But now the folks at Pat’s Backcountry Beverages have created a solution – their new Brew Concentrates come in featherweight 50ml packets and can be reconstituted with carbonated water (courtesy of their trail-ready 16-ounce carbonator bottle).

If you’re using a water purifier or good old-fashioned boiling to transform lake or river water into a drinking supply, the weight savings are significant. Plus, you don’t have to worry about pressurized aluminum cylinders exploding beer all over your gear if you slip and fall or are a little rough with your pack.

The real question is this: Can a trail-blended beer concentrate taste as good as a Dale’s Pale Ale or 21st Amendment Back in Black?

The answer requires assembling the beer to find out – it’s not a simple task, but it’s a cool bit of science that’s very satisfying when you make it work.