Here are Four Exclusive Beers and One Craft Soda to Seek Out

By Steve Graham

You didn’t need another excuse to enjoy all this fresh powder at Winter Park, but we’ll give you one anyway. The resort just tapped a new exclusive beer from Upslope Brewing Company. Here are some details on that brew, plus four other specialty beverages at Colorado ski resorts

Mary Jane Ale

Upslope in Boulder tapped the new Mary Jane Ale on Thanksgiving at all on-mountain and resort-owned bars, and only at those bars, in Winter Park.

“Our guests seek out and ask for a variety of craft beer after an exhilarating day of mountain exploration,” said Winter Park Resort marketing director Liz Agostin. “They’re unique and want options that match their unique tastes.”

The Upslope guys said the beer is a sessionable pale ale with citrus notes and Azacca and Cascade hops.

Throwback Red Ale

Some folks at Elevation Beer Co. in Poncha Springs are seemingly jumping for joy and looking just like the skier on their cans of Throwback Red Ale, which was produced to honor and celebrate 80 years of operations at nearby Monarch Ski Area.

“Malt is at the forefront, pouring deep red, with good clarity, white head and tight lacing,” reads the description on the Elevation website. “Easy drinking, with subtle caramel, toast and toffee characteristics.”

Throwback is available in cans all over the state, but only for a limited time.

Kerrigan’s Irish Stout

Ski Cooper, above Leadville, has an Irish stout crafted at Dillon Dam Brewery. The Kerrigan’s Irish stout is exclusively poured at Katie O’Rourke’s Irish Pub on the mountain. The bar also taps a variety of other Colorado craft beers.

The stout delivers “rich, dark smooth goodness,” according to an Untappd review, and who could ask for more after (or during) a great day on the slopes.

Pine Bough Pale Ale

Loveland Ski Area provides both ingredients and taps for an exclusive brew from Tommyknocker Brewery. The Pine Bough Pale Ale is brewed with spruce pine tips from Loveland’s slopes, and served on special occasions at the resort or at Tommyknocker in Idaho Springs. It was served a few years ago for Loveland’s 75th anniversary, but it might sprout up again.

Sunny Pop

Finally, Tommyknocker also created an exclusive non-alcoholic craft soda for Sunlight Mountain Resort near Glenwood Springs.

Daily operations open this Friday, Dec. 13, at Sunlight, with the Sunnystock Festival, including a beer tasting hosted by the volunteer ski patrol. Plus, a pair of lift tickets costs only $69 if you have a season pass from any other Colorado resort.