EASTON, Pa. — Get ready to earn your beer after a grueling run around the hills of Easton on Saturday.
The Weyerbacher Hill Challenge 5K will wind through Eason.
The event, part of the 2023 Earn Your Beer series, a project launched by Run Lehigh Valley in partnership with Lehigh Valley breweries, will see runners set off from Weyerbacher Brewery on Line Street, take a loop around a small section of Easton and end up back at the tap room for some tasty beer.
- The Weyerbacher Hill Challenge 5K, part of the Earn Your Beer series, is set for 11 a.m. Saturday in Easton
- Participants will have to travel the brutal hills of Easton before returning to the brewery to enjoy some tasty brews
- Part of the event's proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and other local charities
Be prepared though — as the event’s promotional materials stress — this race will “definitely have you earning your beer” with plenty of uphill stretches.
"There’s definitely some huffing and puffing for sure. But you know, people are enjoying it, you can tell they accomplished something, and they're coming back and they're excited. And it's a good vibe when they get back at the end of the race."Mike Mandato, marketing and retail manager for Weyerbacher Brewing Company
The course begins behind the brewery, with runners making their way on Line Street before taking a hard left out of the lot, followed by another left onto Iron Street.
From there, participants will take a loop through the neighborhood before returning to Weyerbacher by running up the hill on Packer Street.
'Some huffing and puffing'
Mike Mandato, marketing and retail manager for Weyerbacher Brewing Company, said the race is quite a challenge, though it is a fun event that earns the runners some bragging rights — and local brews.
“There’s definitely some huffing and puffing for sure," Mandato said. But you know, people are enjoying it. You can tell they accomplished something, and they're coming back and they're excited. And it's a good vibe when they get back at the end of the race."
Rochelle Romeo Kane, managing director of Run Lehigh Valley, said the series has been a fun opportunity to pair up with local breweries and get people out in the community to enjoy the scenery and local businesses.
“We work across the Lehigh Valley, and we wanted to do [a series] spread across the Valley," Kane said. "So that's where we got the idea to hit Emmaus, Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton with a series.
"It's a cool way to let the runners try different courses, different distances, different cities, different beers, and it makes for a pretty cool running series."
The direction they're headed
Those who enter will get two free beers when they return to Weyerbacher — its classic Wit, a Belgian White Ale, and Savant Beverages’ Lehigh Valley Light, a brand new brew that pays homage to Allentown, Easton, Bethlehem and everything in between.
“It's got a really nice pilsner flavor to it," Mandato said. "You wouldn't think you were drinking a light beer; it's got some nice taste to it.”
He said both beverages are easy to enjoy after a run or a day playing baseball with friends.
It also helps that Lehigh Valley Light doesn't hit nearly as hard as Weyerbacher's other offerings, such as the 11.1% barleywine, Blithering Idiot.
Some proceeds from the event will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and I Have/I Need, which connects those in need of assistance with local resources.
"It's reflective of the direction that Weyerbacher and Savant Beverages is going."Mike Mandato, marketing and retail manager for Weyerbacher Brewing Company
Athletes, amateurs, and beer afficionados still are welcome to sign up for the event online, right up until the start of the race at 11 a.m. Saturday. The after-party at the brewery kicks off at noon, running until 3 p.m.
Mandato said he can’t wait for the big race, and to connect with the local community Weyerbacher has been part of for nearly 30 years.
"It's reflective of the direction that Weyerbacher and Savant Beverages is going," Mandato said.
"We're here to, you know, kind of re-establish and reaffirm the fact that Weyerbacher has been here for 27 years for a reason, you know, so we're trying to put ourselves in the front of that race,” he said with a laugh.
For more information on the Weyerbacher 5K Hill Challenge and to sign up for the May 20 event, visit the signup page.
