RESULTS: REVERSE KEG RIDE: Saturday October 29, 2011

Dozens of incredible photos are popping up all over facebook, our costumes are finally dry, we are warm again... mostly. And our Snow Melt Winter Ale has had the most name-appropriate release day in it's history. Yes, we did the Reverse Keg Ride IN THE SNOW!

Something like 107 brave and perhaps slightly deranged souls took a look out there window a couple days before Halloween this year, saw that we had picked up a couple inches of fresh snow, and said... "Let me get my costume on and get down to OTB on my bike, because they will definitely need my help getting that empty keg back to the brewery today!" And in the process, you helped raised some awareness AND some dough for a great cause.

And we really couldn't have done it without your help: Bike racks, smooth check-in, breakfast for 100+, safe handling of all riders on a very challenging weather day, and an awesome shirt/poster design to bring it all together. I was skeptical of the costume idea this year, but it couldn't have been a better idea... hats off to Seth on that one, and in general, for running a VERY smooth event, top to bottom.

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- Venture Outdoors's Seth Gernot (Coordinated the whole damn thing)

- Over The Bar Bicycle Cafe (Our gracious hosts at the start of the ride, provider of BREAKFAST for 100+!)

- Flock of Cycles (Our diligent ride marshals for the day)

...and of course, to all of you who came out to ride. See you here soon - and see you on your bike in the Spring for the 2012 Pedal Pale Ale Keg Ride, the mother of all keg rides!

Cheers - Scott

Once again, that crisp Fall air means that the end of Pedal Pale Ale Season is drawing near. As you may have heard, back in May about 450 of our GOOD FRIENDS came out to help deliver the first Pedal Pale Ale kegs of the season at our annual PEDAL PALE ALE KEG RIDE, and raised some nice money for charity at the same time! And just like last year, we need to get the last of this year's empty Pedal Pale Ale kegs back to the brewery... which in my book is the perfect excuse for another bike ride! (Okay, it's a pretty flimsy excuse, but work with me, okay?)

FIRST, A BIT ABOUT THE BEER: In case you've missed it so far this year, our summer seasonal, PEDAL PALE ALE is a crisp, American Pale Ale with a bright floral hop character, and a lighter body than its big brother (our flagship Big Hop IPA). We change up the recipe a little bit every year to suit our ever shifting tastes, and to keep the release a little more interesting. I believe it just might be THE PERFECT post-bike-ride beverage, but that's just my opinion. And since this year's supply is winding down, we need to send it off in style...

THE RIDE: After a Hot Breakfast at OTB Bicycle Cafe courtesy of OTB Bicycle Cafe (thanks guys!!!), we'll head off in a nice tight group. Of course, the big difference is that unlike the KEG RIDE in the Spring, everybody knows where we're going on the REVERSE KEG RIDE... back to the brewery, just like last year...mostly. Pretty much. Kinda. Yeah, sure.

And like last time, this ride is going legit, with permits, insurance, ride marshals, and complete lack of Friday evening rush-hour traffic. And this time, we're also asking that you STAY BEHIND THE KEGS as we carefully wind our way back toward the brewery. Like the Spring Keg Ride, this trip will be slow, meandering, and maybe even a little surprising, in spite of already knowing the destination. When we arrive, we'll say goodbye to Pedal Pale Ale until next year, and raise a glass of SNOW MELT WINTER ALE to toast it's passing, on me of course.

A NEW TWIST: Since this year's Reverse Keg Ride lands so close to Halloween, let's mix it up a bit shall we, and make this ride COSTUME PREFERRED. And as a little encouragement, there will be prizes awarded in these three categories:

Best Beer-themed Costume
Best Pittsburgh-themed Costume
Best Overall Costume

DIFFICULTY, PACE: There's no two ways about it. Riding from OTB to EEBC is an uphill trip. If you've not been on your bike for 3 years, this ride may not be for you. But we'll do our best to keep the pace nice and gentle, and keep the group together...which will mean some waiting around for the quicker riders. (Part of this route will include a long climb through Panther Hollow, but we plan to stop at the end of this climb and re-mass the group, and wait for any stragglers.) Of course, the good news is that if you're heading back to the S. Side, it's almost entirely down hill.

Part of the route will be on roads with regular car traffic, a part of it will be on paved trails, and some will be unpaved but smooth gravel trails. So really, any kind of bike/tires should work just fine. And if you're needing to pick up a used bike for this event, check out FreeRide, a local bike organization that does some great work in the community.

THE PARTICULARS:

Saturday, October 29th. Rain or shine.

Breakfast and Check-in at 9:00am

Depart at 10:00, arrive at 11:00-11:30am

Prizes: Costume judging and beer-filled prizes will be awarded at our destination in each of the three categories.

Cost: $15 for pre-registration (on-line), $20 for Day-of-ride registration.

This charitable contribution gets you a continental breakfast, your morning coffee, a fun day of riding your bike in a big group... and this year's very first SNOW MELT WINTER ALE fresh from the brewery. Not to mention all the silliness that comes with riding a bike in a Halloween costume! And just maybe, we'll throw in a surprise or two. Okay, at least one surprise. Guaranteed.

Plus, know that your registration dollars go to support an excellent cause...

THE CAUSE: This year's beneficiary is the "Advisory Board on Autism and Related Disorders" (aka ABOARD), a non-profit agency, providing a lifeline of support for familoes and individuals with autism. They do great work with modest resources, and although we've worked with them a bit in the past, this is their first time being our keg ride beneficiary.

HOW TO SIGN UP: If the idea of dressing up in a costume and following kegs being pulled around town by bicycles (ridden by other people in costumes) sounds like the kind of thing that interests you, I have to say that you're our kind of people! To ride along, you first need to REGISTER FOR THE RIDE by hitting that big blue button below. Then show up at our starting point, OTB (here's a map to it) with your bike, get yourself checked-in, collect your "beer token" ...and then just follow the bouncing kegs when we head out.

RETURN TRIP: Sorry folks, you're on your own. But it is downhill. Ask around if you're heading back to the S. Side, and would like to ride with someone. Generally lots of other riders making the return trip.

CAN KIDS COME? Yes. There have definitely been kids on this ride in the past, and they are certainly welcome this time. But be advised that this ride is on OPEN CITY STREETS, and a decent portion of this trip will be up one loooong hill. But the pace will be gentle, and we plan to obey the law, stop at red lights, and respect one-way street designations. And of course the kids don't get a beer at the end of the ride. But we can substitute beer with some Home Made Root Beer for anyone that's interested.

TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW: As you know, we do LOTS of events every year... Beer Dinners, Festivals, Volunteer Days, but this is probably my favorite event of the year, and now we're doing it TWICE A YEAR! It's a great excuse to get out on your bike with your GOOD FRIENDS for day of group riding, some good food, some good fun, some GOOD BEER, and of course a good cause. So seriously, tell everyone you know about this. The more people we have, the more money we will raise, and the more fun it will be.

I'll see you on the ride! Cheers, Scott