There is something truly special about rolling down the singletrack and straight onto a patio with someone serving up a pint. No car ride required. No, “do we have enough time” moment. Just your legs covered in dirt and a frosty beer in your hand within minutes of hopping off the saddle.
Yes, a world exists where breweries are, in fact, along or at the end of mountain biking trails. These five spots do that better than anywhere else I have found. Real trails, real breweries, and no wishful thinking involved.
Norbrook Farm Brewery: Bethlehem, Connecticut
Plot twist right from the get go…the brewery owns the trails. That’s right, all 450 acres of them. Warm Up and Traverse wind through flow sections with classic New England wooden bridges and rock features included along the way. The best part, every one of them spits you out at the same place: the taproom you started at. Not “near the brewery,” actually at the brewery. You are riding brewery property from the first pedal stroke, and when you finish, you will be standing right where you want to be.
Coler Mountain Bike Preserve to Bike Rack Brewing: Bentonville, Arkansas
Bentonville earned its Mountain Biking Capital of the World nickname with good reason. The Slaughter Pen trail system proves it by rolling straight out of the woods and into downtown. Only a few blocks off the trailhead tucked into the 8th Street Market resides Bike Rack Brewing. With a name like that, you can bet that they know exactly who their clientele is. Fun Fact, if you ride out to Coler, you will find Airship, a coffee and beer bar that you have to earn the reward. It’s only accessible on two wheels, no cars allowed.
18 Road and Kokopelli Loops to Fruita Tavern: Fruita, Colorado
Fruita’s singletrack is a completely different animal from the others. Desert sandstone, exposed ledges and views of the Colorado River so stunning you forget your quads are on fire. Finish in downtown Fruita at what is now known as Fruita Tavern (formerly Copper Club Brewing). Affectionately known as “Fruita’s Living Room” you will feel right at home. Pretensions are checked at the door giving way to small batch beers and chess and checkers on the table for optimal recovery rounds.
Mill Mountain Park to Big Lick Brewing Company: Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke, Va refers to itself as the East Coast Mountain Biking Capital, a name easily backed up by the nearly ten miles of trail in Mill Mountain Park. Practically in the downtown’s backyard, you can roll right down off the mountain and to Big Likc Brewing within minutes. With its own parking lot, 6000 square foot beer garden and fire pits for when the temps cool off, this is the type of place you show up to post ride and nobody bats an eye.
Little Miami Scenic Trail to Yellow Springs Brewery: Yellow Springs, Ohio
You cannot get a purer version of the bike to brewery concept than this. Yellow Spring Brewery does not sit near the trail. The brewery patio is not near the trail, it actually opens directly onto it. That’s right, 78 miles of rail trail run right past Yellow Springs Brewery’s door and a brewhouse so close you can watch the brewers working while you sip on what they just made. Community forward, it’s about as authentic as a trail to taproom experience you will find anywhere in the U.S.
No shuttle, or car or plan B required with these breweries. That’s the whole point. The best rides are not the ones where you have to think about what comes next. They are the ones where what comes next is along the way. Cold beers close enough to see from any trailhead. Now that’s apres-ride.
Ride hard. Drink well. Repeat.
About the Author
Rich Stoner is the founder of the après-ski lifestyle clothing and media brand, All About Après. He is also the co-host of the Après All Day Podcast. No stranger to the ski and après-ski scene, Rich has been a long time contributor for many publications on topics like skiing, travel, gear, beer and food. However, his passion is on the slopes and enjoying good times with good people. You can find him perfecting his craft carving turns and drinking beers in the Green Mountains of Vermont. @allaboutapres