Water, Water Everywhere and Not a Beer To Drink?

We’ve finally done it as a society: someone has created just-add-water beer.

A company called Pat’s Backcountry Beverages, based in lovely Talkeetna, Alaska, (seriously, visit there sometime; they say it was one of the inspirations for Northern Exposure) has developed a line of concentrated beverages, including beer, which are paired with a portable carbonator bottle.

Apparently, the stuff is not dehydrated beer, but beer made through a patent-pending process that makes it strong and nearly waterless.

My initial thought about this stuff — perfect for camping! — doesn’t really make sense; water weighs as much as beer, so it doesn’t help you save weight in your backpack. However, the company seems to be aiming more toward reducing shipping weight and resources, such as the cost of packaging and the fuel to ship heavy containers of beer. And if you take it camping, you’ll have less garbage to carry back out.

Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing what this stuff tastes like before the water is added. And then I’ll probably keep a few in my car’s glove box. For emergencies.

Pat’s Backcountry Beverages will also offer soda, if you’re more soberer than I am and interested in such drinks.