When it comes to après ski, it has been well documented here on this blog that there is no other choice but an ice cold beer. Yeah, I like whiskey and an Old Fashioned does go a long way towards warming your heart on a cold day. However, there is something about a beer that just does a body good when the lifts stop spinning. It's tasty, refreshing and there is an abundance of really good ones across the country to choose from. That's why we break our top ten après ski beers list into East and West and, more importantly, make this a list of our "favorites." Beer is a matter of preference and there are a lot of damn good ones out there. So here are our favorite beers to drink when the ski day ends presented by our NEW mascot, Après The St. Bernard.
These 10 Western Après Ski Beers Will Have You Craving More
Roadhouse Brewing Company, Loose Boots Apres IPA 5.5%
Loose Boots is a newcomer to the après ski beer scene, having only been around for about two months. However, after having tried it, this brew instantly catapulted itself to the top of my list of favorites. It is exactly what you need to be drinking as you unbuckle your boots and let the blood flow back into your feet. It's light and crisp and with hints of orange and lemon, really darn tasty. I'm not a huge IPA guy, but I could drink this session IPA all après.
Deschutes Brewery, Red Chair NWPA 6.2%
This Northwest Pale Ale is iconic as the chair lift it is named after. Red Chair is as straight forward as they come in regards to its ingredients and the brewing. However, for all of its simplicity, it is a damn good beer delivering well-balanced, malty and zesty goodness. Simply put, there is a reason that Red Chair has won so many awards.
Telluride Brewing Company, Face Down Brown 5.7%
Celebrate the art of a good face plant with this multi-award winning beer. It is toffee, chocolaty, nutty goodness will have you craving more that one. Which is fine because, aside from being really tasty, the picture on the can is as cool as they come.
Wasatch Brewery, First One Down 7.1%
Being located on Main Street in Park City, Wasatch Brewery knows a thing or two about après ski and with an array of good beers to choose from, this one stood out for me. It's a true winter warmer that is not too boozy and offers dark fruit flavors and a roasted finish. worthy of racing everyone down to grab the first one.
Melvin Brewing, TGR Pils-Gnar 4.5%
Melvin may not be new to the craft beer scene but this collaboration with snow sports media icon, Teton Gravity Research is. Pils-Gnar is exactly what you are looking for in a beer. Light, crisp and worthy of your taste buds after a day of shredding the gnar.
Aspen Brewing Company, Silver City Ale 4.3%
I really like a bunch of what ABC has to offer but their house ale really hits the spot on a ski day. More of a sour ale with tart citrus flavor that is complimented by a touch of wheat. It's a refreshing twist on a pale wheat ale and an ideal après ski beer.
Sawtooth Brewing Sunnyside Session Wheat 4.7%
Session the mountain and then this pale wheat ale that is packed with flavor but lower on alcohol. Light and crisp with hints of citrus from the hops and a strong wheat flavor that with have you craving more than one.
Crazy Mountain Snowcat Coffee Stout 5.9%
A worthy tribute to the people who keep the mountain in great shape for you each and every night. Brewed with coffee from local roaster, Coda Coffee Company, this snowcat will get you through the night with its dark chocolate and caramel flavors that are complimented and not overpowered by the delicious coffee taste.
Sometimes relationships just work and that is exactly what is going on with Ska Brewing and Venture Snowboards. Ska brews this beer for Venture Snowboards and Venture makes boards for them. It's a match made in heaven. Not overly hoppy with a caramel sweetness when it comes to drinking beer on a powder day this pale ale will do just fine.
Mammoth Brewing Company Double Nut Brown 5.5%
All the flavors you'd expect in a brown ale and more. A malt forward beer with hints of chocolate, toasted biscuits and dark fruit that balance well together to bring you a beer that is full of flavor. Well deserving of the gold it won at the World Beer Cup in 2012.
