I received brand-new cans of PCT Porter from Crux Fermentation Project, the newest beer to be added to their canned lineup:

The “PCT” in the name stands for Pacific Crest Trail, the 2,659 mile long hiking trail from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada. The beer itself is 5.5% abv and 30 IBUs; for the backstory behind tying it to the PCT, here’s the press release:

Crux Fermentation Project’s New PCT Porter Supports Pacific Crest Trail Association

The Pacific Crest Trail provides a vibrant thread for hikers and horseback riders through Washington, Oregon, and California. Crux Fermentation Project’s beer is distributed in all three states (as well as in parts of Idaho and Colorado). Crux’s hometown of Bend, Oregon, is a favorite of PCT hikers who come to enjoy the Cascade views and a refreshing beer and to share stories from the trail with newfound friends. The more PCT travelers we’ve met at our tasting room and the more stories we’ve heard, the more we’ve understood the trail’s significance and felt a greater need to support it. It’s an important historic asset to our friends and community.

We wanted to celebrate the Pacific Crest Trail in a very real, authentic and human way. We wanted the imagery to convey the human experience of the trail so that those who would eventually enjoy this beer could gain a little bit of a deeper appreciation for the trail itself. We conducted online research for PCT hiker blogs and journal entries looking for examples that went beyond words to include illustrations that captured their experience. It didn’t take long to discover thehikeguy.com and our very own local PCT enthusiast, Kolby Kirk. We immediately fell in love with the stories (both verbal and visual) that the pages of his journal shared. It turns out that Kolby was a fan of Crux and loved the idea of celebrating the trail experience in a collaborative way with us.

“I’m honored that my journal artwork is featured on the PCT Porter can. To me, the label represents so many great things about Bend and the Pacific Crest Trail. It provides a visual reminder of how important the PCT is in my life and how it needs to be protected for generations to come.” Kolby Kirk, aka “Condor,” said. “Since Crux opened, I’ve shared many beers with friends at the brewery and have met quite a few thru hikers there, as well.”

As for the beer itself, Crux founder and brewmaster, Larry Sidor, finds porters to be the ultimate “comfort beer”. “Every time I have one, I wonder why my last beer wasn’t a porter,” Sidor says. “When brewed well, a porter has a smoothness combined with layers of complexity that never disappoints. I think we achieved that and more with PCT Porter”

Crux Fermentation Project is proud to sponsor the Pacific Crest Trail Association’s effort to care for and protect the trail.