Packed chalet bars and raucous dance parties in your ski boots are, for many, a beloved part of the ski experience. As the 2020-21 ski season plows ahead—with resorts all over the country focused on COVID-19 safety—the on-mountain bar scene is noticeably different this winter. In October, Vail Resorts announced that all full-service bars on the mountain would be closed for the upcoming season, effectively changing après ski as we know it—for this year, at least.
There are still safe and socially distant drinks to be had this season though. Consider getting away from the mountain for award-winning local brews and spirits in some of the country’s best ski towns. These spacious breweries and distilleries, often already outfitted with ample outdoor space, give people plenty room to click out and take a seat. Here, ski town destinations where you can enjoy a drink outdoors after your day on the mountain. [Editors note: Given the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hours and accessibility of many places are fluid and subject to change. Make sure to contact them before visiting.]
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Roadhouse Brewery’s pub is located right on the square in downtown Jackson Hole. While the larger brewery outside of town handles most of the production, this location brews experimental beers that can only be found here on tap. Rest your ski legs at the bar while you sample a blonde ale fermented with Champagne yeast and dig into a warm plate of white cheddar grits with shrimp and andouille sausage.
Park City, Utah
When the Park City crowds head for High West’s saloon on Main Street, hop in your car and make the 30-minute drive to its stunning distillery and tasting room in Wanship, Utah. The sprawling campus is where most of High West’s award-wining whiskey is made. While tours are currently suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions, there are lots of spaced out places to sit while you sip on a Boulevardier with High West’s American Prairie Bourbon and take in the views of the surrounding Wasatch mountains.
Breckenridge, Colorado
Nestled at the base of Breckenridge Ski Resort in Colorado, the town of Breckenridge boasts an impressive and award-winning beverage scene. After a bluebird day on the slopes, snag a table outside at Breckenridge Pub & Brewery on Main Street. The mountain-facing patio is the best place in town to soak up the sun while sipping on a tropical Mountain Beach Session Sour. A short five-minute drive outside of central Breck is Broken Compass Brewing. This cult-favorite is a frequent winner at the Great American Beer Festival and requires an in-person visit: Its brews are only available at the expansive brewery and the smaller taproom, which recently opened in town. Just down the road from Broken Compass, you’ll find Breckenridge Distillery, considered the highest in the world at 9,600 feet. It's also ‘Five-Star’ certified (Colorado’s program to validate safely operating businesses) with a new outdoor tasting bar and covered, heated patio. Stop in for a flight—the best way to try wide range of the distillery's bourbons and whiskeys—or new chocolate and caviar pairings with your drinks.
Vail, Colorado
Vail Brewing Company’s flagship brewery is located right off I-70 in the Colorado Rockies, only 10 minutes from the base of Beaver Creek and Vail Village. The sizable taproom looks out onto a pop-up expedition tent (complete with its own fireplace) and a well-lit, dog-friendly patio with plenty of firepits and heaters to keep you warm. It is also home to Rocky Mountain Taco Truck, so you can pair your Tourist Trap Double IPA with a juicy carne asada torta.
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
After a day skiing the trees at Steamboat, head to town for wood-fired Calabrese pizza and a well-deserved beer at Mountain Tap Brewing. This season, the Colorado microbrewery imported three retired gondolas from Killington, Vermont, for the outdoor patio. The refurbished cabins are outfitted with lights, heaters, and even Bluetooth speakers so you can set the soundtrack for your après party.
Sun Valley, Idaho
Warfield Distillery & Brewery is located on Main Street in Ketchum, Idaho, the charming ski town that’s also home to Sun Valley Ski Resort. The organic brewery and distillery recently completed a major overhaul and expansion of its sleek new two-story brewhouse. Once you get off the mountain, beeline for the open space of its rooftop bar for the best sunset views and a frosty Ketchum Kölsch, the brewery's signature easy-drinking German ale.
North Lake Tahoe, California
Alibi Ale Works’ Truckee Public House is 15 minutes down the road from Squaw Valley and Northstar Ski Resort in North Lake Tahoe. Grab a seat outside at its heated beer garden (the largest in town) and order from the diverse beer list. The no-fuss “Your Dad’s Beer” is an exceptional pilsner with a clean, crisp finish and is the perfect drink to wash down a brat with house-made beer mustard and caraway sauerkraut. Also, most of Alibi's beers are gluten-reduced, so your gluten-free friends won’t feel left out.
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