Vienna Lager — The perfect beer after a difficult ride.
Beers I have Ridden: Vienna Lager
The Ride – Devils Backbone Ride and Ramble Metric Century
In my original take on this ride, I detailed how difficult it was for me – a slightly heavier than I want to be, 50-something intermediate rider.
The ride was beautiful. It took us along a rolling course in the countryside surrounding Wintergreen resort in Nelson County, Va. It was the stuff of postcards.
Except for the two major climbs.
The climbs sapped my energy and shredded my legs. That made it a bit more difficult to appreciate the scenery.
It also justified the intense desire to finish at the Devils Backbone Basecamp where cold beer awaited.
Vienna Lager
I didn’t always like craft beer. As the craft brewing movement began to take hold — the whole hops thing was lost on me. Why would anyone want bitter tasting beer?
Why would anyone want bitter anything?
It was during those times that I discovered Vienna Lager. Here was a beer that looked dark, but tasted “regular.” You could drink it in an establishment that offered two sided beer lists and not be made to feel like you had ordered a Bud Lite or Corona.
You could have your beer and drink it too.
I’ve got friends in the restaurant business who tell me Vienna Lager is their best or second-best selling beer. I believe it. Vienna Lager is really good, without being overpowering.
Vienna Lager has an IBU of only 18. As the name suggests it is a Vienna style lager. The brew has won numerous awards — it case an argument needs to be made for its legitimacy.
The pre-beer, ride induced stupor
Drinks in one of the several outdoor pavilions at the Devil’s Backbone complex at Wintergreen.
After decades of running marathons, ultra marathons and riding bikes farther than my training suggests, I have a pretty good idea when I’m toast.
I was toast.
Organizers of the Devils Backbone Road Ride and Ramble anticipated this. Riders received a $10 Devils Backbone gift card as they crossed the finish line.
It was no more than 100 feet from the gift card desk to the outdoor bar/pavilion.
Care to guess how long the $10 lasted?
Since I was adventured-out from the bike ride, I just wanted something reliable to drink. This was no time to experiment.
Not only that, but with several hours worth of Gu, various energy drinks, and God-knows-what kind of snacks from the rest stops, my stomach couldn’t tolerate anything too heavy.
The Vienna lager was the perfect finish to an epic day.
These people are smiling because they are only a mile and a half from the finish. It’s good to finish at a brewery.
Heady-Topper is one of the world’s best beers.
Want to see other Beers I have Ridden? Click here and enjoy!
