Photo Credit: Sawtooth Brewery
Ski season is all but over for us here in the east with a few resorts up north holding on to a last trail or two. But just because ski season is finishing up, that doesn't mean après ski season has to. All activities can have an after party, especially if you've earned it. So, sticking to this logic, I headed out for a hike last weekend with two goals in mind, get in some exercise and sample two beers from Sawtooth Brewery. In order to accomplish my lofty goals, I loaded up my Mountainsmith cooler tube with Sunnyside Session Wheat and Idahome IPA and headed out on the Hartshorne Woods trail with my wife, kids, a good friend of mine and his kids. Baring in mind that we had five little kids with us, the hike was only supposed to be a mile or two. One wrong turn and four miles later, we found ourselves at the highest point of the hiking trail with more than a few whiny children. My wife took one for the team and hung with them there while my friend and I hiked the two miles back to the car in order to drive back up to the top and pick them up. With a grand total of six miles under our belts, it is safe to say that we earned our après for the day and the time had come to session these delightful beers.
Sunnyside Sesssion Wheat: 4.7 ABV
Photo Credit: Sawtooth Brewery
I love sessionable wheat beers so it is no surprise that I was excited to give this one a try. Sunnyside Session is easy drinking by nature but not without flavor. It is a very smooth drinking beer with a mild hoppiness, citrus and wheat flavors. This makes it a perfect beer whether your après session is post ski, post hike, or really if you are just hanging around with some friends throwing bags.
Idahome IPA: 6.7% ABV
Photo Credit: Sawtooth Brewery
The higher abv doesn't actually qualify this IPA as a session beer but that doesn't mean that I did not like the flagship IPA from Sawtooth. In fact, despite the higher alcohol content and the seven variations of hops used to brew it, I found it to be quite an easy drinking beer thanks to a good blend of malts and hops combined with notes of orange zest. Overall it was a well-balanced smooth beer that is worthy of après anytime, anywhere.
Visit Sawtooth Brewery for more information on their beers, tap room and public house, and events and be sure to stay tuned to All About Après for more from this awesome brewery out of Idaho.
