15 Great Post-Run Beers

There's no replacing the nutritional boost of a protein smoothie with electrolytes after a run. But there's also no substitute for the joy of a cold beer after a hard workout—particularly on St. Patrick's Day weekend. In honor of the holiday, here are 15 delicious craft beers that can satisfy any palate; from the light-beer lover to hardcore hop head.
 

Pop open the stubby brown bottle and enjoy this true American-style pilsner. Unlike bland, similarly light-colored, mass-produced beers with "pilsner taste," this beer from the craft brewers at Full Sail has sweet, bready barley with a light, spicy hops touch. Made with the same care as an IPA or imperial stout, this seemingly simple beer is an amazing crowd-pleaser and thirst-quencher.

Our tasters say: "Very refreshing with light hops." "A great beer to drink cold!"

First off, don't hate the can. This lined aluminum chills faster, keeps beer fresher, and won't shatter if it slips from your sweaty hands. The beer inside the can is no slouch either. A German-style hefeweizen wheat beer, the Royal Weisse is smooth with banana and clove flavors over a light, doughy malted wheat and barley mixture. It's a fantastic option for folks shy of light lagers, or merely in search of a different, yet satisfying post-run or BBQ beer.

Our tasters say: "Tastes like bubblegum and bananas, in a good way." "Well balanced, I'd drink a lot."

In American brewing fashion, the experts at Firestone Walker took the classic, eminently drinkable European pilsner and amplified the grassy German hops to American craft beer standards. By adding more hops at the end of the brewing process, Firestone boosted the aroma to create a bouquet of spicy melon fruit. Consider this a post-run beer for thirsty hop heads who love a good pale ale, but need a lighter-bodied beer on hot days.

Our tasters say: "Long-lingering hoppy aftertaste." "I'd love to pair this with spicy Indian or Mexican food."

This microbrew classic has been around since 1986 and weathered decades of changing tastes thanks an immaculate balance of hops and malt flavors. Inspired by the English pale ale–a style that favors neither ingredient–Summit EPA brings toasted and toffee malt together with spicy, citrus hop flavors for a beer more substantial than your average lager, but still more refreshing than most ales.

Our tasters say: "Love, love, love the toasty malts." "Really interesting; refreshing, but not too light."

New Belgium's Fat Tire Amber Ale hogs all the press for the Colorado-based brewery, but the Abbey is its best tribute to beers from its namesake country. Modeled after the strong, Trappist monk-brewed ales of northern Europe, this dark amber beer mixes smooth caramel malt flavors with the fruity, banana and spice notes created by traditional abbey brewer's yeast. At 7-percent ABV, it's a beer to drink carefully, but it's flavorful enough that you won't mind taking it a little slower.

Our tasters say: "Sweet, reminds me of banana bread." "I could take a long pull of this after a hard run."

Love hops, but not the high alcohol of hoppy beer? All-Day IPA keeps a very reasonable 5-percent ABV, while providing the bursting hops character of an IPA normally in the 6- to 8-percent range. From the aroma through the finish, this brew highlights the big, zesty grapefruit and pine flavors of American hops, but with milder bitterness levels and a medium-weight body akin to Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

Our tasters say: "Love that it's hoppy but lower alcohol." "Very drinkable post-run."

French and Belgian famers used to treat their workers to light, refreshing farmhouse ales in the hot summer months. Over the years, the farmhouse–also called saison–style morphed into a stronger, richer ale, but it retained the crisp edge and delicate flavors of its ancestors. Though the Tank 7 hails from Kansas City, MO, and not Brussels, you'd hardly know the difference. This masterfully brewed beer adds citrusy American hops to the dry, toasty, peppery ale. The combination of strength (8.5 percent) and complex flavors make it a beer worthy of treating yourself after a particularly grueling weekend long run.

Our tasters say: "Perfect for reflecting on a run." "The bright, natural carbonation is refreshing."

Though named after "lawnmower beer"–the designation given any light, refreshing brew that feels euphoric after an afternoon under the beating sun–Fancy Lawnmower is much richer. Instead of the usual yellow, watered-down lager, Saint Arnold mimics the German Kolsch style that's light in color but never short on flavor. More impressively, it packs the bready, citrus character into a bottle with only 3.9% alcohol, which studies show is low enough that it may actually rehydrate you (just a little). Prefer the dark side? Try Santo, Saint Arnold's roasty, stout-like version of Fancy Lawnmower.

Tasters say: "Terrific post-run beverage! Very drinkable, but not watery."

Few tracks in the world have the history of Eugene, Oregon's Hayward Field, which will host the Track and Field Olympic Trials again this summer. And absolutely no other track has a line of ales brewed in its honor. Just a short jog across town from the facility is the Eugene City Brewery, which among its Track Town beers produces the Triple Jump Pale Ale. More approachable than their 200 Meter IPA, and more satisfying than their Honey Orange Wheat, the Triple Jump complements Pacific Northwest hops with locally grown barley. The resulting mixture makes a complex all-American beer that's just as welcome after a track session as it is when you're sitting in the stands.

Tasters say: "Nice and crisp. Much more going on than your average pale ale."

Hailing from Boston, this brown lager makes an ideal post-run (or post-marathon) reward with its tasty mix of crisp roasted barley and smooth cocoa with hints of coffee and molasses. Harpoon uses a healthy portion of hops to temper the malt sweetness, and make a deliciously balanced beer that's not too heavy to enjoy when you're thirsty, yet satisfying after a rough day. Bonus: The dark grains that define this beer give it an antioxidant power similar to that of red wine.

Tasters say: "Forget post-run. The lower carbonation seems perfect for a mid-run beer."

This India Pale Ale from SoCal boasts a tongue-crushing 100+ bittering units (for comparison, Budweiser has 11), making it one of the world's hoppiest beers. While the 2.5 pounds of hops per barrel is great for beer lovers who crave the bitter citrus bite, the hops are also loaded with polyphenols, antioxidants that repair damaged cells and protect your heart. Be warned: At 7.7% alcohol, this ale is to sip, not guzzle.

Tasters say: "Intense with a long bitter finish. One or two and you're guaranteed a good post-run nap."

In the tradition of the storied Belgian brewers, Portland, Maine's Allagash Brewing has recreated the witbier with impressive accuracy. The more familiar Blue Moon from Coors chases after the same Belgian wheat beer style, but Allagash brews up the real deal. The toasty malts, spicy lemon zest and orange flavors are set off by the crisp, Champagne-like carbonation, to make a beer that's just as welcoming on a sweaty day as it is after a chilly long run.

Tasters say: "Very bubbly; tickles my tongue. Spicy, like a holiday nog."

Brewed at Bavaria's oldest wheat beer brewery, Schneider Weisse is a hallmark of the hefeweizen (unfiltered German wheat ale) style. The distinct blend of banana, orange and clove flavors over subtly sweet wheat bread amplifies the common hefe character. Like the Allagash White, this hazy wheat is beer packed with brewer's yeast. The alcohol- and CO2-producing cells provide the snappy carbonation, but are also packed with B vitamins, which can boost recovery. Yeast settles out of suspension in beer, so to ensure you get it all, swirl the bottle when it's less than a quarter full to pick the yeast up off the bottom of the bottle.

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It's not unusual for Super Bowl-sponsoring megabrewers to send kegs to a marathon, but New Hampshire's Smuttynose microbrewery sponsors the yearlong Will Run for Beer race series. Their Old Brown Dog brown ale makes an ideal recovery beverage for races in New England's harsh winter, with a slightly sweet taste and thicker body. The dark malts skew towards coffee, with lighter cocoa and caramel flavors that go down surprisingly easy.

Tasters say: "Smooth and well balanced. A classic brown ale."

This 8-percent ale defies beer styles. It's a strong red ale rushing with juicy American hops, but it also features a quirky English yeast strain that provides a drier body than most beers at this weight, plus mild sugar-cookie undertones. It's a little on the heavy side, but in a delicious, comforting sense that any hop-lover won't mind. Sold in 22-ounce bottles, it's an ideal beer to share with your favorite training partner after a big race. If your run doesn't give you plenty to talk about and enjoy, this beer will.

Tasters say: "Very bubbly; tickles my tongue. Spicy, like a holiday nog."

Matt Allyn is a certified beer judge, co-author of The Brewer's Apprentice, and the senior online editor at Bicycling magazine. Follow him through mud, sweat, and beers on Twitter at @mdallyn.