Proper preparation while biking is always important.
What is the best beer to drink after a bike ride??
Also, why does beer taste so darn good after finishing a ride??
Beer! That delicious brewed beverage made from:
Germinated barley (malt)
Hops
Yeast
Water
This post focuses on beer, and why it’s the perfect beverage after a day of riding singletrack and biking paths.
Beer as a sports drink
“Non-alcoholic beer, low-alcoholic beer, and water turned out to have similar rehydration percentages”
Numerous studies have researched post exercise beverages and rehydration while using bicycling as a from of exercise. The studies are nearly unanimous in their conclusion that beer at a minimum is no worse than plain water or most sport-drink products.
Studies generally conclude something like:
"A moderate beer intake has no deleterious effects on markers of hydration in active individuals.”
“non-alcoholic beer, low-alcoholic beer, and water turned out to have similar rehydration percentages.”
“A moderate beer intake has no deleterious effects on markers of hydration in active individuals.”
The reason you crave a beer after going for a bike ride is that's what YOUR body wants and needs. Beer has been around way before sport drinks and special electrolyte tablets.
A 2013 article from the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise noted that “reducing the alcohol concentration and raising the sodium content of beer resulted in significantly greater post-exercise fluid retention.”
What this means is that local grub and a pint of microbrew will hydrate just fine. Your body knows what is best, and after a perfect day of MTB or cycling the post beer is non-negotiable.
making a better post bike ride beverage
“beer containing high sodium combined with low alcohol concentrations can improve fluid retention after exercise”
Fortunately for us, periodicals such as Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise and the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition exist, or how else would we be able to discover how to enhance the hydrating and health properties of beer?
A 2014 study looked at rehydration properties of beer with varying levels of ABV and electrolyte modifications, such as increased amounts of sodium (salt). This study had three main takeaway messages that can benefit all MTBer and cycling beer lovers.
Beer combined with sodium will rehydrate you. Your post bike ride beer will be much more hydrating if you also combine that with a post-MTB fries and nacho dish…….with extra cheese.
The electrolyte concentration is more important for post bike ride fluid retention than the ABV of your beer.
If you're going to drink a double IPA or an imperial stout after cycling, make sure you do yourself a favor and order the onion rings, burger & fries, and maybe some jalapeno poppers for proper post-ride electrolyte balance.
The lightest beers by ABV were significantly less acceptable overall and had the worst levels of flavor and enjoyment. Well, that explains why I prefer Belgium Quads after riding singletrack.
“From a nutritional point of view, beer contains protein, B vitamins, and some minerals. Beer contains more protein and B vitamins than wine does. However, the antioxidant content of beer is equivalent to that of wine”
What is the best beer after cycling/mtbing
“Only a short-lived difference between full-strength beer and the isotonic sports drink”
Whatever beer your friend or brewmaster hands you!
Mountain biking and cycling is a community, and the beer that tastes best is the beer that is shared among fellow riders and beer lovers. We don’t need any studies to tell us that there isn’t much of a difference between beer and sports drinks.
Why?
Because we are going to drink beer regardless because nothing tastes as satisfying as the post ride brew.
But seriously is their really the best beer after cycling?
According to researchers, the key to rehydration after exercise is the right combination of water, carbohydrates, and electrolytes.
Most beers don’t have enough sodium for maximum hydration.
However, in the real world, you actually eat sodium-rich foods with other electrolytes, while drinking a craft brew. Only in the studies are they drinking beer in isolation.
What is the best beer style post bike ride?
Leipzig-style GOSE, which is a top-fermented German wheat beer, that is flavored with coriander and salt.
- This beer is pronounced ‘goes-uh’ and salt is added straight to the brewers water and was traditionally spontaneously fermented, but many craft breweries use more controlled methods today.
Craft beer, community and biking
Few products have as strong of a connection with the local community than that of microbreweries and brewpubs.
Craft breweries have a strong attachment to their community since the name of the microbrewery and the beers often reflect local landmarks, historical figures, wildlife, sport teams, local legends, climatic events, landscapes, historical events, and regional activities. The craft brewery is a snapshot of the local community and is an authentic window into the soul of the region. Craft beer is made for locals….by a local and offers both residents and tourists the chance to taste local flavors while connecting with the city or town in which they’re in.
Mountain bikers are sociable folks who enjoy experiencing not only the local singletrack and MTB trails but also local craft beer. Supporting the local economy, while sharing a brew with members of the community and fellow cyclists allows you to have a sneak peek into the “local world” but also to have a chance to mingle and discover more regional establishments and trails. MTBers and cyclists look for authentic and unique experiences, and what better place to discover them then the outdoor patio of a microbrewery.
My Favorite Post Ride Beers
After a long day of biking the day is infinitely better when it ends with a delicious beer.
Here are 3 of my favorite post bike ride beers. All of these breweries and rides are in Chile’s Patagonia since this is my current home.
Maqui beer
The Chilean Maquei berry is endemic to the temperate rainforests of southern Chile. The Maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis) looks similar to a blueberry, but with more than 15 times the amount of antioxidants.
Several different microbreweries in the Chilean Patagonia craft this unique beer. After riding down an active volcano the perfect post-ride beer is a super-stuffed antioxidant mega brew.
What does this berry taste like? If you were to combine a blueberry and a cherry it would taste similar to a Chilean Maqui berry.
Calafate berries
Austral brewery - calafate ale
Cervecería Austral was the first brewery in the Chilean Patagonia, and the second brewery in the whole of “La Patagonia.”
This local's favorite beer is the Cerveza Chilena Austral Calafate Ale, which is made from the exotic Patagonian fruit Berberis microphylla, which is commonly called, el Calafate. This berry has a blackish-blue color and is harvested in the Austral summer. The flavor is similar to that of a blackberry. The Calafate berry has double the antioxidants of the Maqui berry and over 30 times more than the blueberry.
This pale ale is light-bodied, mildly sweet with a refreshing and gently bitter finish.
This beer can be found throughout Chile, but drinking this beer fresh from the tap after biking through insane Patagonia singletrack is a truly unique and unforgettable experience.
Valdivia, Chile
bundor’s Belzeboo
Cervecería Bundor is a microbrewery close to the main university in Valdivia.
Belzeboo is an 11% imperial stout and this beer medaled (bronze) at the 2019 World Beer Awards.
The Bundor microbrewery is located near the botanical garden, which includes a maze of singletrack trails that overlook two major rivers while slithering through forests that are over 3000 years old.
Jesse is the Director of Pedal Chile and lives in La Patagonia. Jesse has a Master of Science in Health and Human Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. Hobbies: Mountain biking, bicycle commuting, reading, snowboarding, researching, and sampling yummy craft beers.
More Pedal Chile Articles
Sources for “Best Beer Post Bicycle Ride”
Desbrow, B., Murray, D. and Leveritt, M. (2013). Beer as a Sports Drink? Manipulating Beer’s Ingredients to Replace Lost Fluid. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 23(6), pp.593–600.
Desbrow, B., Cecchin, D., Jones, A., Irwin, C. and Leveritt, M. (2014). Further Manipulations To The Alcohol And Sodium Content Of Beer For Post Exercise Rehydration. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 46, pp.397–398.
Fuentes, L., Figueroa, C.R., Valdenegro, M. and Vinet, R. (2019). Patagonian Berries: Healthy Potential and the Path to Becoming Functional Foods. Foods, 8(8), p.289.
Jiménez-Pavón, D., Cervantes-Borunda, M.S., Díaz, L.E., Marcos, A. and Castillo, M.J. (2015). Effects of a moderate intake of beer on markers of hydration after exercise in the heat: a crossover study. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 12(1). link
Magalhães, P.J., Carvalho, D.O., Cruz, J.M., Guido, L.F. and Barros, A.A. (2009). Fundamentals and Health Benefits of Xanthohumol, a Natural Product Derived from Hops and Beer. Natural Product Communications, 4(5), p.1934578X0900400.
Sierksma, A. and Kok, F.J. (2012). Beer and health: from myths to science. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 66(7), pp.869–870.
Sohrabvandi, S., Mortazavian, A.M. and Rezaei, K. (2012). Health-Related Aspects of Beer: A Review. International Journal of Food Properties, 15(2), pp.350–373.
Wijnen, A.H.C., Steennis, J., Catoire, M., Wardenaar, F.C. and Mensink, M. (2016). Post-Exercise Rehydration: Effect of Consumption of Beer with Varying Alcohol Content on Fluid Balance after Mild Dehydration. Frontiers in Nutrition, 3.
www.ars.usda.gov. (n.d.). High-ORAC Foods May Slow Aging : USDA ARS. [online] Available at: https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/1999/high-orac-foods-may-slow-aging/