Oskar Blues’ Barrel-Aged Ten Fidy pours like motor oil and gets the senses racing.  Aged in bourbon barrels, this souped-up Ten Fidy takes what is already a mighty fine beer and shifts it into overdrive. Barrel-Aged Ten Fidy actually comes in at twelve-ninety (12.9%), and the beer’s thick, ebony pour and frothy cappuccino head don’t belie this fact.  Even the brightest lights have trouble passing the dense liquid.  The nose is bombarded with sweet aromas of chocolate, vanilla, molasses, and lesser notes of oak and bourbon.The beer’s body is just the right balance of creamy and thick without be ..read more

Bivy sacks are often the shelter of choice when light-and-lean takes priority over comfort. The trade-off for minimal packed size and weight is often minimal functionality and comfort. Sure most will keep the bugs off and will, for the most part, keep the elements out, but getting a good night’s rest can be a challenge and having to hole up in one during bad weather can be torture. NEMO’s Gogo Elite Minimalist Shelter bridges the gap between a bivy and a one-person tent and may be just what you are looking for if you want to shed poles and ounces from your current shelter.ProsConsLightweight ..read more

Christmas has passed, but I couldn’t resist the wordplay in the title, nor trust my memory to let it wait until next time; but no matter the season, this Saison really shines.  Coming in at 7%, this barrel-aged blend is both fine for fireside sipping as well as refreshing on a warm day. The beer pours slightly opaque, and the butter-yellow liquid shines in the light.  The head is pronounced and frothy like homemade whipped cream that hasn’t quite thickened all the way.  The head gives a muted aroma which is mildly fruity with hints of peach, apple, green grapes and a little typical Belgiany ba ..read more

When I started riding bikes, off road, in the late ’80’s, I saw the bike as an escape vehicle and trails as portals out.  I knew virtually nothing about endurance or backcountry survival, but I’d been raised backpacking and hunting and as such I felt comfortable being ‘out’ in the woods.  Going into the woods has always, from my earliest childhood memories, had positive associations. It would take me a decade to fill in the gaps by gaining endurance and confidence to attempt bigger, longer, and bolder trips.  But the wilderness was always there to teach, and humble, and above all else to gi ..read more

The advantages of a bivvy sleep system – low weight, low volume and quick to set up – make them a clear favourite of ultra-distance bike racers, although if you’re blessed with stable weather (not common here in Scotland) then the view from your bivvy bag in the morning is still hard to beat without the added pressure of a clock ticking. Different brands take different approaches to their construction, with various materials, sizes and closure systems to give trade-offs between the eternal trio of weight, durability and price. Despite these differences, bivvies tend to perform the same job: to ..read more

Though the calendar clearly affirms it, I can’t believe that Christmas is just over a week away. In my defense, 60s and 70s with zero snow so far here doesn’t make it feel like Christmas at all. But those temperatures do keep me craving IPAs, (Okay…when do I not?) and Stone has just the thing for that craving with the latest release in their Enjoy By series. Enjoy By 12.25.17 is definitely an early present for all of us hopheads. Stone has left this one unfiltered which makes sense for a beer meant to be consumed within 37 days of packaging. The lack of filtration gives the golden-orange beer ..read more

Lost and Found at Sea There’s a common saying that life is like a wave and our existence is essentially surfing whatever kind of water comes our way. Metaphorically there may not be a better way to justify the ebbs and flows of good and bad that everyone undoubtedly experiences. What sets certain people apart though, is their ability to ride the waves in their own, unique way. Erkki Punttila knows that the best way to reset is to embrace the tides and sail away into a different mindset.The setting is the far north of Finland in the Lapland area. It’s north of the arctic circle. It’s dark an ..read more

The bugle of the distant elk echoed throughout the valley as I watched my ride share drive away, leaving me at the meeting place of the Gallatin River and Highway 191. The break lights shrank into the distance as I was left on the side of the road with nothing but my bicycle and fly rod. Deep within a bear management area in the Northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park, alone. I have had the pleasure of fishing the Gallatin River in southwest Montana for nearly 20 years. My first couple casts with the fly were on this river. My most sincere way of saying thanks to the river, the tro ..read more

Each year Goose Island’s Boubon County Brand Stout hits shelves the Friday after Thanksgiving, making it my kind of black Friday.  The only trouble is it usually flies off the shelves faster than it is stocked.  While my favorite local liquor store has a “call me when it gets here” list, I didn’t put my name on it this year.  So it was much to my surprise when I walked into another store just a few days ago and found 3 bottles in the cooler.  Merry Christmas to me.The pour of this beer seems rather thin for a massive 14.7% stout.  The low viscosity also left little to no lacing on the glass as ..read more

I’m always looking for ways to get weight off of my back and onto my bike. This can be especially challenging in the dry southwestern climates I do most of my riding in, as water begins to take up huge amounts of real estate on my bike. Recently, I was able to test out the Gorilla Cage system from Free Parable Design. It’s similar to other dry bag systems like the Salsa Anything Cage with Cage Bag, but has some unique features that set it apart.The Gorilla Cage system comes in three parts: the mount, cage, and bag. The three work seamlessly with one another to create a sturdy fork-mounted stor ..read more