Has anyone come out again with any beer in the 16 oz. plastic bottles? Or is the 40 oz. still my only choice? Just checking to see if anything has changed since last year. I don't drink IPAs or growlers. Just looking for a domestic beer in a 16 oz. bottle. I know it is too much to ask for, but figured I would throw this out there and see if there have been any changes. I really hate that they did away with them.

It comes up often but I think it just didn't work well and all production was stopped.

That is too bad. Domestic beer is bad, but the 16oz plastic bottles made great bobbers! Some guys on a trip in 2009 brought Budweiser and happened to forget bobbers. The pike fishing on Gabbro was fantastic and they wanted to join in. Empty plastic beer bottle, no bobber, lightbulb! Not a great pic, but it was a hoot watching a bunch of beer bottles bob around and "swim" when pike would hit.

Maybe? Seems like I seen some at 4th of July because my thought was you could still take beer to BW. Otherwise last I remember for sure was Icehouse.

Magic: "Maybe? Seems like I seen some at 4th of July because my thought was you could still take beer to BW. Otherwise last I remember for sure was Icehouse."

The past couple of years IceHouse 40 oz is all I can find that was not a malt liquor. Not the best but slightly better than nothing. I have seen pictures of Miller High Life in 40 oz. but never actually seen a live one. I will continue to look, but it is probably futile.

We've been told by a few different liquor stores that they stopped making the 16oz plastics because stadiums stopped selling them, so they could no longer make enough money off of it.

2K10: "We've been told by a few different liquor stores that they stopped making the 16oz plastics because stadiums stopped selling them, so they could no longer make enough money off of it. "

I've heard similar stories. Was just hoping maybe someone found something other than 40 oz. IceHouse beer.

You could buy these:

https://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Bottles-500ml-Better-Homebrew/dp/B00HT1X7F8

Then take them to Warped Wing and ask the brewmaster to fill them for you. I actually called to see if they would do it and the nice lady who answered the phone said you would have to ask the brewmaster who wasn't in at the moment. But worst case you could have them fill a growler and transfer it to the bottles.

It continues to amaze me, you can ask anything here and there is always someone who comes up with an answer or possible solution. Think outside the box, UDkid.

UDKid: "You could buy these:


https://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Bottles-500ml-Better-Homebrew/dp/B00HT1X7F8


Then take them to Warped Wing and ask the brewmaster to fill them for you. I actually called to see if they would do it and the nice lady who answered the phone said you would have to ask the brewmaster who wasn't in at the moment. But worst case you could have them fill a growler and transfer it to the bottles."

Did you know I'm from the Dayton area? Anyways, this probably isn't going to work for me, but I like the idea. $33 for some plastic bottles is a little pricey. I can get a case of 40 oz Icehouse for that with the beer...haha. I guess I could save my bottles when I'm done and reuse them next year at Warped Wing? I've never had any of their beers before. I typically only drink Bud, do they have anything similar that you know of?

buzz17: "Not a great pic, but it was a hoot watching a bunch of beer bottles bob around and "swim" when pike would hit.


"

Jug fishing is not legal in Wisconsin... I would check MN fishing regs on this. Our group motto is "If it is fun, it's probably illegal."

QueticoMike: "

UDKid: "You could buy these:

https://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Bottles-500ml-Better-Homebrew/dp/B00HT1X7F8

Then take them to Warped Wing and ask the brewmaster to fill them for you. I actually called to see if they would do it and the nice lady who answered the phone said you would have to ask the brewmaster who wasn't in at the moment. But worst case you could have them fill a growler and transfer it to the bottles."

Did you know I'm from the Dayton area? Anyways, this probably isn't going to work for me, but I like the idea. $33 for some plastic bottles is a little pricey. I can get a case of 40 oz Icehouse for that with the beer...haha. I guess I could save my bottles when I'm done and reuse them next year at Warped Wing? I've never had any of their beers before. I typically only drink Bud, do they have anything similar that you know of?"

Just looked at Warped Wing website and I would think that the Trotwood would be most similar to Bud if that's what you're looking for. Last trip, I took in 2 Hydroflask 64 oz growlers and stopped into Fitgers and Hoops in Duluth for a little variety in the beer. Poured into a plastic cup and they did the job quite nicely. Managed to keep things cool and carbonated as well. Vodka and lemonade will do the job, but when push comes to shove I am a beer guy...

Hey QueticoMike, I did know you were from the Dayton area. Been reading the board for years and you are a big reason we gave up on the boundary waters and are headed for our first Q trip this September (How's that for pressure:))

I'm an old man from Columbus but my son goes to Dayton. I'm partial to bourbon and dark beers. Maybe you could talk the Warped Wing folks into making a "Smallmouth Stout" and putting a picture of one of your hogs on the label. But to answer your question, as a Bud guy, I think you would like Trotwood as bfurlow mentioned or the Flyer Red - both very good in my opinion.

And I did notice those folks selling the plastic bottles must be awfully proud of them to be asking that kind of money for 20 empty bottles!

bfurlow: "

QueticoMike: "

UDKid: "You could buy these:


https://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Bottles-500ml-Better-Homebrew/dp/B00HT1X7F8


Then take them to Warped Wing and ask the brewmaster to fill them for you. I actually called to see if they would do it and the nice lady who answered the phone said you would have to ask the brewmaster who wasn't in at the moment. But worst case you could have them fill a growler and transfer it to the bottles."

Did you know I'm from the Dayton area? Anyways, this probably isn't going to work for me, but I like the idea. $33 for some plastic bottles is a little pricey. I can get a case of 40 oz Icehouse for that with the beer...haha. I guess I could save my bottles when I'm done and reuse them next year at Warped Wing? I've never had any of their beers before. I typically only drink Bud, do they have anything similar that you know of?"

Just looked at Warped Wing website and I would think that the Trotwood would be most similar to Bud if that's what you're looking for. Last trip, I took in 2 Hydroflask 64 oz growlers and stopped into Fitgers and Hoops in Duluth for a little variety in the beer. Poured into a plastic cup and they did the job quite nicely. Managed to keep things cool and carbonated as well. Vodka and lemonade will do the job, but when push comes to shove I am a beer guy..."

Vodka and lemonade is all I drink in the Quetico. Two 64 oz growlers would only last 2 maybe 3 days :) I'm not traveling far on my Boundary Waters solo so I take coolers and ice along and a cold beer in the Boundary Waters is awesome if it is possible ( even if it has to be IceHouse, which is tolerable if it is ice cold, once warm, not so much )

UDKid: "Hey QueticoMike, I did know you were from the Dayton area. Been reading the board for years and you are a big reason we gave up on the boundary waters and are headed for our first Q trip this September (How's that for pressure:))


I'm an old man from Columbus but my son goes to Dayton. I'm partial to bourbon and dark beers. Maybe you could talk the Warped Wing folks into making a "Smallmouth Stout" and putting a picture of one of your hogs on the label. But to answer your question, as a Bud guy, I think you would like Trotwood as bfurlow mentioned or the Flyer Red - both very good in my opinion.


And I did notice those folks selling the plastic bottles must be awfully proud of them to be asking that kind of money for 20 empty bottles!"

Hey UD kid's Dad,

My little sister and little brother both are UD grads. I'm an OU Bobcat. One of my fishing partners was a two time All-American linebacker during his football days at UD.
If you want to read any of my fishing articles just send me an email - queticomike@yahoo.com
Good luck on your trip! If you have any questions about Quetico or fishing just ask here or send me an email.
Those bottles are crazy expensive, like I said I could buy a case of 40 oz IceHouse for less. Maybe I should save the bottles, wash them out and sell them on eBay.....haha.

I have just filled empty plastic water bottles with my favorite brew . You loose a little carbonation but the best alternative I've found.

There are so many creative solutions to the "beer problem" in the BWCA, I love to see the advice on this board and maybe will try the growler option from Fitgers on this October trip. A friend of mine will bring in 4 to 6 cans of good beer, allowing herself one per day. She feels comfortable doing this, in blatant disregard to the law, because she considers herself ultra-LNT in an almost obsessive sense. She's the one that packs out all garbage from campsites, keeps an meticulously clean camp, and leaves a modest pile of processed wood for the next party. She's a scofflaw in the beer-can aspect. That's all I have on the subject..

poobah: "There are so many creative solutions to the "beer problem" in the BWCA, I love to see the advice on this board and maybe will try the growler option from Fitgers on this October trip. A friend of mine will bring in 4 to 6 cans of good beer, allowing herself one per day. She feels comfortable doing this, in blatant disregard to the law, because she considers herself ultra-LNT in an almost obsessive sense. She's the one that packs out all garbage from campsites, keeps an meticulously clean camp, and leaves a modest pile of processed wood for the next party. She's a scofflaw in the beer-can aspect. That's all I have on the subject..
"

I've seen people drinking out of cans near the border before at the end of the first portage, just can't bring myself to breaking any BWCAW regulations. I don't think the rangers care how much of a LNT a person you are if you are breaking the law, they will still be writing tickets for these violations. I accidentally brought in a glass lid to a pan before, never opened the package until I arrived at the campsite and found out there was a glass lid. I hid it low in my clothes dry sack :)

QueticoMike:

Vodka and lemonade is all I drink in the Quetico. Two 64 oz growlers would only last 2 maybe 3 days :) I'm not traveling far on my Boundary Waters solo so I take coolers and ice along and a cold beer in the Boundary Waters is awesome if it is possible ( even if it has to be IceHouse, which is tolerable if it is ice cold, once warm, not so much )"

Agree 100%. I was only in for 3 days the last trip so it worked out OK. :)

I always stop at Mikes Liquor in Ely, They carry a variety of 40oz usually. I always go with Steal Reserve. Way better than the other options in my opinion.

bobbernumber3: "

buzz17: "Not a great pic, but it was a hoot watching a bunch of beer bottles bob around and "swim" when pike would hit.


"

Jug fishing is not legal in Wisconsin... I would check MN fishing regs on this. Our group motto is "If it is fun, it's probably illegal.""

No jug fishing here, just a DIY bobber. Secured to a line attached to a fishing rod and reel.

Interesting motto.

Jeeperimposter: "I always stop at Mikes Liquor in Ely, They carry a variety of 40oz usually. I always go with Steal Reserve. Way better than the other options in my opinion."

That's where I always get my beer in Ely. They have Steel Reserve, IceHouse, Mickey's, and Olde English 800.......hard to get excited about those choices :)

QueticoMike: "
I'm not traveling far on my Boundary Waters solo so I take coolers and ice along and a cold beer in the Boundary Waters is awesome if it is possible ( even if it has to be IceHouse, which is tolerable if it is ice cold, once warm, not so much )"

Bumping this old thread to ask, do you ever freeze the plastic bottle of beer and use it as block ice in the cooler?

2K10: "We've been told by a few different liquor stores that they stopped making the 16oz plastics because stadiums stopped selling them, so they could no longer make enough money off of it. "

Well, if we boycott stadiums... then maybe canoeists would move up on the list!

My favorite brother-in-law came up with a good idea way back in the 1970’s when we bemoaned no beer on our BW trips. He suggested we convert my old Grumman into B&J’s (for Butch and John) Portage Pub with a large built-in cooler and sell pints on tap.

I don't know why plastic beverage containers are even allowed. They are a lot harder to pack out than a crushed aluminum can, and I can't even imagine how many of them get burned in campfires for that reason. With everything we know about how bad plastics are for the environment this kind of boggles the mind a bit.

thegildedgopher: "I don't know why plastic beverage containers are even allowed. They are a lot harder to pack out than a crushed aluminum can, and I can't even imagine how many of them get burned in campfires for that reason. With everything we know about how bad plastics are for the environment this kind of boggles the mind a bit."

Agreed. The 'no can' rule feels outdated and unnecessary. As long as you LNT, what does it matter? It seems cans and trash left behind in camp used to be a bigger problem. I would think education on LNT seems more important than what type of materials you're bringing in (with the exception of glass).

thegildedgopher: "I don't know why plastic beverage containers are even allowed. They are a lot harder to pack out than a crushed aluminum can, and I can't even imagine how many of them get burned in campfires for that reason. With everything we know about how bad plastics are for the environment this kind of boggles the mind a bit."

Plastic beverage bottles are reusable. Some backpackers prefer them because they are lighter weight. I have heard of people bringing in gatorade in a bottle and reusing the bottle in various ways.

If I pop the top of an aluminum can, it really isn't reusable. There is no lid to screw back on. In places that allow aluminum cans, I avoid crushing them if all I have is water sandals.

thegildedgopher: "I don't know why plastic beverage containers are even allowed. They are a lot harder to pack out than a crushed aluminum can, and I can't even imagine how many of them get burned in campfires for that reason. With everything we know about how bad plastics are for the environment this kind of boggles the mind a bit."

A USFS ranger once told me plastic bottles were okay because they floated and could be picked up. This was in the Sylvania Wilderness Area in the UP of Michigan which I assume has the same USFS rules as the BWCA.

I re-fill 3 empty Pepsi bottles with beer for making our beer batter when frying fish. Crank the cap tight and the ole PBR stays fresh and bubbly.

A few observations of this thread:

plastic bottles do not float if filled with water.
Plastic bottles are far more of an environmental issue than an aluminum can.

Some BWCA rules are just nonsensical.

I prefer beer in a can and since I know better, I pack them out. I understand that a can is illegal but it's one of those rules that by breaking it, I am doing better for everyone.

There was a recent thread about why you can't have a sailboat on a lake that permits outboard motors. If you really wanted to debate it, the sailboat rule would have to be rescinded. It is completely a ridiculous rule. And the rule is not for esthetic reasons which most people would think it was.

Tom

buzz17: "That is too bad. Domestic beer is bad, but the 16oz plastic bottles made great bobbers! Some guys on a trip in 2009 brought Budweiser and happened to forget bobbers. The pike fishing on Gabbro was fantastic and they wanted to join in. Empty plastic beer bottle, no bobber, lightbulb! Not a great pic, but it was a hoot watching a bunch of beer bottles bob around and "swim" when pike would hit.


"

There would be numerous situations where that is totally illegal. This is called "jugging". If a person just had a line attached to the bottle and the bait, then the person is not in control of the action. If the fish got away with the rig, it would die. The line must also go from the bottle to the boat/pole so the person could retrieve it. In other words, the bottle is a bobber. How are you going to cast a bottle attached to a pole?
You can only use one line in open water. If you are just watching a bottle/jug and fishing with a pole then that is illegal as well.
I would avoid this practice completely.