July, 2016 | Common Block Brewing Co.

Medford Brewery-to-Brewery Running Routes

You know what’s great about running? Having a beer after you’re done. Well, sure, there’s the “runner’s high,” health benefits, awesome neon-colored clothing, and participant medals at all the races. But mostly it’s having a beer, right? Glad we agree.

Let’s say you find yourself at a local brewery in Medford, and you decide, “Hey, I think I’ve got more in me. I’m ready to keep running to the next place!” That’s where brewery-to-brewery running routes come in handy. Good news: they also double as walking and biking routes, and lots of them are close enough that you’ll still have plenty of energy to enjoy your beer once you get there. Of course, we always recommend enjoying responsibly…these breweries aren’t going anywhere after all, so you can take your time and plan several running/biking/walking excursions to tour all these Medford beer spots.

By the way, we’ve organized these routes in a sequence: Common Block to Opposition, Opposition to Walkabout, Walkabout to BricktownE, and so on…just in case you feel like making it a full-day running or biking tour from one brewery to the next (12.4 miles total). Click on the route links for Google Map’s step-by-step directions, and then lace up those running shoes!

6 Brewery-to-Brewery Running Routes

Common Block Brewing Co. to Opposition Brewing Co. – 1.7 miles

Opposition Brewing Co. to Walkabout Brewing Co. -0.9 miles

Walkabout Brewing Co. to BricktownE Brewing Co. – 2.6 miles

Bricktowne Brewing Co. to The Rogue Growler – 1.3 miles

PS, we know The Rogue Growler isn’t an actual brewery, but they earn major points for their extensive and rotating beer selection, and their contribution to Medford’s beer scene!

The Rogue Growler to Southern Oregon Brewing – 3.1 miles

Southern Oregon Brewing to Portal Brewing Co. – 2.8 miles

Pints at the Peak: Pouring Beer at the SOB

This Saturday is the race day we’ve all been waiting for! Well, only if you’re a runner training for the Siskiyou Out Back. And if you are, we applaud you! Racers will line up this weekend to compete in the 15K, 50K or 50-mile annual SOB run beginning and ending at the Mt. Ashland lodge. This race fills up every year (that’s right, there are 175 people out there willing to run 50 miles!), and for a good reason. The views are stunning, the volunteers are wonderful, and the swag at the end is pretty great, too.

About the Race

(photo: runoregonblog.com)

Starting at a cozy 6,500 feet altitude, this course meanders along the Pacific Crest Trail with views of Mt. Shasta and Mt. McLaughlin. Runners traverse single-track trails through wildflower meadows and mountain-top terrain, as well as unpaved roads with plenty of sunshine. It’s one of those races where you think to yourself “If I’m running today, this is where I want to be.”

About the Finish

Our Common Block Team of finishers in 2015 (the baby didn’t actually run).

This is the good part! Because, let’s face it, we all love the races we’ve done after we finish them. After charging across the finish line, every racer gets their finisher’s medal, and the 50-mile racers grab their commemorative S.O.B. ceramic mug. Our Common Block comrades are pouring free beer outside the lodge for all the runners, alongside meals for purchase from the race organizers. If anyone deserves a cold beer in the sunshine this Saturday, it’s these racers.

So if you’re racing or supporting, we’ll see you there! If not, we recommend heading up the hill (that is, Mt. Ashland) to cheer on these awesome athletes as they cross the finish line. Runners will be coming in 11:00am (for the 15K) to 7:00pm, so there’s plenty of time to drive to the lodge and make the racers feel great with claps, cheers, and high fives all around. We’ll high five you, too.

5 Summer Picnic Recipes with (you guessed it) Beer

Gone on any picnics yet this summer? Wait, let us rephrase that…gone on any beer-themed picnics this summer? We’ve rounded up some great outside-on-a-blanket-in-the-sun-worthy recipes with beer as the star ingredient. Because (you guessed it) we’re fond of beer. Bring along some cold brews to pair, friends to share, and you’ve got yourself the makings of a pretty fantastic afternoon, we’d say.

Beer Cheese and Chicken Pretzel Sliders from Buns in My Oven

Slow cook some chicken in beer, add some cheese sauce with beer, and then enjoy with a beer.

Bacon & Beer Jam from Brit + Co.

Spread it on crackers, toast, jalapeño cornbread (see below), and pretty much anything and everything. It’s bacon jam, after all.

Jalapeno Cornbread Beer Bread Muffins with Salted Beer Honey Butter from The Beeroness

What’s more satisfying than cornbread? Easy: cornbread with jalapeños and beer, duh. Smother one of these muffins with sweet and salty beer butter, and enjoy. And then another. And another…

Spicy Beer Pickles from The Mash

According to the recipe, you can make these pickles with Pale Ale, IPA, Wheat Beer, or pretty much whatever beer you prefer. You’ll want to make a batch a few days before your picnic, though, since they’ll need some time in the fridge before they’re ready for munching.

Belgian Style White Beer Cookies from Craftbeer.com

A little fruity and a little zesty, these cookies are a great finishing touch to your summer picnic. Made with orange zest, coriander and witbier, these bite-sized desserts are best topped with orange icing and then devoured immediately.

Looking for more beer recipe ideas? Check out our previous posts:

Beer + Cocoa Recipes

6 Beer-Themed, Fall-Themed Recipes