an ale. And it's ale good...

beerfm.com
Sorry about the pun...

On these 4 beers, my husband was in full agreement with me.

But when I mentioned that Lagunitas IPA that I have enjoyed the last 2 years at the CARA Lakefront 10 miler, he begged to differ. IPA (India Pale Ale) beers are made with hops, and some might call them bitter. He cited the hops, and thought that a hoppy beer wouldn't be refreshing. I don't know why not? So we looked up the IBUs (international bitterness units) and found that this beer isn't all that "hoppy". He was shocked. I was vindicated! And so this is one made the list.

orionhomebrewing.com
My husband's idea of the perfect post run beer? A style he called Mild Ale. When I asked him for an example, he couldn't name one. So much for that. He called it a "session beer", which is a low alcohol beer that traditionally was brewed for workers to drink over lunch. No 2 martini lunches for those workers. My husband argued that after running, you wouldn't want anything high in alcohol, and that this beer would be perfect. He cited the popularity of Michelob Ultra as a post run beer. To which I said, ick. I won't drink that swill. Since I dissed his suggestion, he went off on a tangent. After all, he is the beer expert at our house. He named Guinness, which is a surprisingly low alcohol beer. But because of its thick texture and dark color, Guinness just does not appeal to me as a post run beer.

And since he doesn't run, I told him that he wouldn't know what would be a good post run beer. And so ended our conversation.

Anyways, about this virtual run.

As the race description explains: "Run, Walk or Crawl 6.2 miles". Entrants receive a t-shirt and this cool finisher's medal with a bottle cap opener. Which I plan on using as soon as I finish. I love functional bling. The Madison Mini Marathon medal also has a bottle opener! Which makes sense, because, Wisconsin...

And if you feel that you don't want to pay for a virtual race or find it indulgent, I wanted to let you know that proceeds from this race go to support the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. The fund supports members of the Armed Services and their families and has provided over $150 million in support.



Don't wait because these races sell out! By the way, I'll be running this race in Seattle! I'll have to find a tasty local microbrew to drink at the virtual finish line.

Disclaimer: I was given a free entry into Run Now Beer Later by Gone For a Run in exchange for this blog post. All opinions, as always, are mine.

Will you be joining me? Have you ever gotten a medal that you could actually use?

71 comments :

  1. I won't be joining you. Well maybe I'll be joining you :-) if I can wog wog wog the whole thing :-)

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  2. I actually have a medal (from our town's half marathon a couple years ago) that is a bottle opener. And of the 50 (???) medals on my rack, that is the only one that serves that purpose. My husband has done some home brewing, but not in recent years. I am not a beer drinker, so I am clueless on all the terminology that you described above, so I appreciate the Beer:101 lesson :-). In recent years, though, there has been the emergence of apple ales (?), and those I like (probably because they don't taste like beer LOL).

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    1. I have a medal with a bottle opener from another race too, and I thought that was the coolest!

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  3. Love this post! Love beer! Love you!

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  4. I've gotten a couple medals that are also bottle openers! Too fun! I don't drink beer very often as it makes me bloat like a balloon but I do enjoy a yummy blue moon at a ball game.

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  5. Okay I have not had a beers in years and now you are making me thirsty! :)

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  6. LOL! I can hear that conversation now, how funny! My hubby would be happy that spotted cow made your list! I need to find a race in Wisconsin that I can run, that would make him happy :) Cool bling! Are they going to run for wine soon, that would make me happy!

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    1. I can't drink wine after a run. As much as I love wine, it doesn't go down well when I'm hot and thirsty.

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  7. That medal is adorable.
    Sadly, I'm not a beer fan. I cant even stomach the smell of it. I took one drink of beer in my life & I gagged. Sadly, not for me.
    My son in law loves to home brew too - must be a man thing :)

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  8. I used to be a beer drinker but haven't found a gluten free one I like. I was a dark beer or red beer fan. My husband likes that Blue Moon, too, and yes, the orange slice does add a nice flavor to it...

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    1. I think there are more and more gluten free offerings. But they probably don't taste great..

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  9. I did not know that your husband was a home brewer! How fun! I am not a big beer drinker myself ( unless you count college ) but I do love virtuals.

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  10. I love that beer is your hubby's hobby! We all need one, right? Both of my WI medals are bottle openers as is my Ragnar....I may have more....

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  11. I must admit, virtual races have never appealed to me, but one with functional bling and the word "beer" in it...that's tempting! I like a good post-race brew, none of that "light" rubbish. I'll take an IPA but Guinness wins hands down. In fact, after my last 70.3 my coach brought over a six-pack, that's how much I like it!

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  12. I love the themes behind all these virtual races. I like dark beers, myself. Maybe your husband can whip me up some!

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  13. My husband is also into home brewing. Hopefully I'll be able to get him to join for this virtual race.

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  14. I LOVE an Illusive Traveler Grapefruit Shandy for a post run drink. It's nice and citrusy and tastes so refreshing after a run (or anytime in the summer)!

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    1. Oh, that sounds tasty. I like Lost Coast Tangerine too...sounds like it would be similar to Illusive Traveler!

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  15. I like Lemon Shanty beers and Heineken. No practical medals but other practical things such as hats, gloves, glasses, etc.

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  16. This post made me so happy. I didn't know that your husband homebrews - that's so cool! I love craft beer.
    If you're in downtown Seattle: Elysian is amazing, Pike Pub is really good, and Fremont Brewery is a must-try. If you're on the Eastside in Bellevue/Redmond (or even if you're not, it's worth the trip): I LOVE Redhook in Woodinville. Great German style beers, perfectly balanced IPAs, and so many options, plus great food.

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    1. Thank you for all the suggestions for Seattle! I'll be checking them.

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  17. Cheers to Spotted Cow and 312. Also the Metropolitan Rosa. Another favorite is In Heat Wheat Hefeweizen. SO MANY MORE

    I like craft beer.

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    1. I haven't had Metropolitan Rosa... where do you find that one?

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  18. OMG, my husband loves beer. I can't get him to brew his own though. And I certainly can't keep up with his many favorites. I know a new one he is into is brewed in the FL panhandle called 30A (named after the road). I know he drinks 312. His old standby would be a Sam Adams. I have a couple of half medals that are bottle openers. Very handy. I'm pretty wimpy in the beer drinking arena. It's got to be a little sweet. I may do this race. Sounds fun.

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  19. I think I'm gonna skip this one for the Boo run but my medal I just received from Tupelo Half is also a bottle opener and it is very cool! :)

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  20. I am not really a beer drinker but my husband would love this! Will have to send him the info!

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  21. I wish I liked beer but I just don't. I do want to do a virtual run though.

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  22. I've seen many medals that are actually bottle openers. I think all of the J and A race medals are like that. I never use them as such though.

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    1. I've got another bottle opener medal from a race in Madison Wisconsin! Pretty awesome.

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  23. I don't like beer, but it sounds like a lot of fun. I have received a medal that could be used as a bottle opener. Have fun!!!
    bakingrunner.blogspot.com

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  24. Love this!!! I saw in my facebook feed the Compression socks that go with the beer run!!! I might just have to buy those compression socks!! My husband loves Lagunitas IPA...and we both love a lot of Ballast Point beers...that is a brewery in San Diego. I, too, love wheat beers and blonde ales...and recently the category called "sour beers"...so good. Can't join you on this virtual run, but I'll drink a beer instead! Cheers!!!

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    1. I might have to order the socks! LOL! So many good beers, so little time.

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  25. Well, now I want a beer. I love IPAs, but my favorite beer ever is Saranac's Pomegranate Wheat Beer. It's seasonal...and delicious.

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  26. I'm not a beer drinker but my husband would love this race. I'm the runner that gives away the beer tickets after a race. My running friends love it :)

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    1. Oh, I could have gotten plastered after that 10 miler in April! So many runners were giving away their beer ticket!

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  27. I am not a beer drinker but I thought this was a fun post! I also like how your convo with your hubby ended once you pointed out that he is not a runner. lol

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  28. What a great theme for a virtual run. I love wheat beers and Inis and Gunn is one of my favourites for winter. However, I am not a fan of IPA's. I dislike hoppy beers.

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    1. It's funny bc my hubby thought that Lagunitas IPA was a terrible choice for a post run beer. But it's actually not as hoppy as you'd think! Yummm

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  29. I love this post! I like wheat beers, amber ales, and lagers. Also like stouts such as Guinness (although I agree with you that those are not good for post-run). My husband loves IPAs but I haven't quite acquired the taste for most of those.

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  30. I wish my husband was into home brewing. I love light beer.

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  31. Oh my I love beer and I can't wait to have my first glass after this baby! I also plan on doing a beer run- because its awesome!

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    1. I felt that way when I was pg...those non-alcoholic beers just don't do it for me!

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  32. Haha! I never drank beer after a race until I moved to Sacramento when it seemed that ALL the races celebrated wtih beer afterwards. :)

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    1. And craft beer, I'm sure! Which tastes oh so good after a run...

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  33. Last year the Baltimore Running Festival gave us medals with a crab claw that was a bottle opener! I love wheat beers...I had a blue moon after my 12 miler on Saturday and it was perfection!

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  34. I am actually not a fan of beer unless it's a nice light one like Corona with a lime :)

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  35. I am a big fan of Blue Moon!

    I signed up for the virtual race but due to some disagreements/bad customer service with the company, I may not do it. So, if you know someone that wants the bib, medal and socks, let me know.

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    1. I complained about the huge difference in shirt size for both the Sole Sister and the Run Now, Beer Later races. I mean, they're both large but yet very different. I wanted them to give me a refund as I pointed out to the 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed statement on their website. There were various emails back and forth and I just got tired of the service (a good company would have just issued a refund instead of going back and forth with emails). So I said I would never order from them again.

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    2. I haven't even taken my shirt out of the bag yet. Altho I think they all run small.

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