We’re rolling out a new specialty beer this Labor Day weekend to celebrate the last weeks of summer and all the great cycling events happening this month: Commuters Gold Ale. This beer keeps the flavor of summer alive with its light body, palate-refreshing finish and mild hoppiness – great for a post-bicycle jaunt to the brewpub.

This new brew is similar to another specialty beer we debuted last spring, the Hardtail Ale. Our brewer, Larry (who bikes to work almost everyday!), took what he liked about the Hardtail recipe and substituted some organic hops for flavor and aroma. We think Commuters Gold has the same great character as Hardtail, with the added benefit of using more even organic ingredients.

This September the Bicycle Transportation Alliance’s annual Bike Commute Challenge inspires us to hop in the (bike) saddle. We’re in our fourth year competing in this friendly, statewide competition to log as many bike-to-work miles as we can for the entire month. We’re also adding seven new Standing Stone commuter bikes to our existing fleet, bringing the total number of employees who have benefitted from our RPM Bike Program to 57! And at the end of the month we’ll leap into the Siskiyou Challenge Relay Race (9/28) with several Standing Stone Brewing teams pedaling through three biking legs on the multi-sport course. Stay tuned for even more info on September biking news coming soon…

About the Beer

This late-summer specialty is a golden ale with citrus and tropical fruit aroma. The light mouthfeel and cracker-like flavor are followed by a delayed, lingering and mild bitterness from Citra and Galaxy hops. 5.1% abv, 20 IBU

Malt

• Organic Pilsner

• Ashburne Mild

• Acidulated

Hops

• Bittering: None, bitter character comes from late kettle flavor/aroma hops

• Flavor/Aroma: Citra, Galaxy

Beer and Food Pairing

The mildly astringent finish of Commuters Gold Ale makes it a great partner for light-bodied food with a bit of oil and richness – think fresh produce cooked lightly with olive oil, or flash fried to maintain flavor and crispness. Here are our suggestions from the brewpub menu:

• Deep Fried Zucchini
• Calamari with Lemon Wheels
• Chicken Flauta Salad
• Sautéed Seasonal Vegetables
• Quinoa Nut Burger

Come give Commuters Gold a spin, and enjoy Southern Oregon’s great September weather by commuting by bike all month long, too!