To many gravel riders and bikepackers, a post-ride beer is the perfect way to finish a ride, so it seems like an obvious tie-in to organise a bikepacking event connecting a number of craft brewers. It seems as though the Craft Beer Trail is the first of its kind in Europe though. Event organiser Emanuele Garofalo sent in a great write-up of how their event went down in 2024.
The second edition of the Craft Beer Trail took place from September 21st and 22nd 2024 and was a great success. It took participants from Riccione to Urbino on a circular route of 200 km with approximately 4000 meters of elevation gain, crossing breathtaking landscapes and riding through charming villages.
Among the memorable stages, cyclists tackled the historic Cippo climb, a true emotional triumph for many participants who scaled this iconic peak where Marco Pantani prepared for his races, complete with its 22 hairpin turns.
Despite the adverse weather conditions in the days leading up to the event, which affected Emilia Romagna for the second time, we decided to go ahead with the edition. This was a strong message for the participants and we provided a “rainy weather” GPX track for those who wished to join.
The Craft Beer Trail was the first Beer Bikepacking Adventure in Italy, and apparently also in Europe. It is a unique format: a non-competitive, unsupported bikepacking adventure that combines a passion for cycling with a love for craft beer. Participants had the opportunity to discover the beauty of the Romagna and Marche hinterlands while tasting local specialties at four craft breweries, our BEER POINTS, where they could refresh themselves with fresh beers and typical products. Each participant received a "Beer Map," the event passport, where each brewery stamped their participation and offered tastings of their beers.
The iconic locations of the event included:
- Montecerignone, where they met the first brewery, BAAM Brewery.
- Mercatale, overlooking Lake Sassocorvaro, featuring La Cotta, an agriturismo and craft brewery.
- Pesaro-Urbino, at Blink Brewery in Baia Flaminia (PU).
- Onda Craft Beer on the beach of Riccione, where the Craft Beer Trail concluded, basking in the sun and sea of the Romagna Riviera at Lido 112.
The event attracted over 150 cyclists, confirming the growing interest in events like ours, with participants coming from various Italian regions and even Germany. We received very positive feedback, encouraging us to continue down this path and propose new ideas for 2025.
If you would like to find out more details about next year’s Craft Beer Trail event, then head over to their website or give them a follow on Instagram