Beer, it's what's for dinner. Well, maybe not, but it's definitely what's for après. Our favorite frosty brew and après-ski have been best buds ever since the phrase was first uttered many, many years ago. In recent years this inseparable relationship has climbed to new heights. Craft breweries are popping up by the day and ski resort bars all over are expertly seeking out these breweries best beers to highlight on their menu. No one has done this better than Mount Snow who has made this a priority in, not one, but two of their bars (Canned and The Tap Room Station). However, Mount Snow is not the only one. With many breweries located in and around mountain towns you can pretty much drink delicious local brews, wherever you visit. So, we did and his is a list of our favorite après-ski beers from the 2018-2019 ski season.
Eastern Standard IPA
The Peekskill Brewery - Peekskill, NY
We'll usually stop at The Peekskill Brewery to pick up a few packs of this delicious beer and boy are they worth it. Eastern Standard is light and refreshing with just enough citrus flavor to tantalize your palate but not overpower it. It's just a good OG IPA that is highly enjoyable.
First Drop APA
Upper Pass Beer Company - South Royalton, Vt
One of my go to beers when ordering at Mount Snow's Canned. It's cloudy like you'd expect from a New England Pale Ale but still well balanced with juicy citrusy hops and a solid malt backbone. Just a great pale ale that packs a flavor punch but is still only a surprising only 5.9% abv.
Codename: Superfan
Odd 13 Brewing - Lafayette, Co
The bartender at The Red Lion in Vail Village described this as his favorite IPA in the country so I tried it. And, I went back to it for the two nights I spent there. Once again, this is just a good IPA with a slight bitterness that balances well with a juicy, almost grapefruit flavor.
Colorado Kolsch
Steamworks Brewing Co. - Durango, Co
I know this might sound like blasphemy, but sometimes you need something other that an IPA. A beer that is a little lighter, yet still flavorful like this traditional Kolsch. Fairly conventional with a grassy, wheaty taste and mild hops, it's just a solid easy drinking beer.
Extra Stout
Zero Gravity Craft Brewery - Burlington, Vt
This is just a really well made Irish Stout. Creamy and smooth with roasted malts that produce yummy chocolate and coffee flavors that linger on your taste buds. And, it's medium bodied feel and lower (ish) abv makes it a fairly sessionable stout and ideal for après.
Bonus Beer!
Mind Flurry
Cousins Brewing - Waitsfield, Vt
The Vermont IPA is something of a newer style that is a little softer and more pillowy than a true New England IPA. New kid on the block, Cousins Brewing delivers this to perfection with their Mind Flurry. It has a zesty hop feel with a juicy, citrus taste that makes this a very drinkable IPA and one hell of a premier for newcomer Cousins.
