Let’s face it, aside from loving to slash through pow, skiers and snowboarders really love beer. In fact, you can make the case that no ski day is complete without a beer or two to cap it off. Cold and refreshing, it is the ideal beverage to both quench your thirst and get those post-pow conversations going.
Capitalizing on the love affair between mountain riders and beer, there is a growing trend among craft breweries, particularly those in mountain towns to brew ski-themed beers. The catchy and creative names only add to the fun of après ski. Witty and cheeky, these eye-catching titles are sure to draw you in.
With more and more of these creatively titled suds popping up each winter, it can be quite a challenge choosing just one. You can certainly try them all, and I wouldn’t blame you if you did. However, if you are looking to trim down your list of many, read on. From thirst-quenching Pale Ales to mind-bending Double IPAs, and everything in between here are eight ski-themed beers that are sure to make your après ski as good as your day on the mountain.
Roadhouse Brewing Co. – Loose Boots Après IPA 4.7% ABV
Photo Credit: Roadhouse Brewing Co.
Crafted for après ski culture in partnership with STIO Outdoor Apparel, this popular ski-themed beer just keeps getting better. Filled with lemon and lime hoppy goodness and a touch of pine on the finish, Roadhouse’s Pale Ale drinks way lighter than its 5.5% ABV. That makes it an excellent choice when the time comes to loosen your boots, especially this season. Now available in 16 oz – 6 packs and able to be shipped nationally via Craftshack you can enjoy this ultimate après elixir anywhere in the country.
Map Brewing Company – Swifty Session Pale Ale 4.7% ABV
Photo Credit: Big Sky Resort Instagram
This winter Big Sky Resort opened up their new Swift Current 6 chairlift. To commemorate the opening of what the locals refer to as “Swifty” the people at Big Sky teamed up with local Bozeman brewery, Map Brewing Company for a collaborative beer. Swifty Session Pale Ale is made for après ski. A light, sessionable Pale Ale that packs a copious amount of citrus flavors, Swifty is crushable and flavorful all at once.
Almanac Beer Company – Bunny Hill IPA 6.1% ABV
Photo Credit: Almanac Beer Co. Instagram
Experts and beginners alike will want to take a run or two on this Bunny Hill. It has all the elements a great run, uh beer should have. At 6.1% ABV Bunny Hill is a bit steeper than others on the list. However, it is still very approachable for the novice après skier. The mouthfeel is both clean and soft, adding to its drinkability while the taste is filled with tropical fruit flavors like citrus and melon.
Outer Range Brewing – Après All Day Kolsch 4.5% ABV
Photo Credit: Outer Range Brewing
Outer Range Brewing has had quite a start to 2022. This Frisco, Colorado based brewery recently announced that they are opening a new location in the French Alps with full views of Mont Blanc. They also celebrated their 5 year anniversary with a party that encouraged patrons to après all day. Thus the name of this fun, new offering and ski themed beer.
Kolsch beers are common in Germany. There, its lower ABV is valued for long days of drinking. That said, it only makes sense to brew a similar style when it comes to all day après. Outer Range Brewing has done an excellent job with their Kolsch. Light and refreshing, as it should be, with a touch of fruitiness and a crisp clean finish, this Kolsch is very true to its German roots. Ultimately, that makes it the perfect combination of flavor and crushability that you are looking for when you Après All Day.
Snow Republic Brewery – My Hands Feel Like Two Maracas DIPA 8.3% ABV
Photo Credit: Snow Republic Brewery Instagram
Whether you are a regular “Ice Coast” skier or have skied a cold day or two in the West, odds are that you have had a ski day or two where your hands actually feel like two maracas. That feeling is never good. However, it is the very premise behind this incredible Double IPA from Snow Republic Brewery. My Hands Feel Like Two Maracas has a formidable dose of Sabro hops to go along with the Mosaic and Citra hops making it super lush and full of tropical fruit flavors. However, where this beer really stands out is with the addition of Cholaca Pure Liquid Coconut. Your hands may feel like two maracas, but your taste buds will be feeling quite tropical with each and every sip.
Old Schoolhouse Brewery – Fresh Corduroy IPA 7.5% ABV
Who doesn’t love some nice Fresh Corduroy? Especially when it comes in the form of this highly palatable West Coast IPA. Juicy with notes of mango and tangerine it hits you with a sweetness up front that is balanced well by the slightly bitter finish. Just like the guy on the can, you’ll want to dust off your neon onesie as you crack open this ski themed beer. It’s as fresh as the cord you just carved up.
Stowe n Sail Brewing – Do You Even Après Ski
Double IPA 8.5% ABV
Photo Credit: Stowe n’ Sail
If you don’t après ski, were you ever really skiing at all? Ummm, NOPE. That’s why you better reach for this après ski themed beer from Stowe N’ Sail Brewing. Do You Even Après Ski is packed with Magnum hops then double dry hopped Mosaic, El Dorado and Galaxy hops. The result is an extensively topical nose and sweet taste to follow. It doesn’t drink anywhere near its whopping 8.5% ABV. However, just in case, you better strap on your steel tipped après boots for this one as you party the night away.
Lead Dog Brewing – Gnar Gnar IPA 7.2% ABV
Photo Credit: Lead Dog Brewing Instagram
You’ll want to be ready to shred the gnar especially if you are skiing and snowboarding in the Reno-Tahoe region where this ski themed beer hails from. Lead Dog’s ode to winter is a West Coast IPA worthy of the gnarly terrain found in the nearby Sierras. Packed with Mosaic, Amarillo, Simcoe and Citra hops, Gnar Gnar produces orange, grapefruit and pineapple flavors that are balanced out by a slight piney dankness. A flavorful citrus bomb that you’ll want to reach for time and time again after shredding the gnar.
Rich Stoner is the founder of the après-ski lifestyle clothing and media brand, All About Après, and the co-host of the Beyond the Après podcast. No stranger to the ski and après-ski scene, Rich has been a long time contributor for many publications on topics like skiing, gear, beer and food. However, his passion is on the slopes and enjoying good times with good people. You can find him perfecting his craft carving turns and drinking beers in the Green Mountains of Vermont. @allaboutapres