Pop off your boots and skip the hot toddy: These taverns keep ski bums warm with craft beer.
ASPEN
30 Market St. Unit A, Glenwood Springs, Colo.
Die-hard dog lovers Bob and Cindy Glowacki relocated their former Aspen haunt to nearby Glenwood Springs last winter, but it’s still the best spot for a post-slope beer. English-style pub grub and a baby-back-rib happy hour on Wednesdays are fuel for the next morning’s runs. DRINK: A dozen craft taps pour Colorado gold from Odell, Aspen and beyond; try Rifle Brewing’s Cascade-hopped Creek IPA with your fish ‘n’ chips. TIP: After you visit, email the bar a shot of your pooch to earn a spot on the Doggie Wall of Fame.
VAIL
304 Bridge St., Vail, Colo.
Skiers, snowboarders and even fuzzy-booted bunnies pack into this always-buzzing stalwart at the top of Vail Village’s Bridge Street to share gigantic appetizers, bond over live music and chill all night. DRINK: Order a crisp AC Golden Colorado Native, a premium lager crafted from Colorado-grown hops and barley, Rocky Mountain water and the state’s oldest yeast strain. It’s available—you guessed it—only in Colorado. TIP: Start your après early to nab a spot on the see-and-be-seen outdoor deck.
PARK CITY
250 Main St., Park City, Utah
Utah’s oldest brewery made waves when it opened in the notoriously dry state in 1986—and did so again when it released the 94-point Polygamy Porter (its slogan: “Why have just one!”). It now shares a Salt Lake City HQ with Squatters Brewpub, but its tavern below Park City Mountain Resort remains the brewery’s soul. DRINK: The seasonal Wasatch Winterfest is the very definition of a winter warmer: a toffee-laden amber with subtle hops and a 7.1% ABV that thaws you from the inside out. TIP: Hike upstairs to the alfresco rooftop Cantina, where two pool tables, flat-screens tuned to football and the best après ski drink next to beer—margaritas—await.
TELLURIDE
225 South Pine St., Telluride, Colo.
Ski bums and beer geeks rub elbows and nibble on barbecued ribs at Telluride’s only brewpub, located just a block from the gondola in a historic mining warehouse. DRINK: Tour Smugglers’ small batches: Don’t miss the massive Imperial San Juan SkyHop (a 10%-ABV strong ale) and the sessionable Rocky Mountain Rye (a GABF gold medalist). Take home a growler of your favorite. TIP: The biggest beer bang for your bucks? The $6, six-beer sampler.