Lifts and Lagers celebrated two years of community and growth in August of 2025 with a big celebration at Drowned Valley and man, folks poured in to hang out.

It may have still been hot, but that didn’t stop folks from flooding the brewery spaces, both inside and out. While Lifts and Lagers doesn’t pick the food truck, it was a great happenstance it was one of my personal favorites for the brewery- Sharpe’s Smokehouse- and judging by the line I wasn’t alone in that feeling.

The turn out was mostly familiar faces, a few new rigs and some furry friends, though this meet was noticeably light on attendance from our canine companions, including some mainstays I expect to see each month. What was greatly different this time were the giveaways, which were all donated from friends and the raffle was completely free for participants, which is a welcomed change to what I so often see at events.

While I’m not fully overlander or off roader, I don’t have a rooftop tent or a camp stove and my Xterra isn’t fitted with much in the way of recovery gear, I’m always happy just how much this group, and specifically the group organizer Hill, have welcomed me in, and it’s awesome to see someone truly building community in a way that feels open, welcoming and not about the clout or money in a world that is so focused on social media make believe and chasing the dollar. I’ve said it before, and I’ll absolutely say it again– if you’re into anything close to off roading and want a good meet to hang out and socialize at, this one is for you.