Best Ski Beers/Bars

SkiLion2

Freshman
Feb 4, 2004
50
75
18
Ok so there is a thread asking everyone for their favorite bar and there is a thread about the upcoming ski season/snow storm we just had in the high country of Colorado. So I thought I would start this thread about two of my favorite subjects on earth: beer drinking and skiing.

So my question to the our little corner of the internet:
Where is your favorite place to have a beer in a ski town?

Mine:
1) Not sure I have a more favorite place than a beer on the deck at the Bavarian at Taos NM,
2) The Nugget Mountain Bar at Purg is a great spot,
3) Just because it is where I ski the most, The Bus Stop of Storm Peak Brewing in Steamboat and,
4) Finally, because I am getting older and maybe a bit more nostalgic, I need to mention the Foggy Google at 7 Springs.

Honorable mentions - the Alpenhof at JHMR and the Yodler at the base of Mammoth Mountain
 

johnmpsu

Senior
Nov 29, 2001
282
478
63
Not a big beer fan but since Vail is my "home" mountain I'd have to say it's "Garfinkels" in Lions Head.
In the village the "George" probably tops my list.
 

Big_O

All-Conference
Jun 28, 2001
1,411
2,261
113
My favorite was the brew pub in the Steamboat ski village. Hadn’t been there since there early 2000’s until we went skiing there about 4 years ago. It no longer existed. Steamboat has really changed, and not for the better. It was a true cowboy town and reasonably priced. It’s now a hoidy toidy expensive place with a large amount of foreign visitors and pretty much not recognizable as it was before. Skied there at least 10 times from early 90s to early 2000s. Won’t be back.
 

SkiLion2

Freshman
Feb 4, 2004
50
75
18
My favorite was the brew pub in the Steamboat ski village. Hadn’t been there since there early 2000’s until we went skiing there about 4 years ago. It no longer existed. Steamboat has really changed, and not for the better. It was a true cowboy town and reasonably priced. It’s now a hoidy toidy expensive place with a large amount of foreign visitors and pretty much not recognizable as it was before. Skied there at least 10 times from early 90s to early 2000s. Won’t be back.
There is no doubt that Steamboat has changed and I have skied there since 98 but so has every Colorado (should not limit that to CO - every ski resort) resort. A-Basin was 600 acres in the 90's now... I hope you still enjoy some turns!
 

SkiLion2

Freshman
Feb 4, 2004
50
75
18
Not a big beer fan but since Vail is my "home" mountain I'd have to say it's "Garfinkels" in Lions Head.
In the village the "George" probably tops my list.
What was the one dive (maybe Garfinkel's) in Lion's Head for the longest time? I think it closed like 4 years ago?
 

SkiLion2

Freshman
Feb 4, 2004
50
75
18
Mangy Moose (Jackson Hole)
Powder Keg (Pow Mow)
Le Chamois (Squaw Valley)
Next to my car in the parking lot (anytown, USA)
2 things:
1) I have family in Tahoe so when we go there we usually end up at the River Ranch at the beginning of the Alpine Meadows access road from CA 89 so I have not had a beer at Squaw in a long time (and yes it is still Squaw Valley USA - at least to me).
2) Parking lot beers are also great plus given the rise in costs always cheaper and you control access to your "bar"
 

johnmpsu

Senior
Nov 29, 2001
282
478
63
What was the one dive (maybe Garfinkel's) in Lion's Head for the longest time? I think it closed like 4 years ago?
Can't be Garfs as its not a dive. Not fancy but not a dive and definitely thriving. I can't think of anything in Lionshead. In the Village I would say "The Shakedown" barely makes it up to dive status. I think it's awful. You're just thankful they don't serve food there. The George could be thought of as a dive but it's a good place. I always think it's got a 1970s feel to it.

Sorry I can't help. I've spent winters at Vail for the past 10 years and not much goes out of business. Moes, a small barbecue and bar place left Lionshead 2 years ago.
 

Bwifan

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
2,535
4,434
113
P-Dog's.... Between Alta and Snowbird, in the Alta Peruvian Lodge. Great local vibe that a lot of workers from the resorts go to after work. Rated as one of the best old school ski bars.
 
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PSUSignore

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
1,469
2,338
113
P-Dog's.... Between Alta and Snowbird, in the Alta Peruvian Lodge. Great local vibe that a lot of workers from the resorts go to after work. Rated as one of the best old school ski bars.
I'll have to check that one out, I've always found the on mountain apres scene to be pretty lacking in LCC, despite that being my favorite place to ski.
 

Big_O

All-Conference
Jun 28, 2001
1,411
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I remembered the name of the old Steamboat ski village brew pub located in the Ski Time Square area. It was called the Steamboat Brewery & Tavern and apparently was torn down for redevelopment of that area in 2011. We had last visited there in 2007 until our more recent trip. No wonder why we couldn’t find it anymore.
 

Bwifan

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
2,535
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I'll have to check that one out, I've always found the on mountain apres scene to be pretty lacking in LCC, despite that being my favorite place to ski.
It's a very cool place. Many of my friends who work at Alta go there after the work day ends. Great way to unwind and let the red snake make its way down the canyon road so you don't have to sit in traffic waiting to leave the canyon. All wood inside and sometimes have live music and finger food out for people.
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CowbellMan

Junior
Feb 1, 2024
127
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It's a very cool place. Many of my friends who work at Alta go there after the work day ends. Great way to unwind and let the red snake make its way down the canyon road so you don't have to sit in traffic waiting to leave the canyon. All wood inside and sometimes have live music and finger food out for people.
View attachment 929035
Ugh. Now more people know.

⛷️
 
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PSUSignore

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
1,469
2,338
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It's a very cool place. Many of my friends who work at Alta go there after the work day ends. Great way to unwind and let the red snake make its way down the canyon road so you don't have to sit in traffic waiting to leave the canyon. All wood inside and sometimes have live music and finger food out for people.
View attachment 929035
The last time I skied there a few years ago the bar I was at closed really early, like 5 or 6 PM or so, and it was completely dead anyway with little traffic. The public busses also stopped running down the canyon fairly early, which I was using. My take was that it wasn't a place for apres at all if you ski to the last chair, since with little lodging up there everything shuts down.
 

razpsu

Heisman
Jan 13, 2004
13,498
13,297
113
Red Lion bar, vail village. Very very easy choice as a great bar after skiing.
 
Sep 10, 2013
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We were getting ready to pack up one Sunday am and saw Gin Blossoms were playing that nite at pickle barrel so we stayed and saw a fantastic show from the balcony right on top of them.