Best Places To Buy Pct Beer

PCT beer, short for Pacific Crest Trail beer, is a highly drinkable beer with an ABV of 4.5% and 45 IBUs. It is available in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. The beer celebrates 50 years of the Pacific Crest Trail and is produced by Rainier Brewing Company in Seattle. PCT beer is available in six-packs of 12-ounce cans and can be found at bars and restaurants across the region. The PCT is not just a trail but also a great brewery crawl.

PCT beer in Washington

PCT beer, short for Pacific Crest Trail beer, is a popular beverage for hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail spans over 2,650 miles and cuts through some of the hottest and most exposed parts of the Mojave Desert in Southern California, as well as the rainy alpine forests of Oregon. Needless to say, hikers are often on the lookout for a refreshing beer to match the climate.

In Washington, hikers can find PCT beer at Dru Bru, a brewery located less than a mile from the trail in the Cascade Range. The brewery offers Spring Pale Ale, a medium-bodied beer brewed with Cascade hops to honour the PCT, which winds its way across the Summit at Snoqualmie.

Another option for hikers in Washington is Walking Man Brewing in Stevenson, just 2.5 miles from the trail. The brewery offers Homo Erectus, a Northwest-style double IPA with piney, resinous flavours.

For those looking to celebrate finishing their first state, the Caldera Brewery & Restaurant in Ashland, Oregon, is a popular choice. The brewery offers 45 options on tap, including the Hopportunity Knocks IPA, a big, piney 7% ABV brew made with Centennial hops.

Additionally, hikers can find PCT-themed beers in Washington at select Trader Joe's, PCC Community Markets, Fred Meyer's, and QFCs across the state. These beers include the Pacific Crest Pale, which can also be found at the brewery's two taprooms in Snoqualmie Pass and Cle Elum.

Finally, hikers can also purchase the Rainier PCT Session IPA, a limited-edition beer released by Rainier Brewing to celebrate 50 years of the Pacific Crest Trail. This session IPA is available in six-packs and limited ½ barrel drafts with distribution in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana.

PCT beer in Oregon

PCT beer, or the PCT Porter, is a beer by the Crux Fermentation Project, based in Bend, Oregon. The beer is named after the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs through Washington, Oregon, and California, and the can design features artwork by thru-hiker Kolby "Condor" Kirk. The artwork is intended to convey the human experience of the trail and to celebrate the Pacific Crest Trail in a "real, authentic and human way".

The PCT Porter is a dark beer with a robust flavour, driven by roasted and chocolate malts, with a refreshing drinkability. It has an ABV of 5.5%. The Crux Fermentation Project is a brewer-owned and operated company that allows for non-traditional brewing methods, such as decoction mashing, wild yeast strains, and experimental hops. The company is also a sponsor of the Pacific Crest Trail Association, a nonprofit organisation that works to care for and protect the trail.

The town of Bend, where the Crux Fermentation Project is based, is a popular stop for hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail, as it is home to several breweries and offers views of the Cascade Mountains. Bend had 23 breweries at the last count, including well-known ones like Deschutes, Boneyard, and Crux Fermentation Project. The town's proximity to the trail, approximately 40 miles away, makes it a convenient stop for hikers to load up on beers before continuing their journey.

In addition to Bend, there are several other breweries along the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon that are worth mentioning. Thunder Island Brewing in Cascade Locks is known for its dedication to thru-hikers, with owner Dave Lipps allowing customers to pay it forward by gifting pints of "trail magic" to fellow hikers. Their Sojourner Bavarian Hefeweizen, a German-style beer with notes of banana and clove, is a popular choice among hikers.

Another notable brewery near the trail is Caldera Brewing in Ashland, Oregon, which offers a wide selection of Pacific Northwest-style IPAs, including the Hopportunity Knocks IPA, a piney 7% ABV brew made with Centennial hops. With its proximity to the trail and variety of beer options, Caldera Brewing is a popular spot for hikers to celebrate finishing their first state.

PCT beer in California

PCT, or the Pacific Crest Trail, is known for its breathtaking scenery and its brews. Here are some of the best spots to grab a beer along the PCT in California:

Modern Times Beer, San Diego

You won’t find many accessible breweries in the Mojave Desert, but Modern Times Beer in San Diego is a gem. Their Blazing World beer is a sweet and sticky amber loaded with the flavours and aromas of Nelson, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops.

Nickel Beer Company, Julian

Julian is a former mining town known for its apple orchards and mountain setting. The Nickel Beer Company was founded in 2013 by longtime professional brewer Tom Nickel and his wife Lindsey. Try their Apple Pie Ale, a 5.6% ABV beer/cider hybrid made with locally-grown apples and spices.

Local Craft Beer, Tehachapi

Tehachapi is about ten miles from the PCT trail. Local Craft Beer is a cosy spot with a wide variety of beer styles, specialising in hazy, cloudy New England-style IPAs. Try their Blueberry Gose, a tart, salty, and fruity beer that's light on alcohol.

Mammoth Brewing Company, Mammoth Lakes

Mammoth Brewing Company is self-proclaimedly "the highest brewery on the West Coast", sitting at 8,000 feet above sea level. They serve classic styles like pale ales, browns, saisons, and kolsches. Try their Summer Triple, a fruity, estery seasonal beer with flavours of orange, cloves, and coriander.

Dunsmuir Brewery Works, Dunsmuir

Dunsmuir Brewery Works is located about five miles north of where the PCT crosses under Interstate 5 along Soda Creek Trail. They offer a nice variety of beers and a filling menu of burgers, sandwiches, brats, and other pub food. Try the Easy Company Belgian White IPA, a lower-alcohol white ale with intense flavours of juicy grapefruit and dank hops.

PCT beer online

PCT beer, or Pacific Crest Trail beer, is a popular beverage for hikers embarking on the long journey through the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail is known not just for its breathtaking scenery but also for its excellent brews.

If you're looking to buy PCT beer online, you may be out of luck, as most of the breweries along the trail are small, local businesses that do not offer online sales. However, some larger breweries with distribution networks may offer online sales, so it is worth checking their websites directly.

For example, the PCT Porter by Crux Fermentation Project in Bend, Oregon, is a popular choice among hikers. Bend is known for its abundance of breweries, and the PCT Porter is a roasty dark beer that pays homage to the Pacific Crest Trail. While I couldn't find an online store for Crux Fermentation Project, they are an association sponsor of the Pacific Crest Trail Association, so you may be able to find their beer at retailers that support the association.

Another option is to look for online beer retailers that specifically cater to hikers or outdoor enthusiasts. These retailers may stock PCT beers, or you could contact them directly to inquire about special orders. Additionally, some breweries along the trail, such as Thunder Island Brewing in Cascade Locks, Oregon, allow customers to "pay it forward" by gifting pints of "trail magic" to hikers. You could consider contacting these breweries to see if they offer a similar service for online purchases.

Finally, while not specifically PCT beer, there are wine and coffee options that support the Pacific Crest Trail Association. Rock Point Wines donates $1 for every bottle sold at participating retailers during specific months, and Triple Crown Coffee donates $1 for every pound of their Pacific Crest Trail Roast purchased. These could be great alternatives if you're unable to find PCT beer online.

PCT beer in breweries

PCT beer is a big part of the Pacific Crest Trail, which has some of the country's best brews in addition to its scenery. Here are some of the breweries along the trail:

Modern Times Beer, San Diego, California

You won’t find many accessible breweries in the Mojave, but Modern Times Beer in San Diego is a gem. Their Blazing World beer is classified as an amber, but it's a sticky brew that's both sweetly malted and loaded with the dank flavours and aromas of Nelson, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops.

Nickel Beer Company, Julian, California

Julian is a former mining town known today for its apple orchards and mountain setting. The Nickel Beer Company was founded in 2013 by longtime professional brewer Tom and Lindsey Nickel. Try their Apple Pie Ale, a 5.6% ABV beer/cider hybrid made with locally grown apples, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and clove.

Local Craft Beer, Tehachapi, California

Tehachapi is about ten miles from the trail. Local Craft Beer is a cozy spot with a wide variety of beer styles. They specialise in hazy, cloudy New England-style IPAs, but their Blueberry Gose, a tart, salty, fruity beer with low alcohol, might be better suited to wash away that Central Valley dust.

Mammoth Brewing Company, Mammoth Lakes, California

Mammoth Brewing Company is self-proclaimedly "the highest brewery on the West Coast", sitting at 8,000 feet above sea level. They've been serving beers for over 20 years, playing the classics from pale ales and browns to saisons and kolsches. Try their seasonal Summer Triple, a fruity, estery beer with flavours of orange, cloves, and coriander.

Dunsmuir Brewery Works, Dunsmuir, California

Dunsmuir is a quiet place, perfect for showers, laundry, and a beer and dinner. Located about five miles north of where the PCT crosses under Interstate 5 along Soda Creek Trail, Dunsmuir Brewery serves a nice variety of beers, along with a filling menu of burgers, sandwiches, brats, and other pub food. Try their Easy Company Belgian White IPA, a lower-alcohol white ale with intense flavours of juicy grapefruit to complement the dank hops.

Caldera Brewing, Ashland, Oregon

There are about 45 choices on tap at Caldera Brewing, along with pizza and other dishes. They are known for their Pacific Northwest-style IPAs. Try their Hopportunity Knocks IPA, a big, piney 7% ABV brew made with Centennial hops.

Crux Fermentation Project, Bend, Oregon

Bend has 23 breweries, including some famous ones like Deschutes, Boneyard, and Crux Fermentation Project. Crux debuted the PCT Porter earlier this year, a roasty dark beer that pays homage to the PCT and supports the Pacific Crest Trail Association, featuring artwork by thru-hiker Kolby "Condor" Kirk.

Thunder Island Brewing, Cascade Locks, Oregon

Thunder Island Brewing is perhaps the most dedicated to thru-hikers than any other brewery in the country. Situated just a few blocks from the trail, which crosses the Columbia River at Bridge of the Gods, owner Dave Lipps lets customers and hikers pay it forward by gifting pints of "trail magic" to those who come after them. Try their Sojourner Bavarian Hefeweizen, a 5.8% ABV German-style beer with notes of banana and clove.

Walking Man Brewing, Stevenson, Washington

The town of Stevenson is just across the bridge from Cascade Locks, but the beers at Walking Man Brewing are worth the trip. Celebrate the evolutionary steps that let us hike with their Homo Erectus Northwest-style double IPA, which has piney, resinous flavours.

Dru Bru, Snoqualmie, Washington

Founded in 2014 by Dru Ernst, Dru Bru is less than a mile from the trail. They serve Spring Pale Ale, a medium-bodied beer brewed to honour the PCT, which winds its way across the Summit at Snoqualmie.

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