Check out this press release from Oskar Blues Brewery. Dagger team member Tao Berman won a year's supply of their beer in a bet at the Lyons Outdoor Games!

LYONS, Colo. – Tao Berman, a national kayak champion, had a tough competition to beat at the Oskar Blues Lyons Outdoor Games, competing against the top kayakers in the nation, battling class V rapids, rain, and worrying that he might have to hang his head and doll out $500 of his own money to the winner. Tao was determined to win the race due to a bet that he had made in order to get more top kayakers to enter what he says is “the best race with a small town vibe and best course in the country.” Tao decided to make the race more enticing by betting that he could win the race by at least two seconds. If Tao won, he would win a year’s supply of Oskar Blues craft beer in a can, $1,000 from the race, and $500 that Oskar Blues was willing to throw in. If he lost, Tao would have to pay the winner $500 from his own pocket. Luckily for Tao, he still managed to win the race by fourteen seconds and win a year’s supply of Oskar Blues craft canned beer.

On race morning it was a very cold 48-degree day and the water was raging. The course had class 5 consequences. If a racer swam it was anyone's guess as to how long it would be before one got out of the water. Due to the rain and heavy river flows, the race was moved up stream to a less technical part of the river, which worried Tao, who was better in technical sections but, still managed to rage the rapids to an exciting win.

“The wager all started because I know they have the best race course in the country, but their purse isn’t big enough to attract the country’s best talent,” Berman says. The race on South St. Vrain Creek began in 2007 when Andrew Holcombe won the inaugural event. But since 2008, no one has had faster lines than Berman. Tao’s new challenge was developed to create excitement amongst the professional kayak community and the media, which was very successful.

Tao Berman said “I will remember this race more than any other race in the world because every time I drink an Oskar Blues craft beer, I will remember this win and Oskar Blues.” Tao puts the Lyons Outdoor Games on his schedule every year without a doubt, since it is so fun and challenging. Tao stated that “Oskar Blues puts on great events to support their local communities and athletes and I would like to see more business follow their lead.” Tao “can’t wait to come back and race next year and hopes that Oskar Blues will up the ante again.”
http://www.lyonsoutdoorgames.com/.

ABOUT OSKAR BLUES

Three-dimensional brewing since 1999, Oskar Blues began the “Canned Beer Apocalypse” in 2002 when Dale’s Pale Ale became America’s 1^st CANNED craft beer. For additional info, interviews, images or samples please contact Chad Melis at chad@oskarblues.com, # 720.273.8888 or visit www.oskarblues.com