Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
Subscription Form

Get notified of the best News

Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 25K Likes
Twitter 5K Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn 0
22K Followers
25K Likes
5K Followers
1K Followers
Mountain Life
Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
  • Food & Drink

Electrolytic Beer: The Future of Refreshing

  • March 16, 2021
  • Sarah Bulford
Total
31
Shares
31
0
0
0
0
0
Total
31
Shares
Share 31
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0

Sponsored by Rally. Words and photos :: Kristin Schnelten. 

“Electrolytic beer” reads the can of Rally beer in my hand. Electrolytes? In beer?

Interest piqued, I pop the top, take a first swig—and am transported to another time, another life. To the mid-90s. A hot, humid, nameless midwestern town. Before I discovered hops, before pale ales steamrolled the industry. I’m a college kid, holding a keg cup after a multi-hour slog on the rugby pitch. And this beer in my hand? Damn, is it ever refreshing.

Rally Beer
Time to hydrate – Photo: Kristin Schnelten

The brainchild of Alan Wood, Michael Mavian and Spencer Sgro, Rally is in a class of its own in Canada, tagged as a “functional beer.”

Back in 2019, mid-way through the Butter Tart 700 (a 760-km Southern Ontario bikepacking route), Alan stopped in Thornbury to crash on his buddy Spencer’s couch. “It had been a long, hot day on the bike, and I just wanted to quench my thirst with a post-ride beer—but I didn’t want something heavy.” Why didn’t a post-adventure beer exist? One that restores electrolytes, replenishes sodium loss? Why hadn’t someone developed a beer for athletes? The two started brainstorming, and enthusiasm for their lightbulb idea quickly morphed into a plan.

Alan had experience in the brewing industry, and used those skills to formulate a recipe: a golden ale. Lower-alcohol (it clocks in at a sessionable 4.9% ABV). Artisanal salts. Blackcurrants.

Rally Beer
Functional Beer – Photo: Kristin Schnelten

The result of his experiments not only ticked all the boxes, but was easy on the taste buds, to boot. Light but flavourful, with slight fruity hints.

Working on the contract-brewing model, an established Ontario brewery produces their cans following Alan’s recipe, while he, Spencer and co-founder Michael Mavian concentrate on distribution, marketing and sales. But launching a new craft beer during a pandemic was a challenge: “All licensees were closed, and all events cancelled. No sampling and events is a killer, because that’s the best way to tell people about the product, our mission, and us!”

As much of a struggle as it’s been, word has been trickling out since they delivered their first cans last July. As they begin their second year in business, Alan says, “We’re absolutely swamped right now.”

With their company growing exponentially, Alan and Spencer are working around the clock. But, as athletes and adventurers, they’re still finding time to get out there: a few laps on the ski hill, a quick run, a kiteboarding session on the bay. Because that’s where it all started, with a love of beer and a love of the outdoors.

Before the snow completely melted, I took Rally out for a couple test runs. We tucked a few cans in our packs for an afternoon snowshoe; friends filled their six-pack carriers on an evening fat-bike ride; we distance-gathered around the campfire.

Screenshot 2021 03 15 at 11.07.45 AM
Snowshoe adventure beers – Photo: Kristin Schnelten

Simultaneously cracking cans, we toasted a fine day on the trail. A mixed bag of beer lovers, some of us gravitate to brews high on the IBU scale, while others hang out with the pilsners (and I even included a couple cider drinkers). What was the verdict on this new brew? I heard comments about fruitiness, appreciation of the concept, declarations of new-favourite-beer status—and multiple utterances of, “a perfect après beer.”

Rally beer and bikes
Packing some essentials – Photo: Kristin Schnelten

But the most common feedback? “This is just so refreshing!”

These guys seem to have hit the nail squarely on the head with this one.

You can find Rally at your local LCBO, Sobeys or Longo’s. Assuming they can keep it in stock during the long, hot summer ahead.

Total
31
Shares
Share 31
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0
Sarah Bulford

Previous Article
Patience-Progression-Catching-up-with-The-Senders-Baily-McDonald-photo-supplied-by-Baily-McDonald
  • Snowboarding

Patience & Progression: Catching up with The Senders’ Baily McDonald

  • March 15, 2021
  • Ned Morgan
View Post
Next Article
  • Mountain Biking
  • On The Trail

Traceurs de bonheur / Grooming Happiness

  • March 18, 2021
  • Ned Morgan
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Food & Drink
  • On The Trail
  • Travel

Under the Influence: Oregon (part 2)

  • Editor
  • December 7, 2022
Greenman-Acres-Cannabis-farm-Colin-Field-drone
View Post
  • Food & Drink
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Ontario

Green Tsunami: Behind the Scenes at an Organic Cannabis Farm

  • Mountain Life Media
  • November 3, 2022
Dierdre-Buryk-Peak-Season-orchard
View Post
  • Food & Drink
  • Ontario

Peak Season: Celebrating Ontario’s Freshest Food

  • Ned Morgan
  • August 22, 2022
View Post
  • Food & Drink
  • Mountain Biking
  • On The Trail

Ale Trails: Squamish

  • Sarah Bulford
  • August 1, 2022
View Post
  • Food & Drink
  • Mountain Biking
  • Mountain Lifer

Ale Trails: Northern BC

  • Sarah Bulford
  • July 1, 2022
Jessy-Braidwood-and-Neve-Petersen-Paradise-Valley-Squamish-REANNAN-SHAY
View Post
  • CLIMBING
  • Food & Drink
  • In This Issue
  • Mountain Biking
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Paddling
  • Photography
  • Trips & Expeditions

ML Coast Mountains Summer ’22 Issue Out Now

  • Mountain Life Media
  • June 8, 2022
View Post
  • Food & Drink
  • Mountain Lifer

Brews, Blindfolds and Beards.

  • Sarah Bulford
  • January 25, 2022
Save-da-sea-plated-with-avocado-carrot
View Post
  • Food & Drink

Orange Alert! Eat Carrots, Not Salmon

  • Mountain Life Media
  • December 30, 2021
4 comments
  1. John Roberts says:
    March 16, 2021 at 12:01 pm

    This is awesome!

    I have tipped a few cans of this Golden Ale. The currant and salt really balance each other out with some subtle malty flavours coming through. Whether its hot summers day out on the trails or a crips bluebird on the slopes, this beer is the cherry on top!

  2. Laura Jones says:
    March 16, 2021 at 12:04 pm

    This is my new favourite beer! It’s exactly what I’m craving after a long run. Refreshing, light and tasty, plus I’ve found the electrolytes have a huge hydrating effect.

  3. Luke Taylor says:
    March 16, 2021 at 1:54 pm

    I never go riding without a few beers in my camelbak – super stoked to get out on the trails this summer!

  4. Ben says:
    March 24, 2021 at 7:35 pm

    I am looking forward to trying your beer but in your ads and in the comments there’s mention of taking beer on bike rides.
    Since bicycles are suppose to follow the rules of the road and trails same as cars ATV’s etc I don’t think that you should be taking beer on rides and encouraging other riders to do the same.
    I am sure there’s lots of time to enjoy a cool one after the ride is done

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Featured Posts
  • Skiing at Hudson Bay Mountain in Smithers 1
    Where Eagles Dare
    • March 27, 2023
  • Mountain-Life-20th-showreel 2
    20 Years of ML
    • March 24, 2023
  • Mustang-Survival-WOMENS-HELIX-CCS 3
    Gear Shed: Our End-of-Winter Picks
    • March 23, 2023
  • natural-selection-Redbull 4
    Friday Flick: Natural Selection Tour Highlights
    • March 17, 2023
  • Powder-Highway-BC-ski 5
    Powder Highway Revisited
    • March 21, 2023
RECENT POSTS
  • AleTrailsSouthernInterior_Vernon_MikeGamble_LookoutTrail_BenHaggarPhoto
    Ale Trails: Southern Interior Part 1, Vernon + Shuswap
    • March 20, 2023
  • Elements-Outfitters-Filson-cabin
    Elements Outfitters Partners with SALTS to Protect Alberta’s Incredible Landscapes
    • March 16, 2023
  • Bora-Boreal-Quebec-winter-cabin-stars
    Bora Boréal: Frozen in Time and Ice
    • March 14, 2023
Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 25K Likes
Twitter 5K Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn 0
INSTAGRAM
mountainlifemedia
22K Followers
No one called me Feet Banks back in 1987. In those days, most people called me by my given name—except for my ski buddies, to whom I was known by the most badass moniker to ever schuss the slopes: Twinkle Toes.
We’re celebrating 20 Years of Mountain Life!
From The Gear Shed: Last Monday was the official start of spring, but we know there’s still some winter to be shredded. So ML staff and partners have picked the latest jackets, lanterns, bindings, mugs and drysuits for winter-spring.
Exploring the sights around beautiful Sutton, Quebec with ML creator @adv_bird ❄️🫶
Back on the road with three generations, dancing lifties, best-on-planet pizza and elusive-but-exquisite pow days.
Live It Up EP 24 is out now!
The Southern Interior region of BC holds an ecological cross-section of the province with alpine meadows, arid Douglas fir grasslands, damp cedar and hemlock forests of the Columbia Mountains and the warm expanse of Shuswap Lake.
Do Not Disturb mode activated ✅ #mountainlifer
Conceived by superhuman snowboarder @travisrice, the @naturalselection Tour highlights earth’s premier riders, from big-mountain mavens to Olympians, all competing on the most stoketastic—and unpredictable—terrain known to humankind.
Built upon a shared desire to enjoy, respect, and advocate for Alberta’s incredible landscapes, it was a natural fit for @elementsoutfitters to work with a local conservation organization @saltslandtrust to highlight the province’s rugged beauty and outdoor apparel to match.
Follow

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

No one called me Feet Banks back in 1987. In those days, most people called me by my given name—except for my ski buddies, to whom I was known by the most badass moniker to ever schuss the slopes: Twinkle Toes.
We’re celebrating 20 Years of Mountain Life!
From The Gear Shed: Last Monday was the official start of spring, but we know there’s still some winter to be shredded. So ML staff and partners have picked the latest jackets, lanterns, bindings, mugs and drysuits for winter-spring.
Exploring the sights around beautiful Sutton, Quebec with ML creator @adv_bird ❄️🫶
Back on the road with three generations, dancing lifties, best-on-planet pizza and elusive-but-exquisite pow days.
Live It Up EP 24 is out now!
Mountain Life
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising

Input your search keywords and press Enter.