Thanks to Zephyr Adventure’s Yellowstone and Grand Tetons Multisport Beer Adventure, I’m now sure about what I have long believed to be true: work and beer drinking do go hand in hand. For Doug the BeerBarian Bailey, owner of Bear Tooth Biking and worker at Red Lodge Ales in Zephyr’s home base, work and beer make a truly winning combo.
I was fortunate enough to be able to join Doug and a whole slew of beer loving comrades on an amazing adventure with Zephyr this past July. We journeyed by bike down a roughly 5000 foot decent off of Bear Tooth pass and then cruised into the town of Redlodge for fresh craft beer at Red Lodge Brewing Company. This was the ultimate grand finale on a beer-centered escapade through Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.
Along the road we experienced 5 different towns, 6 different breweries, 1 harrowing white water adventure, a lake swim, road trip sing alongs and multiple geyser eruptions. Over the course of 5 days, 10 strangers transformed into solid friends, and I felt a tinge of woe as we parted ways at the Billings airport. While those five days were packed with too many fun-tivities and tasty beers to list hereour energetic and gung-ho guides, Reno and Terry (aka Ter Bear). Thanks to you hardworking, fun-loving guys, we enjoyed a remarkable glimpse into Montana’s fascinating cultural and geographical landscape, as well as the science and schooling of properly imbibing barley pops (beer)
I grew up here in Montana, and have spent much of my life exploring its endless offerings. Still, my Zephyr foray into beers, bears, buffalo and big sky country opened my eyes to new and wondrous things and places. With this trip I now proclaim that I am a kindred spirit with ol Doug the BeerBarion and I can proudly drink beer and work. This amazing Zephyr Adventure was my entry into that world.
This guest post was contributed by Max Lowe, photographer for Beer West Magazine on the Yellowstone and Grand Tetons Multisport Beer Adventure.
For a video of the the Bear Tooth Pass bike ride by last year’s tour group (courtesy of Marlena Crovatt-Bagwell) see: http://www.meadowneck.org/Places/US-National-Parks-Forests/2011-Yellowstone-Grand-Tetons/19226925_3H3q6Z