With spring’s bluebird skies, dazzling sunshine, and longer days, there’s never a better time for an apres ski beer to toast to a day on the trails.
So why not make your ski day a little longer—or even make it an overnight?—by adding in a visit to a beloved local watering hole to clink glasses and celebrate the winding down of a glorious season.
In fact, science recommends you do: A systematic review on beer consumption and endurance sports in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that lighter beer (4%ABV or less) can be rehydrating, and the carbs and sodium it offers are beneficial, too. Bonus: Beer has polyphenols, antioxidant and antiviral plant compounds that could keep your immune system strong.
So tag a designated driver or book a room, then go ahead and settle in for a pint after your next long slow distance day. We won’t tell.
The Destination: Breckenridge
The tracks: Breckenridge Nordic, with 2,000 acres at 9,800 feet for awesome spring conditions
The hangout: Rocky Mountain Underground, a kicked-back bar scene with a distinctly mountain-lifestyle vibe: employee-owned, carbon neutral, and connected to their bike and ski shop on Main Street
The pour: Escape to Colorado IPA
A bite: A Jalapeño Poppin’ sandwich with jalapeño, bacon, blackberry jam, red onion, white cheddar, and muenster cheese
The Destination: Grand Lake
The tracks: Grand Lake Nordic, a hidden gem with roller-coaster-like intersecting trails for fast, fun laps
The hangout: World’s End Brewpub, an on-the-boardwalk, in-town, hole-in-the-wall joint serving small-batch in-house brews and craft beers from around the world
The pour: The Reverend Belgian-style quadrupel ale
A bite: The jumbo Bavarian pretzel with beer cheese for dipping
The Destination: Tabernash
The tracks: Snow Mt. Ranch’s wooded terrain near the cabin area, where late season snow lingers longest
The Hangout: Fraser River Beer Company just down the road in Fraser
The pour: Byers Peak Brown is a smooth, easy-drinking favorite of the local crowd
A bite: A walking taco from Shred’s Taco food truck parked out front
The Destination: Beaver Creek
The tracks: Beaver Creek’s lift-served Nordic trails are multi-use, with breathtaking above-it-all views
The hangout: Craftsman Brew Co. (in Edwards), a modern, chef-driven sandwich and beer bar.
The pour: DESTIHL cherry pie sour ale
A bite: Artisanal apps like coal-roasted yams with lime yogurt, brown butter, hazelnut, cilantro
The Destination: Eldora
The tracks: Eldora Resort, whose breath-taking climbs and wicked descents are the perfect challenge for end-of-season fitness
The hangout: Busey Brews, a family-run joint with attitude and ambiance (in Nederland)
The pour: Cerveza mi Face-ah Mexican lager
A bite: The “best in Boulder” award-winning house-smoked wings—try the Ned Dry Rub
This blog was made possible through a grant from Visit Colorado.