The "solidarity beer" has a particularly long tradition in left-wing alternative circles. The idea: the beer flows down the throat, with part of the proceeds going to some revolutionary group or other attempt to make the world a little better. Today, some people are trying to steer the course of events in a positive direction with bike trails. And because many bikers like beer, it makes sense to use the principle of soli beer for trail projects.

In 2020, the promoters of the Bikpark Thunersee did just that and launched the Trail Ale. Every paid sip helps to finance the construction and maintenance of the trails around Lake Thun and also creates local added value, as the beer is produced in the Thun brewery.

Beer for trails is now also available from the region between Fribourg, Thun and Bern. The Verein Bike Region Voralpen would like to expand the opportunities for mountain bikers in this area, which is known as the Gantrisch Nature Park. There have been unofficial trails on the Schwyberg for some time, which are now to be legalized and extended by a further route.

The Schwyberg Ale Trail beer, produced by the local brewery Jùscht's, is inspired by the northern slope of the Schwyberg. 50 centimes per bottle end up in the account of the Bike Region Vorlapen association, and the members decide at the end of the year what exactly will be financed with it. It goes without saying that a trail could only be financed in this way if Schwyberg Ale was served exclusively at an entire open air event. But that's not the idea, and the brew is at least as important as the financial boost in terms of publicizing the project and rallying bikers and the region behind it. As of today, Schwyberg Ale is only served and sold in the region. A good opportunity to get to know the trails and then the ale.

Schwyberg in the tour database