Skip to content
5 Best Après Breweries in Colorado
The sun’s setting on your ski day. You’ve been snacking on granola and sucking down Honey Stingers all day and now it’s time for a hot meal and a cold beer. Fortunately, Colorado has a beautiful tendency to land a brewery wherever there’s a pulse. So, let’s head back to the car, get the boots and buffs off, and ride straight into aprés.
Here’s a list of our favorite breweries in close proximity to our favorite ski resorts. Check it out:
Westbound & Down Brewing Co, Idaho Springs
Closest mountains: Loveland Ski Area (24.3 miles), Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (31.4 miles), Winter Park Resort (33.4 miles)
Our favorite pour: General MacArthur’s Scotch Ale. Dark, sweet and just boozy enough to help you defrost.
Westbound & Down is a quick stop off Interstate 70 and a perfect halfway break between the Front Range and Loveland, A Basin, and Winter Park. Their modern and spacious taproom features a regularly rotating tap list, full bar, and even a few guest beers (Coors Banquet is a menu staple for the proud but traditional Coloradan). On top of all that, the food menu is perfect for end of day hunger pains. We reach for the Fried Chicken Sandwich with shoestring fries every time, without fail.
Outer Range Brewing Co., Frisco
Closest mountains: Copper Mountain (8.3 miles), Keystone Resort (10.5 miles), Breckenridge Ski Resort (11.5 miles)
Our favorite pour: Limited one-off releases make this a tough call. Right now we’re big on In The Steep Double IPA.
Outer Range specializes in citrusy hazy IPAs, and are already recognized as one of the best young breweries in the country. Their space is cozy and almost always filled to the brim with friendly company.
Photo Courtesy of Outer Range Brewing Co.
If the taproom is full, find a seat on their patio space or head to their furnished yurt, complete with fireplace and board games. There’s no food menu at Outer Range, but feel free to show up with your own munchies or grab some chips and salsa from Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant next door.
Storm Peak Brewing Co, Steamboat Springs
Closest mountains: Steamboat Ski Resort (4.8 miles)
Our favorite pour: If you conquered Chair 1 then you earned a Coffee Moos Milk Stout. If you took it easy today then go for the Lawnmower.
Photo Courtesy of Storm Peak Brewing Co.
Storm Peak just expanded their taproom to accommodate the crowds that make this brewery their end-of-day rendezvous. The sunset streams right through the taproom’s tall glass garage doors, and the picnic table patio seating is a relaxing place to regroup after a day spent surfing champagne powder. No food menu here, but there are plenty of good options in the neighborhood. Bonus: check in with your bartender for Gluten Free beer options too!
Telluride Brewing Co., Telluride
Closest mountains: Telluride Ski Resort (5.4 miles)
Our favorite pour: Face Down Brown. A gold-medal winning brown ale best enjoyed out of the can.
Photo Courtesy of Telluride Brewing Co.
If the name wasn’t enough indication, Telluride Brewing Co. has a hand in just about everything that makes you love Telluride. From outdoor adventure, to live music, to great friends, and cold beers, you get the sense that these guys are rooted in keeping their hometown awesome. Visit the taproom to try some of their limited releases or grab a case of cans in town and head to the hill.
Closest mountains: Eldora Mountain Resort (21.4 miles)
Our favorite pour: FYIPA. Trust us.
Mountain Sun opened on Pearl St. in 1993 and has been a staple of Boulder ever since. This is one of our favorite spots in the entire Front Range to grab a burger and recap the day’s adventures with good friends. Squeeze onto a stool on their streetfront patio and let their incredible staff do the rest. Pro-Tip: This is a cash-only establishment so be sure to pack a few bills (there’s an ATM on site just in case which charges a small fee), or you may have to ask about their Honor System. And whatever you do, always swap corn chips for french fries. You won’t regret it.
That rounds off the list of our Top-5 Colorado Breweries for Aprés Ski. Do you know of any we missed that deserve to make the list? Let us know by sharing this article on Facebook and tagging us in your comments! And, of course, please enjoy good beer responsibly.
Cheers from Belong!
---
Special thanks to Outer Range Brewing Co., Storm Peak Brewing Co., and Telluride Brewing Co. for providing photos.