Post-ride Beer: Sedona to NC

Inspiration

After an epic journey through the American Southwest, I was torn from the Sedona dirt and plopped back in the Appalachian Mountains; so here’s to it.

By Logan

PUBLISHED Jun 12, 2015

Conversation

We left Sedona (the first time) back in February. From there we visited Joshua Tree and circled back around through southern California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. Then we went back south, and then west, and finally landed in Sedona for one last week of non-stop trail shredding. Gin jokes, but I think I literally had to be wrestled into the van and forced to leave. Sedona dirt is bewitching like that. After a couple of days of dodging truckers on I-40, and a quick pedal on Alabama’s Cold Mountain trail system, I was reminded of one thing that makes western NC special (aside from Pisgah)… beer.

Wicked Weed’s Lusus Naturae double IPA brett is one of the baddest beers that’s crossed my lips in some time. I’ve had a thing for wild ales and sours for the last couple of years, but IPAs are my jam, so this one leapt into my hand from a shelf at a local bottle shop. The Lusus pours a nice pale gold with a flora aroma of tropical fruit. The flavor starts like a citrusy IPA with an immediate bitter hoppiness followed by resinous pine and grapefruit. It finishes with a dry and light sour funk from Wicked Weed’s house brettanomyces strain. This beer is perfectly crisp and refreshing for post-ride enjoyment. Highly recommended.

From Wicked Weed, “This ale is a dry, North Carolina Double IPA brewed with Riverbend malt and 30 pounds of fresh Cascade hops from Echoview farm. It was then finished with our house brettanomyces strain. Hoppy up front, with a slight wild finish this ale will get funkier with time. We highly recommend taking home a bottle for your cellar.”