New Belgium Visits D.C.
This past Saturday, Colorado-based brewer New Belgium Brewing Co. took over The Yards in Southeast for a festival of craft beer and quirky bike riding.
Crazy bikes, crazy times at New Belgium’s Tour de Fat (Photo: Richard Barry/DC on Heels)
Brewing iconic beers like Fat Tire Ale and Ranger IPA, New Belgium has brought some levity to the often serious craft brew scene with zany promotions, city-touring events and the slogan “Follow Your Folly.” Their annual springtime Tour de Fat, a traveling tent show of beer and bikes, brings New Belgium’s brand of off-the-wall exhibition and good times to 10 cities across America.
Washington, D.C. was the first to hop on the Tour de Fat this past Saturday. The full program included a massive group bike ride around the Navy Yard, a dance contest and comedian Reggie Watts. Festival goers dressed in outrageous costumes, welcoming the sanctioned liberation of an abundance of well-priced quality beer.
Festival goers pose in front of an outsized empty frame (Photo: Richard Barry/DC on Heels)
In the spirit of the event, every available rail and rack in The Yards had a bike affixed to it and people walked freely in padded spandex. For bike enthusiasts who couldn’t stand to be out of the saddle, an enclosed circle was set up full of strange bikes with extra wheels, double chains and bizarre tandem arrangements. Guests were free to pick one up and try their best at navigating the weird cycles around while onlookers gawked and cheered at successes and, more often, failures.
Just a ninja on a old-timey bike, nothing to see here (Photo: Richard Barry/DC on Heels)
Promoting the bike-life aesthetic, Tour de Fat gave one festival goer the chance to trade in their car for a brand-new bike for a whole year. If you missed Tour de Fat or are just looking to continue the ride, the tour’s next stop is in Durham, N.C. on June 21.
