We're unabashed beer lovers at Runner's World. Our only requirement for a post-run beer is it be wet. Cold is good, too. However, several of America's finest craft brewers—many staffed by runners— have created recovery-friendly ales and lagers to ease our aching legs. While the average beer provides carbs and a little protein, these also include additions like vitamin-rich fruit or salt to replace lost electrolytes. Here are seven of the best beers to end a run with.
Related: The Health Benefits of Beer
Sufferfest FKT
Derek Call Sufferfest Beer Co. celebrates the relationship between kicking ass on a run and following up with great beer. Its new, lightly tart pale ale, named after fastest known time, the record for a trail or route, adds vitamin C-rich black currants and sodium (65mg per 12-ounce can).
Zelus Race Race
Derek Call Race Pace is impressively hop-heavy for its slight, 3.7 percent alcohol. That's not to say it drinks heavy. This hazy, session-ready ale is crisp, while flavorful, and leaves a pleasant lingering bitterness. Race Pace boasts the added benefits of potassium, sodium, and calcium.
Dogfish Head SeaQuench
Derek Call SeaQuench achieves its thoroughly refreshing finish by blending three sweat-friendly German beer styles—the gose, with sea salt, the tart Berliner, and the crisp kolsch—to create the uber-post-run beer.
Related: Torch belly fat and strengthen your core for effortless miles with Run for Abs!
Mispillion War Goose
Derek Call Tastes like purple! Seriously, but in a great way. War Goose is based on the sour Berliner weisse style. The brewers at Mispillion then added grape-flavored electrolytes to set this ale apart. For a more subtle fruit, try the War Badger with its fruit punch electrolyte mix.
Goose Island Soleil
Derek Call Goose Island's BQing brewer Tim Faith developed Soleil to be his perfect post-run beer. The Belgian-style saison is refreshingly dry, with a pleasant floral character punctuated by the additions of kombucha and ginger.
Sam Adams Raspberry Lemon Gose
Derek Call The German gose style stands out for its use of salt. Which we admit, on paper, doesn't sound appetizing. However, this fruit-forward raspberry-lemon flavored wheat shows no hint of the electrolytes floating within. And should you find yourself in Boston around marathon time, seek out Sam's special release, the 26.2 Brew gose.
Avery Go Play IPA
Derek Call The 5.5 percent alcohol puts the sodium- and potassium-infused Go Play on the sessionable end of the IPA spectrum. The big, juicy hop flavors prove it's worthy of any post-run celebration.
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Matt Allyn is the features director for Bicycling and Runner's World magazines. He's run nine marathons and come heartbreakingly close to BQing three times. In addition to running and cycling, he's also covered beer for more than a decade and is a certified beer judge.
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