This article was originally published in .听
Whether drinking a beer after a workout is a聽聽is up for debate, but you can鈥檛 argue with the fact that a hard-earned crisp beverage during a steamy shower is one of life鈥檚 simple pleasures. Once the mainstay of the college-hangover crowd and post-lawncare dads, the shower beer has infiltrated the swim-bike-run set in a big, refreshing way. After a hard run or a 100-mile ride, few things are better than聽, shower beer, and聽. If you haven鈥檛 tried it yet, crack one open after your long run this weekend 鈥 you鈥檙e in for a treat.
Below we suggest the best shower beers to follow 10 typical triathlon workouts.听To help guide our picks, we turned to two people more qualified to have opinions on the matter: Advanced Cicerones Shawna Cormier, co-founder of聽, and聽, founder of聽.
Looking for a zero-proof shower beer? Check out our roundup of聽.
Workout:聽Mile repeats on the track
The shower beer:聽, 5.2% ABV

奥丑测:听You need something refreshing and not too heavy on a post-run stomach. 鈥淒ark beers aren鈥檛 all heavy or high ABV!鈥 Blair says. 鈥淐zech dark lager, or tmavy, is medium-bodied with moderate alcohol (less than 6%) reminiscent聽of a cold brew with a crisp finish.鈥
Workout:聽A frigid open-water swim
The beer:聽, 9% ABV

奥丑测:听After fighting chop in the cold, a warmup is in order. 鈥淭his Imperial Stout has a big body, with hints of dark roast coffee, dark chocolate-covered raisins, and a bittersweet finish,鈥 Cormier says.
搁贰尝础罢贰顿:听
Workout:聽A spicy group ride
The beer:聽, 7% ABV

奥丑测:听Surviving the spontaneous attacks of a group ride deserves a celebratory party punch. 鈥淣apoleon Bonaparte is credited for dubbing the tart and refreshing Berliner Weisse 鈥楾he Champagne of the North,鈥欌 Blair says. 鈥淎 refreshing wheat beer, Berliner Weisse is highly carbonated and has a clean tartness. The addition of citrusy yuzu and acidic raspberry enhances the refreshing quality while milk sugar adds a bit of sweetness for balance.鈥
Workout:聽A hot, humid tempo run
The beer:聽, 4.9% ABV

奥丑测:听To recover from that sweaty situation, you need something invigorating with enough character to make it all feel worth it. Cormier describes this pilsner as 鈥渃risp, clean, moderately bitter; fresh herb, grainy/white bread, refreshing carbonation. A classic.鈥
Workout:聽Monster morning session in the pool
The beer:聽, 3.7% ABV

奥丑测:听No one needs a dense gut-filler straight out of the pool to start the day. 鈥淏ell鈥檚 Light-Hearted IPA delivers the bright hop character of a classic IPA with the light body and low ABV of a light lager,鈥 Blair says. 鈥淚t has a ton of flavor with low ABV and low calories, perfect for a midday quaff.鈥
搁贰尝础罢贰顿:听
Workout:聽Sweaty indoor trainer ride
The beer:聽, 2% ABV

奥丑测:听Beer blended with lager and the tartness of grapefruit juice? Sounds like a match for that intense Zwift session. 鈥淩adler was invented by a German innkeeper one busy Saturday afternoon outside of Munich when 13,000 cyclists arrived thirsty for Helles lager,鈥 Blair says. 鈥淣ot having enough beer to satisfy everyone, the innkeeper came up with the idea of mixing lemon soda with his Helles. He told the cyclists the drink was called a Radler he invented so they could slake their thirst but still cycle back to Munich.鈥
Workout:聽Many, many hill repeats
The beer:聽, 9.5% ABV

奥丑测:听You need high strength without showing off. A Trappist classic, a tripel has high alcohol and is also highly attenuated (aka dangerously drinkable). Cormier describes the taste as 鈥済rainy/bread dough malt with fresh cracked pepper, low clove with a hint of tangerine peel and low pear drop candy.鈥
Workout:聽100-mile solo bike ride
The beer:聽, 9.6% ABV

奥丑测:听After a long slog by yourself, you might grab whatever鈥檚 convenient. But the ideal would be a beer with some sweetness, balanced bitterness and pleasant alcohol warmth to help you relax and recover. Cormier describes this ale as having a 鈥渂ig body with a balance of grapefruit and naval orange peel, a hop aroma with high bitterness, and a caramel malt backbone.鈥
Workout:聽Evening weight session in the gym
The beer:聽, 8% ABV

奥丑测:听A strength workout calls for a beer with strength, and 鈥渁t 8% ABV, Ghost in the Machine is consistently rated one of the top double IPAs out there,鈥 Blair says. 鈥淚t has lots of grapefruit and tropical fruit flavors with less bitterness than many double IPAs.鈥
Workout:聽The final big brick before a race
The beer:聽, 4.2% ABV

Why:聽You鈥檙e so close to the start line and the training is behind you, so treat yourself 鈥 without overdoing it 鈥 before race day. Cormier recommends this 鈥渟alty, sour old German style鈥 beer with Gatorade-like saline content and flavors of 鈥渨hite bread dough, and spritzy lemon yogurt acidity,鈥 all in a 120-calorie can.