Hopworks will launch new bike-themed beer with a ride

RadlerRide_Postcard_02

Portland-based Hopworks Urban Brewery is one of the most bicycle-oriented businesses you’ll find anywhere (they’re also the BikePortland advertising partner that brings you the Weekend Event Guide). Now they’ve just upped the ante even further.

Their latest beer, Organic Totally Radler, features a tandem on the can along with the words “Keep on Biking.” The new Radler — a 2.6% ABV lager blended with lemon soda that HUB calls, a “low-alcohol drink that keeps you cool” — fits in well with the other bikey things HUB is known for, like their BikeBar pub on North Williams Avenue, their Hopworksfiets beer bike, and the annual Handmade Bike & Beer Festival they host and sponsor.

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Short Track MTB Racing -22

HUB founder Christian Ettinger at a
local mountain bike race in 2009.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

To give this new beer the launch it deserves, HUB is hosting the Radler Ride on June 22nd. The ride will start at the BikeBar (3947 N Williams) and roll out to the Portland International Raceway to watch some mountain bike racing and enjoy a few samples, then will loop back to BikeBar, “for a Totally Radler party.” (Meet at 5:00pm, ride at 5:30, party starts at 8:00 pm.)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a paying subscriber.

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9watts
9watts
9 years ago

I suppose the HUB folks know this, but Radler has two meanings. The standard one means ‘someone who bikes’ and the less common Southern German and Austrian usage denotes a drink mixed out of 1/2 beer and 1/2 fizzy lemonade.

dan
dan
9 years ago
Reply to  9watts

From the article “The new Radler — a 2.6% ABV lager blended with lemon soda”

9watts
9watts
9 years ago
Reply to  dan

I saw that. But figured a little etymology and history would be helpful.

Jonathan
Jonathan
9 years ago

To make it ever raderer, they should play Rad during the party.

Eli
Eli
9 years ago

So what are they doing on Powell Blvd, one of the most unfriendly streets in the city for bikes and pedestrians to even just cross? It says a lot about a business whether they set up shop in an accessible area or not, especially if they sell alcohol.

spencer
spencer
9 years ago
Reply to  Eli

If you notice the SE location, its for shipping and production. The last time I checked, trucks were still used for interstate shipping. I ride there all the time, just on the sidewalk however.

Fallaballa
Fallaballa
9 years ago
Reply to  Eli

Pop quiz:

Where is this event taking place?

Jackie
Jackie
9 years ago
Reply to  Eli

I agree. Getting to HUB from the north is miserable. That said, their location puts them in a prime position to advocate infrastructure improvements on Powell. I’d love to hear that they’re actively lobbying ODOT and the mayor for improvements.

dan
dan
9 years ago
Reply to  Jackie

Jackie
Getting to HUB from the north is miserable.

And then once you get there, it’s full of kids running around, the food is fine but not standout, and the beer other than DOA is nothing to write home about. I like the bikey decor though.

barbLin
barbLin
9 years ago
Reply to  Eli

Eli, you obviously don’t know Jack about Christian, his family or what hes done in this community with his employees and his locations and his company.

Anne Hawley
Anne Hawley
9 years ago

I know this is heresy, but I’m kind of uncomfortable with the close association between alcohol and bike-riding. Is it too “nanny-state” to wish for at least some disclaimer about drinking responsibly and not engaging in RUI?

Fallaballa
Fallaballa
9 years ago
Reply to  Anne Hawley

2.6% beer, pretty much the disclaimer you’re looking for.

LC
LC
9 years ago
Reply to  Anne Hawley

“Is it too “nanny-state” to wish for at least some disclaimer about drinking responsibly and not engaging in RUI?”
..
Yes, yes it is.

Gabriel Amadeus
9 years ago

RAD!

velograph
9 years ago

This is awesome. I love a good raddler on a hot summer day. Nice work Hopworks!

Dear Old Mum
Dear Old Mum
9 years ago

Also known as ‘Shandy’ in the UK and not generally associated with quality supping.

pengo
pengo
9 years ago
Reply to  Dear Old Mum

Also known as as ‘Miller Lemonade’ in my house, where quality beer is not for mixing with juice.

Clark in Vancouver
Clark in Vancouver
9 years ago
Reply to  Dear Old Mum

And in Hamburg it’s an “Alsterwasser”. (Alster is a river along Hamburg)
Just checking, it seems that there’s a lot of names for this beer-mix-drink.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biermischgetränk

Tim
Tim
9 years ago

I got hooked on Radlers riding through the Bavaria, Austria and Slovenia where the drink is popular, but not highly regarded.

As pointed out, radler refers to a cyclist. In Bavaria, a standard liter serving of beir was thought to be to much for someone on a bicycle, so beir was mixed with lemonade.

I liked the radler made with grapefruit better.

jason
jason
9 years ago

Drinking and riding seems to be a favorite pass time here in the Pork.