At the end of September, the Italian coastal town of Riccione hosted the inaugural Craft Beer Trail event. Combining gravel riding through landscapes undiscovered by mass tourism, with stops at four craft breweries where riders could sample locally brewed beers and taste local produce, sounds like the ideal recipe. The event organisers sent us in a ride report and some beautiful images. 

On 23rd and 24th of September, the Italian town of Riccione hosted the first edition of the non-competitive cycle tourism event called Craft Beer Trail, a two-day event designed for bikepacking lovers. The event helped riders to discover the untouched nature of the Romagna hinterland up to the Republic of San Marino, passing through villages and hills and including the tasting of traditional products at the end of each stage.

The circular route was accessible to everyone and incorporated stops in four craft breweries along the way. The beers served to the riders were a well-deserved reward for every kilometre of effort that they had made. After all, we know that maltodextrins help the athlete's recovery!

The Craft Beer Trail started from the Romagna Riviera, specifically from Riccione at Camping Adria. The trail crossed the hills of the Romagna hinterland and Valmarecchia, passing from Emilia Romagna to the Marche to the Republic of San Marino, in a route of approximately 200 km and 4,000 meters of altitude difference.

The event was organised by three guys who were passionate about gravel and cycling, on a non-profit basis and in their free time: Emanuele Garofalo, Nicola Martiradonna and Andrea Guerrini, founders of the Spirito Gravel association. The craft breweries involved in the event were Beha Brewing, BAAM brewery, NOIZ and Spirito Agricolo.

Breathtaking landscapes, good company and craft beer are the perfect recipe for the Craft Beer Trail.
The event saw the participation of more than 150 riders, with gravel bikes mountain bikes and city bikes. A truly unexpected participation considering that it was the first edition of the event, which attracted enthusiasts from many regions of Italy and also four international cyclists from the UK and France.

At four locations around the route, typical feed stops commonly found in cycling events were replaced with ‘Beer Points’. At each of these points, the classic energy bars and gels were replaced with beer tastings accompanied by local products. Each of the breweries helped create an environment and an atmosphere of cohesion and conviviality. The ‘Beer Point’ welcomed the riders to taste their beers, explaining the work processes and helping them to regain their strength before the next stage, thus combining two essential passions of every rider, cycling and good beer.

There will be a new edition of the Craft Beer Trail in 2024, maintaining this year's recipe, which received so much positive feedback from the participants, but adding in many new features. You can find more details on the official website and Instagram page where you will also find many videos and photos.