Here’s another beer I picked up in my North Carolina travels not long ago: Lazy Hiker Slack Pack IPA. I bought a single of this one, but maybe should have gotten a six. Western North Carolina IPAs are killing it lately, and besides, I’ve had beers from Lazy Hiker before and enjoyed each and every one of them.

When I try a new beer I always look forward to what I’m about to experience in a  gustatory way, but the naming convention is also of interest. Here’s what Lazy Hiker says on their website:

"Slack pack hiking" is hiking without a pack or with a smaller, breakaway or day pack. After a long day on the trail, it feels great to ditch your gear, peel off a few layers, grab some essentials and hit one last peak. And what better essential for a slack pack hike than a beer?

I couldn’t agree more. While I am not a hiker, I am a runner (gotta burn the beer off some way), and when running, I often look forward to a beer later in the day.

From the can label:

Featuring a classic blend of citrusy, piney American hops, Slack pack India Pale Ale is your beer for enjoying the journey. So lighten your load, grab your Slack Pack and your IPA, and take it easy for a while.

Lazy Hiker Slack Pack IPA has an alcohol content of 6% by volume with 55 IBUs. It was running $9.99 a six-pack when I bought my single can. Lazy Hiker calls this their flagship IPA.

Lazy Hiker Slack Pack IPA pours to a bright orange color with a thick head of foam and a decided citric orange nose. Taking  a sip the beer has medium malt palate, more than most offer these days, then a little piney resin and a lot more citric orange and bitter rind. It finishes grassy herbal bitter.

A tasty brew indeed, Lazy Hiker Slack Pack IPA has more malt backbone than most IPAs these days, and the classic resin and citrus notes I prize highly. While I would rank a notch behind my local favorites Appalachian Mountain Brewery Long Leaf IPA and Nantahala Noon Day IPA, I would definitely buy it again, and since Lazy Hiker beers are now sold in Georgia, I certainly will.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

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