Beer & Roaming: Full Circle

Funny how when you think something went wrong, it ends up being just right. Two years ago I departed on a road trip throughout the West where I paired local outdoor communities with their local breweries. I had dreams of uncovering some kind of beer-consuming paradigm that found rhyme and reason between geographical locations and the kind of beer that is preferred when followed by a variety of activities. Makes sense, right? My first stop on this tour was Leavenworth, Washington where I found no brewery in sight. Not the best start to a trip that would ultimately end inconclusive and without a nomination for Philanthropist of the Year. Damn you IPA.

Fast-forward two years and Icicle Brewing Company, where I now work thanks to my trip's unknowingly ‘bad’ start, is celebrating their one-year anniversary. Two days prior, at Leavenworth Mountain Sports, I was mounting bindings on a splitboard that took me all winter to make. Elbow deep in epoxy, I heard the unforgettable voice of Icicle’s brewmaster, Dean Priebe. As I looked out from behind the bench, I saw him propped up against a brand new pair of skis. “Want to go ski Bootjack this weekend?” he says. I looked down at the mess of a splitboard in front of me thinking, ‘Bootjack on top of Bootjack…’ I quickly reply, “of course.” We made some tentative plans before Dean departed with his skis and I turned back to my quandary.

8 a.m. Saturday and I pulled up next to Dean at the brewery. With his tweed-like blazer and brand new Mammut pants, he loaded his gear into the truck and I filled up a container with IPA. We made our way out of town, going through the standard order of operation; pick up oil from one house, hitch a trailer at another, get 5 gallons of gas, drive out the Icicle, load a sled, drive further, unload the sled, gas and oil it, and finally we were on our way.

The elusive Dean Priebe

10 a.m. and our skins are on. My splitboard looks great and I am really excited to test it out. Dean didn’t get his new bindings in time so he was using his old set-up and I sensed he really wished he had his new skis (my constant stoke about the inaugural tour of the board probably didn’t help… The champagne and streamers didn’t either). We meandered our way through the forest not really sure if we were in the right place but agreed that up was the best direction. We took a little break when we could finally see out from the trees; me with my beef jerky and Snickers, Dean with his MRE (Meal Ready to Eat: Just add water and viola! Thanksgiving).

11:30 a.m. and we finally made it out from the trees and for the first time saw Bootjack Mountain. An hour later we were on top of the 6,789 foot peak drinking 32oz of Bootjack IPA. For all you math-heads out there… 6+7+8+9= 30 + 2 people = 32. Coincidence? Upon washing down the final bits of chocolate and caramel and Dean’s last steaming bite of hot ravioli, we said goodbye to both the IPA and the mountain.


1:00 p.m. and I’m off. The splitboard held up well on its 6 or 7 turns from the rounded summit and as I looked back, from right to left, a giant panel of light shined across the North Face and there was Dean about halfway down making beautifully engineered tele turns. They followed the contour of the mountain and between a small patch of trees. Each turn was mirrored after the next. Consistent. Balanced. Smooth. Enjoyable. Hmm, those are the same words I use to describe his beer. Another coincidence?

  

With every experience we have, we learn. We learn about ourselves and of life. I have been fortunate enough to have many of these experiences. Not to say that I know the meaning of life or anything, but watching Dean ski, I can say I know a little bit more about the “Deaning” of life. Mid revelation, the answer to what it all ‘Deans’ on the tip of my brow, I hear the man himself let out a whoop and I snap too.  The rest of the ride down, through the forest and the drainage, I couldn’t help but think about Dean and his beer. It's not unusual for me to be thinking about beer, but this time I got to thinking about the brewing of beer and about what makes good beer.

There are of course good local ingredients, clean fresh water, and most importantly a mad scientist to blend it all together. Every brewery seems to boasts the best ingredients and purest water but what really secedes the monotony of who’s best in the brewery brotherhood is the brewer. Good beer is a product of what you put into it, ingredients, spirit, and all. Getting to share this experience with Dean has given me a greater appreciation for his art and a better understanding of what makes good beer and what makes good beer taste great!

I’ve found that for both the brewing and consuming of beer, the best, all comes down to experience. The experiences that give way to a brewer’s inspiration as well as the experiences that give reason for cheer. From the snowmobile ride and creek crossings to the conversations about ski technology and the ravioli, our time in the mountains made for one of the most delicious beers I’ve ever had. Not only because Dean’s experience will inherently be used as inspiration when brewing but because we were also drinking Bootjack on top of Bootjack!

Or so I thought…

Not Bootjack

Yeah, that’s right. We didn’t ski Bootjack.  Oops! We found out later that we skied the high point of a ridge just west of the mountain. If it’s any consolation, it was about 20 feet taller.  As I re-read the story I had just written about great beer and experience, all the while thinking we climbed, drank, and skied Bootjack, I felt I’d have to change the whole thing. It was then I realized that the experience was still the same. The only difference is that we drank Bootjack, next to Bootjack. Which brings me to my original statement about the beauty of tribulation.

We had great time skiing, regardless of where we actually were. The truth is, we were in a beautiful place, in the company of a new friendship, drinking good beer, and skiing good snow. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Because, it doesn’t matter what mountain you ski or who you ski it with. What matters, is that you are skiing with friends and if you’re lucky, you can celebrate your experience over a pint of good beer. Although if you can ski with a friend that happens to be the one who makes the good beer, that’s even better if you ask me.