Patagonia Launches Organic Beer To Celebrate 40th Anniversary

Outdoor clothing company Patagonia has teamed up with New Belgium Brewing for what will likely be a truly hoppy 40th anniversary.

To mark their 40th year in business, Calif.-based Patagonia has partnered with Colo.-based New Belgium Brewing to brew a limited edition organic beer they've dubbed the California Route Lager.

The beer is of the "California Common" tradition which dates back to the late 1800s. These beers are generally tawny in color, medium bodied and with a malty character, according to Beer Advocate. California Route is 5.5 percent ABV and will be sold only in 12-ounce cans for a limited time.

Here's how Patagonia described the suds on their Facebook page:

Boasting California lager yeast with subtle fruity esters and a refreshing light lager finish, California Route organic lager is canned for adventure. The beer has an aromatic blast of citrusy Cascade hops and a heavy dose of noble hallertau. The addition of organic Munich specialty malt builds complexity with hints of freshly baked bread. Consistent with Patagonia's long-standing commitment to organics, the beer is brewed with certified organic ingredients.

The beer takes its name from the California Route route on Patagonia's Mount Fitz Roy, first climbed in 1968 by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard and friends, according to the clothing manufacturer's press release.

So why New Belgium? Patagonia's Fletcher Chouinard told Forbes that the Colorado brewery was a natural fit. "Not only are they forward-thinking in their business and brewing practices, but their beers have been a go-to for our crew and customers around the country for a long time," Chouinard said. "They were great to work with and we couldn’t be more stoked about the project!"

The beer will only be available in select markets in the U.S. including Boston, New York City, Chicago, Boulder, Denver, Seattle, Portland, Santa Monica, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Cardiff and Ventura, according to Hypebeast. If you are lucky enough to live in one of these markets, you'd better get some soon.

“This is just a promotional, one-time special collaboration," Patagonia spokesperson Jess Clayton told Bloomberg Businessweek. "Patagonia is not getting into the beer-business in a permanent way.”