The latest trend in trail maintenance is beer. Outdoor companies across the US are teaming up with local craft breweries to create unique beers where the profits go towards upkeep and repairs for local trails. Available only locally, these beers provide a great way to garner support directly from the community the uses and cares about the trail systems instead of relying on the state or city to do something with limited funding.
On the East Coast in West Hartford, CT, REI partnered with Hartford’s Hanging Hills Brewing Company to release Old New England Trail IPA. Proceeds from beer sales will go to member based nonprofit Connecticut Forest & Parks Association.
The beer takes its name from the New England Trail — a National Scenic Trail — which winds up 215 miles from Long Island Sound to Massachusetts. The Metacomet section of the trail is right in REI’s backyard in West Hartford and is maintained by Connecticut Forest & Parks Association.
Old New England Trail IPA is available across Connecticut.
Over in Colorado, La Sportiva teamed up with Sanitas Brewing Co to release MTN TRL ALE, a 5.5% ABV easy drinking American Pale Ale perfect for that post hike or run beer. Proceeds from MTN TRL ALE will be donated to the Boulder Open Space Conservancy (BOSC). Using these funds, BOSC will work closely with the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks to fund trail crews that will repair trails on Mount Sanitas in the summer of 2018.
“We’ve always admired our neighbors at Sanitas for their beer, their commitment to supporting Mount Sanitas and the community that rallies around the iconic Boulder landmark,” says Jonathan Degenhardt, marketing director at La Sportiva NA. “Over a few pints at the brewery, we came up with a collaborative partnership including MTN TRL ALE and the MTN2TBL event both of which will help maintain the trails on Mount Sanitas that we all enjoy on a regular basis.”
MTN TRL Ale is available in liquor stores, bars, and restaurants all over the Boulder and Denver area.