#drinkthegradient
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merely-chris.bsky.social
And another post #drinkthegradient bottle. This time one from the vaults.
Green Flash - Natura Morta Cherry 2015 6.5%. Aged in oak casks etc. Perhaps a little past its best but still banging.
#Bskybeer @dad2dam2dum2mum.bsky.social @pauljwhite.eurosky.social
July 25, 2026 at 9:52 PM
merely-chris.bsky.social
Bonus beer post #drinkthegradient.

Rodenbach - Evolved Caractere Raspberry and Mango 7.2%

Beautifully balanced. The raspberry takes the lead with the mango offering a soft mouthfeel. One of the best beers of the day. #Bskybeer @dad2dam2dum2mum.bsky.social @pauljwhite.eurosky.social
July 25, 2026 at 3:54 PM
merely-chris.bsky.social
It’s been a day…that should have read #drinkthegradient fat fingers and reduced hand eye coordination to blame 😁
July 25, 2026 at 2:33 PM
merely-chris.bsky.social
Beer 4

Trappistes Rochefort - 6 at 7.5% abv.
Matched with Col de Sarenne at 7.3% ave gradient.
A classic banger for the final categorised climb of the stage. Malty, bready goodness.
#drinkthegradient #Bskybeer @dad2dam2dum2mum.bsky.social @pauljwhite.eurosky.social
July 25, 2026 at 1:37 PM
merely-chris.bsky.social
Beer 3

Thornbridge - Cocoa Wonderland 6.8% Chocolate Porter. Matched with Col du Galibier at 6.9% ave gradient. Come on, the mountain even has beer in its name!
Smooth with a milk chocolate sweetness.
#drinkthegradient #Bskybeer @dad2dam2dum2mum.bsky.social @pauljwhite.eurosky.social
July 25, 2026 at 12:12 PM
merely-chris.bsky.social
Beer 2

Omnipollo 05:45 Breakfast 7.0% Maple Muffin Coffee Porter. Matched with Col Du Télégraphe at 7.1% ave gradient.
Absolutely as mad and chewy as it sounds. More bitterness than sweetness.
#drinkthegradient #Bskybeer @dad2dam2dum2mum.bsky.social @pauljwhite.eurosky.social
July 25, 2026 at 11:35 AM
merely-chris.bsky.social
Beer1
Weekend Project - Physic Garden 5.3% DDH Pale Ale. Matched with Col de la Croix de Fer at 5.2% ave gradient. Nice easy start to the day #drinkthegradient #Bskbeer with @dad2dam2dum2mum.bsky.social @pauljwhite.eurosky.social
July 25, 2026 at 10:03 AM
merely-chris.bsky.social
These are the brave souls helping me today. Last minute substitute for the Alpe after an exploding can incident earlier #drinkthegradient #Bskybeer
pauljwhite.eurosky.social Paul J White @pauljwhite.eurosky.social · Jul 24
The annual madness is upon us. Tomorrow I will be drinking all these beers during the stage of #letour #TourDeFrance matching the ABV of the beer with the gradient of the mountain. 🇫🇷

Lord help us! 😂

#drinkthegradient
July 25, 2026 at 9:51 AM
merely-chris.bsky.social
Tomorrow sees the start of the Tour de France and our annual drink the gradient challenge will be Stage 20 this year. Please feel free to join us ( @pauljwhite.eurosky.social @dad2dam2dum2mum.bsky.social @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social ) guide in alt text of image. #drinkthegradient #Bskybeer
Profile of Stage 20, Tour de France 2026. Drink the gradient - pick beers whose ABV matches (+/- 0.2%) the average gradient of the categorised climbs. Start the beer at the foot of the climb and finish it before the start of the next. The finish at Alpe D’Huez is uncategorised officially but we are going to use the estimated 6.2% to add a final snifter. If you want to go hardcore have a shot at the sprint point and/or add a session beer for the long wait between the first and second climb.
July 3, 2026 at 1:02 PM
merely-chris.bsky.social
Beer 5: Track Sifting at 7.2% abv matched to La Plagne Ave gradient 7.2%.

Best beer so far, and that says something. Fresh, juicy, bitter, refreshing, quaffable, it has everything.
#drinkthegradient
#Bskybeer
July 25, 2025 at 2:54 PM
merely-chris.bsky.social
Beer 3: Trappistes Rochefort 6 Ave abv 7.5% matched to the Col du Pre ave gradient 7.7%.

Delicious bread and brown sugar combination. Beautiful beer.
#drinkthegradient
#Bskybeer
July 25, 2025 at 1:17 PM
merely-chris.bsky.social
Beer 2: Full Circle West Coast Looper at 6.4% abv to match (the phantom and diseased cow ridden) Col des Saisies Ave gradient 6.4%.

A West Coast IPA from a local brewery. Lovely bitterness and juicy pithiness.
#drinkthegradient
#Bskybeer
July 25, 2025 at 12:21 PM
merely-chris.bsky.social
Beer 1: Pilot Rose Sour abv 5.0% matched with (the now phantom) Cote d’Hery-sur-Ugine Ave gradient 5.1%.

A lovely red and white grape blush from Leith. Very refreshing with just the right amount of sharpness to start the day.
#drinkthegradient
#Bskybeer
July 25, 2025 at 11:45 AM
merely-chris.bsky.social
Beery confirmation…
#Bskybeer
#drinkthegradient
@pauljwhite.bsky.social
@dad2dam2dum2mum.bsky.social
July 24, 2025 at 6:36 PM
merely-chris.bsky.social
Tomorrow sees me tackle what I believe to be my 17th #drinkthegradient. Being no cyclist I thought it would be my way of “joining in” with the Tour de France. Pick a stage at the TDF, this year tomorrow’s Stage 19 into La Plagne, and look at the average gradient of the climbs.
1/x
#Bskybeer
Profile of Stage 19 of the Tour de France 2025
July 24, 2025 at 6:21 PM
pauljwhite.eurosky.social
Well, that was an epic stage! Chapeau to Carapaz for the win and points jersey, Mads who has been amazing throughout, Remco, Pog, Seixas et al.

We're all a bit drunk, and loved that. Can't wait for the Paris stage tomorrow.

#TdeF #drinkthegradient
July 25, 2026 at 2:57 PM
pauljwhite.eurosky.social
Final climb - Alpe d'Huez (6.2%)
Not a categorised climb today, but an opportunity for a bonus beer! Route works out at an average 6.2% gradient, a perfect excuse for a bottle of Orval - should you ever need one. A classic, one of my desert island beers :-)

#drinkthegradient #BskyBeer #TdeF
Orval is known for its unique wild yeast fermentation, dry-hopping, and distinctively funky, complex flavor. It is brewed exclusively inside the Orval Abbey in Belgium.
July 25, 2026 at 2:21 PM
pauljwhite.eurosky.social
Climb 4 - Col de Sarenne (12.8km @ 7.1%)

Hubble Tension (7.2%) from the always excellent AZVEX in Liverpool. Hopped with Nelson, Rakau and Krush, it's a juicy strong hazy IPA, with a lemon curd colour and pillowy head.

#drinkthegradient #TdeF #BskyBeer

More in Alt Text
Nelson Sauvin leads with white grape and gooseberry, Rakau adds ripe stone fruit and juicy apricot, while Krush rounds everything out with vibrant citrus, tropical fruit and a hint of peach.
July 25, 2026 at 1:42 PM
pauljwhite.eurosky.social
Climb 3 - Col du Galibier (17.7km @ 6.9%)

The highest point of this year's race at a lung busting 2,642m and a chance to wheel out one of the most drunk beers of this crazy #drinkthegradient day over the years, Westmalle Trappist Dubbel (7.0%).

#TdeF #BskyBeer

More in Alt Text.
Westmalle Trappist Dubbel needs no introduction to the beer lover - a classic, dark red-brown ale with a rich, complex flavor profile featuring notes of caramel, dark fruits, and sweet malt, balanced by a creamy head and a dry finish. I'll be a bit drunk by the time this one is finished...
July 25, 2026 at 12:24 PM
pauljwhite.eurosky.social
Climb 2 - Col du Télégraphe (11.9km @ 7.1%)

Beer is Soup from Garage in Barcelona, one of the original and still IMHO best European hazy IPAs. This is the 7.0% Nectaron version brewed to celebrate "Soup Day" with Citra, Mosaic and Nectaron hops.

#drinkthegradient #TdeF #BeerSky

More in Alt Text
Orange can of Soup IPA held in front of the TV showing UAE riders leading the peleton. A delicious super juicy hazy beer, full of tropical fruit flavours, but with a nice bitterness on the finish.
July 25, 2026 at 11:34 AM
pauljwhite.eurosky.social
And so it begins, match the ABV of the beer with the gradient of the climb at today's #TdeF Tour de France.

First climb is Col de la Croix de Fer (24km @ 5.2%)

Beer is What Gose Around (5.3%), a rhubarb, elderberry and nettle Gose, from Farm Yard Brew Co.

More in Alt Text.

#drinkthegradient
I've never had anything from this brewery, but this sour gose has been infused with locally foraged nettles and sea salt from Blackthorn Salt. Brewed in collaboration with Earth Ale Brewery, it has a rosy pink hue and tangy, salty, tart flavour.
July 25, 2026 at 10:13 AM
pauljwhite.eurosky.social
The annual madness is upon us. Tomorrow I will be drinking all these beers during the stage of #letour #TourDeFrance matching the ABV of the beer with the gradient of the mountain. 🇫🇷

Lord help us! 😂

#drinkthegradient
5 cans/bottles of beer in front of the gradient plan for Stage 20 of the Tour de France 2026
July 24, 2026 at 3:55 PM
pauljwhite.eurosky.social
If anyone out there loves beer and loves cycling like we do, feel free to join in with the annual madness that is #drinkthegradient - it's a big one this year! 🏔️🍺😂
merely-chris.bsky.social Chris B @merely-chris.bsky.social · Jul 3
Tomorrow sees the start of the Tour de France and our annual drink the gradient challenge will be Stage 20 this year. Please feel free to join us ( @pauljwhite.eurosky.social @dad2dam2dum2mum.bsky.social @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social ) guide in alt text of image. #drinkthegradient #Bskybeer
Profile of Stage 20, Tour de France 2026. Drink the gradient - pick beers whose ABV matches (+/- 0.2%) the average gradient of the categorised climbs. Start the beer at the foot of the climb and finish it before the start of the next. The finish at Alpe D’Huez is uncategorised officially but we are going to use the estimated 6.2% to add a final snifter. If you want to go hardcore have a shot at the sprint point and/or add a session beer for the long wait between the first and second climb.
July 3, 2026 at 3:15 PM
pauljwhite.eurosky.social
#drinkthegradient #TDF2025

MOUNTAIN: La Plagne – Hors Catégorie (19.1 km at 7.2%)

BEER: Sierra Nevada - Torpedo Extra IPA 7.2%

My god, if anyone loves a classic West coast IPA like I do, you need to try this! Biscuity malts, resinous pine hops, super bitter finish, all perfectly balanced. Superb!
July 25, 2025 at 3:06 PM
pauljwhite.eurosky.social
#drinkthegradient #TDF2025

MOUNTAIN: Cormet de Roselend – Category 2 (5.9 km at 6.3%)

BEER: Orval 6.2%

Probably my desert island beer. There's simply nothing better.
July 25, 2025 at 2:07 PM