DRAFT Magazine

[Draftmag.com is on vacation this week, so enjoy this Beer Runner from the archives. I thought this was appropriate since Joe and I are planning a sequel to the Milwaukee-to-Chicago beer and bikes ride he talks about here. Enjoy.]

Joe Stephenson’s love of craft beer began as a Leinenkugel’s tour guide.

Later he realized he could mix in his newfound cycling hobby when he discovered beer-themed bike rides like the Tyranena Brewing’s Oktoberfest ride, the New Belgium Urban Assault, and Milwaukee’s Biketoberfest.

Here he talks to the Beer Runner about switching from Northern Wisconsin biking to urban Milwaukee biking, partying with tour-goers, and living the High Life.

What are your Beer Biker credentials?

Does biking to the bar whenever possible count?

How did you get into cycling?

In college I commuted around campus on a hybrid, but I didn’t really catch the road riding bug until after I graduated. It was partly thanks to a car with too many problems but mostly because of sheer boredom. I had just completed an internship and while looking for a “real” job and needed something to kill time.  My roommate had a Trek that he let me use and after a few loops around Eau Claire county roads, I was hooked.  The roadside views of fall in the Wisconsin Northwoods are pretty amazing. I had to adapt to urban riding, which I now embrace and love. The view of Lake Michigan heading down Lincoln Memorial Drive in Milwaukee is pretty amazing.

What did you learn during your four years as a brewery tour guide?

I learned that discounted 1/2 barrels, 6 guys in a college house and a kegerator can do some damage to a GPA. Leinie’s is also where I learned how cool and down to earth most beer people are. More than once, out-of-town Leinie’s visitors that were staying in Eau Claire ended up hanging out with us at the local pubs that night, hours after the tour ended. There was always plenty of beer talk… and consumption, of course. When I first started it was shocking how much some of the super fan people loved Leinie’s and how excited they were when they came to the brewery for the first time.  But after a few months of working there, I totally understood it and embraced it… and partied with a lot of them.

A few months ago you completed Biketoberfest. What’s the secret to lasting through 5+ hours of consuming beer and 9+ miles of pedal-powered barhopping?

Start with a good base.  The ride started at Cafe Centraal so there is always some sweet potato frites or a chicken curry pita to get you going.  Pair those with a nice, heady bottle of Chouffe Houblon and your set to roll — and stay warm at 9% alcohol. Staying with the pack is also advised…it’s not as fun if you fall behind.

You have a Pabst Blue Ribbon shirt to show your PBR pride. What’s your favorite riding gear?

When I’m doing the more urban or commuting riding, Outlier has some really nicely made and good looking stuff that can double as work wear. Chrome makes a really nice jacket that’s actually next on the wish list.  It has some really cool and functional design features like wind resistance and hidden pockets. When it comes to road biking, I love a beer logo jersey. Leinie’s comes out with one just about every season so I was able to accumulate a few while working there. I also found a cool jersey in the Czech Republic while touring Pilsner Urquell, which I later found out is the label for a non-alcoholic Czech pilsner. Oops. I was able to score a Swobo merino wool short sleeved jersey at the Urban Assault Ride… that guy gets quite a few miles in summer.

You biked from Milwaukee to Chicago not too long ago. How did you celebrate?

Almost any beer at the end of a ride is great but Miller High Life was an especially sweet reward. I didn’t pack anything besides my clothes, toiletries and a few tools, so there wasn’t room for beer. Luckily, two buddies met me at the mouth of the Lake Shore bike path just north of the city with a cooler in tow. They knew I was going to need more than a mere 12 oz to celebrate, so tall boys it was. We also tackled a 5L mini-keg of Bells Two Hearted later that night.

Anything else to add?

Let me know when the next ride to Denver is!