Condensed Beer For Backpackers
By Rocky Thompson on August 10th, 2012
My old coworker Kris never understood backpacking. “I just don’t understand why you’d carry the keg that far from the car?” he was fond of saying. Good news for Kris, and other backcountry beer addicts who don’t relish carrying cans of beer in their packs. Pat’s Backcountry Beverages will begin offering a dehydrated beer in January of 2013. The concentrated liquid is poured into their plastic bottle, mixed with a carbonating agent and water, and a few minutes later you’re drinking warm beer. There’s also soda available if you need something besides water for mixing whiskey. I can’t wait to try this stuff, though I shudder at the notion of beer made in a plastic bottle from liquid concentrate. I wonder what would happen if you drank the concentrate straight? Only one way to find out.
Tags: beer
I’ve been following the development of this company for some time now. Not sure how this liquid beer concentrate is going to taste but I look forward to trying it. I’ve ran the idea by a few beer freaks I know and they think the concentrating approach is right. Dehydrating would probably cause alcohol loss. Speaking of which I wonder what the ABV is and if that brings up any selling/distribution difficulties? Am I going to be able to by this from some kid at REI? If the crew at Pat’s is following this we would love to hear from you.
Im looking forward to trying this
For many years now, begginner home brewers have been purchasing hopped malt extracts. They require little or no boiling, and you could eliminate the yeast if you used an artificial carbonating agent. You could mix up something that looks and tastes like beer, but without the yeast and resulting fermentation, you would, of course, have no alcohol. Could this beverage simply be a hopped liquid malt extract with ethanol added?
I am fortunate enough to live in Germany, where I can wander in beautiful countryside – and there is always a nice little brewery in the next valley.
But this deserves a shot – good luck to them!
This is Pat (of Pat’s Backcountry Beverages). Normally not one to chime in on these discussions, but I appreciate the invitation to clarify a few points here Nick. The beer concentrates have been classified by the Tax and Trade Bureau as a “distilled spirit” due to their high alcohol concentration. Thus they will be sold through liquor stores etc. The Carbonator Bottle, eco2ACTIVATOR packets, and beverage concentrates will be available through outdoor retail stores. Cheers!
@Patrick If you’re looking for product testers…let us know
Glad to be a tester !
No thanks. I think I’ll just wait until the end of my trip for a beer.
Whoa! I gotta say, I’m pretty skeptical, but also very excited to try this stuff out on a Mountainbeering adventure some time.