Canned wine and other libations will make your next ice fishing trip or hut-to-hut hike easier — and more fun

Story and Photos by Jay McKinney

Yes, Dale Katechis and his gang at Oskar Blues in Lyons made craft beer more accessible when they started canning in 2002. The owner of Oskar Blues has never rested on his laurels and continues to push the beer scene forward. But the days of being able to bring only canned beer into the backcountry are over. Consider these locally produced for your next outdoor adventure, including canned cocktails, spirits and wine. Not only are the aluminum containers safe to toss into a backpack, most are also recyclable.

Wood’s Whiskey and Vodka

For those longing for a cup of something a little stronger on a backpacking excursion, Wood’s High Mountain Distillery has come to the rescue. The Tenderfoot American malt whiskey and San Luis Valley Colorado potato vodka are available in aluminum bottles and will fit into any pack, giving hikers the peace of mind that glass bottles can’t. Bring the proper ingredients to make a special cocktail or drink it neat, and enjoy the mountain countryside with a spirit made for the occasion.

Ironton Switchback Single Malt Whiskey

Switchback up the mountainside and celebrate on the summit with a swig of Ironton’s single malt whiskey. Better yet, gather at the campfire after a long day in the backcountry and sip this whiskey with friends. The flavor profile has a light smoke and subtle sweetness that pairs well with any campfire-cooked meal. And once this sturdy bottle is empty, it can be reused as a water bottle or filled with one of Ironton’s other whiskeys for the next trip.

Cocktail Squad Cocktails

With zero grams of sugar, just 90 calories and no carbs, Boulder-based Cocktail Squad has delivered a 5-percent ABV canned cocktail that’s perfect for hiking into the backcountry and not getting bogged down. The two flavors, whiskey ginger and vodka lemon, are equally delightful and can be purchased in four-packs for $14 or in six-packs for $17.99. Made with real spirits and natural ingredients, this cocktail is a winner in every way.

Infinite Monkey Theorem Wines

From bottles to boxes and now cans, winemakers have been innovating in their methods of packaging a vineyard’s final product. Denver’s RiNo neighborhood may seem like an unlikely location for a winery, but The Infinite Monkey Theorem embraces an unconventional approach to winemaking and is big on canning delicious wine. While the winery still bottles as well, consider taking a four- pack of canned red, white or carbonated wines on your next outdoor adventure.

Dale’s Pale Ale

Oskar Blues Brewery got the ball rolling when it decided to can a craft beer with its flagship beverage, Dale’s Pale Ale. The convenience of a can influenced other craft breweries to follow suit and now there are an abundance of canned beer options to take into the backcountry. The folks at Oskar Blues also help across town at Bootstrap Brewing, which has some of the coolest-looking cans in the industry. Also, some of the smallest nanobreweries are now offering aluminum crowler fills on site.

Elevated Seltzer

The alcoholic seltzer craze that has stormed the scene in recent years has seen both craft breweries and macro breweries try their hand at the popular drink. The founders of Elevated Seltzer, brothers Hunter and Warren Wood, come from a background in the craft beer industry but decided to go all in on the hard seltzer phenomenon when they created the first independent, seltzer-only operation. The seltzers are 100-percent natural and come in a variety of flavors including lemon lime, acai, mango, pina colada and others.

Mile High Spirits Punching Mule

No copper mug, no problem. Mile High Spirits’ Punching Mule may come in a can, but it’s just as flavorful as a Moscow Mule in a high-end bar. The combination of ginger beer, lime and vodka is popular for good reason, and at 7 percent ABV, this mule packs a punch. Mile High Spirits may be known for its collection of bottled spirits with everything from bourbon to gin, but this canned cocktail is a valuable addition to the distillery’s portfolio.

Annapurna Mead

Bees are the unsung heroes of the ecosystem and without them, there wouldn’t be very much to eat or drink. But with Annapurna’s mead, bees get the credit they deserve. Honey is the essential ingredient in this ancient beverage, which can now be purchased in a can. With flavors like Cherry Bee Dazzled, Sauvage Mead Blanc, The Bee’s Squeeze and For the Love of Ginger, there are plenty of refreshing choices to take into the backcountry and enjoy among the wildflowers that bees use to make their honey.

Jay McKinney is a Colorado native who recently graduated from Metro State University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He loves spending time outdoors, playing golf and hiking.