Few things are more authentically Colorado than enjoying a cold draft beer after an outdoor adventure. We know that Winter Park is the heart of Colorado Adventure, so we brought in a local to help create a guide to matching the perfect adult beverage to your adventure of choice. Parsenn Bowl Territory Ambassador, RJ Brule, gave us the low down on where to go for a good après experience after taking on Colorado’s Top Adventure Town.
To Catch Your Breath After Shredding The Bowl
There’s really nothing like getting to the top of Parsenn Bowl for the first, or 100th time. I still like taking in the views and scouting my line on the ride up the Pano. When I need a break, I can hop on the Sunnyside Lift and Lunch Rock is just ready and waiting. Not only do you get to just take in the views, but they have 12 beers on tap. Yeah, Lunch Rock is known for their Bloody Mary’s but the craft beer selection is really where it’s at. 12 beer options at 11,000 feet, yeah, I’ll take that.
To Warm Up After a Morning of Snowshoeing: Hideaway Park
Winter Park has so many awesome trails, and with the right gear, you can explore them all year long. Warm boots and snowshoes are essentially all you need. If you don’t own snowshoes, there are plenty of places to rent a set for your own hiking adventures.
One of my favorite places to snowshoe is on the Idlewild Trail System. This trail system is rad for biking, but once it’s covered in snow, I’m always down to hit the trail with my dog in the winter. After a few hours in the snow, Hideaway Brewery is my go-to spot. It opens every day at noon and is right next to Fraser Valley Hot Dog, so I can grab food, grab my favorite BruBrew IPA, and hang out with my dog either inside the brewery or outside if the sun is shining.
To Relax After Sending It On the Slopes: Doc’s or Club Car
The best part of winter, for me, is snowboarding. Add a beer into the mix, and well, I’m in my element. When I tap out for the day or when the lifts stop turning, I have two spots where I go to ah, hydrate.
If I end at the Winter Park Base, I like heading over to Doc’s. I can get New Belgium’s Mary Jane Ale on draft, eat a classic burger, and reminisce about mountain bike season. It pulls in a laid-back crowd that’s just my style.
If I end on the Mary Jane Base, I’m either firing up my own grill at my car and reaching for my cooler, or I’m hanging out in Club Car. They also have Mary Jane on draft, and their happy runs from 2:30 to close. Can’t get better than ending a Mary Jane day with a beer of her name.
To Kick off Your Night In Town: Idlewild
If you don’t think bar hopping is an adventure, then you haven’t done it in a ski town. First off, you’ll need the right gear. Wear layers, like a puffy and flannel, and not only will you fit in with the local dress code, you’ll realize we wear that stuff for a reason. You want to stay warm in between stops. But once inside one of the bars, taverns, pubs, taprooms, or distillery along the main street, you’ll find a way warm up. The best spot to start, end, or just prioritize as a stop is Idlewild Spirits Distillery.
They have unbelievable Whiskey mules, but since I’m supposed to be talking about beer, I’ll mention that Colorado Native is their craft brew on tap. So enjoy your night out by dressing like a native, drinking a Native, and then grab something delicious off the Idlewild menu (so you can also eat like a native). Bonus if you have non-beer drinkers, or you just want to mix it up and grab some whiskey or vodka made in-house.
To Go Old School: Adolf’s
Throwing it back to childhood starts on the Tubing Hill. It takes sledding to a whole…nother…level. It’s also a great activity for out of town guests who are looking for fun, without anything too extreme. Then keeping in theme, Adolf’s Event Center and Tavern, just down the Winter Park Drive, is one of the best throwback spots. You’ll have to ask the bartenders to fill you in on all the history, but this place has been open since the 40s and is filled with stories of the early ski days. Enjoy a cold one at the bar, and who knows, you may even have Adolf flicker the lights to say hello from the good ol’ days.
To Live Your Best Ski Bum Life: Crooked Creek Saloon & Creekside Eatery
Ski Bum is a term of endearment around here. And it isn’t hard to find folks still chasing the dream, living out of their cars, and chasing powder in the backcountry. Best place in town for a good hardened ski bum to really get a feel for the culture of the valley is the Crooked Creek. Get a pitcher of PBR for $8 and catch their happy hour for food specials, and well you’ll be able to live the good life without sacrificing your bank account to Ullr. And if you’re looking to indulge, they do have a great selection of craft brews and a full menu.
Adventure and beer go hand in hand when you’re in Colorado! So enjoy the mountains, but make sure to save time during your adventure trip to sip some good stuff.
Want to try some more brews? Join us for TheBigWonderful Beerfest on March 30, 2019 where you can experience unlimited sampling for more than 30 makers and live music from Woodshed Red and The Lil Smokies! Buy your tickets before they’re sold out.