10 spots to get the best craft beers in ski country

From Burlington, Vt., to North Conway, N.H., to Westminster, and Newry, Maine, here are 10 of the best spots in New England ski country to grab a cold craft brew after hitting the slopes.

The Alchemist

Long before Tropical Storm Irene flooded the superb Alchemist pub in Waterbury, it was one of the best après ski destinations in the Northeast, welcoming skiers and riders who had spent the day at nearby Stowe, Sugarbush, or Mad River Glen. What has happened since then is something of a beer miracle. Owners John and Jennifer Kimmich opened a small production brewery just I-89’s Exit 10, where they strictly brewed Heady Topper, their flagship double IPA. The beer has become a legend nationwide, and many have put it on a pedestal rivaling Russian River’s Pliny the Younger, a hard-to-find DIPA out west. Beer Advocate users recently ranked it the best beer in the world. In fact, you’re more apt to check a local retail outlet for Heady Topper than finding it at the small brewery, where they frequently sell out. There is a tasting station though, so you can begin to discover what all the hype is about. It is indeed warranted. –
www.alchemistbeer.com

Moat Mountain Smokehouse & Brewery

Swing by this North Conway barbecue establishment on weekends, and you’ll find locals and visitors alike sharing stories of the day’s skiing and riding amidst the tantalizing scents of Mount Mountain’s signature dishes, not to mention its craft beverages, brewed on the premises. From the Iron Mike Pale Ale to the seasonal Smoke House Porter (my favorite), Moat has established itself as one of the Mount Washington Valley’s top dining and drinking experiences, and in 2011 began canning and marketing certain styles to local retail outlets. If you can’t get in the door – and based on the place’s popularity, that’s a distinct possibility – swing by one of dozens of other spots for a taste of a valley original. –
www.moatmountain.com

Lawson’s Finest Liquids

I happened to be at the Warren Store in Warren, Vt., one day back in 2011, when Sean Lawson unassumingly pulled up with a new batch of his popular handcrafted brews for the store. Much like Heady Topper, Lawson’s products are in high demand, and can only be found at a handful of local shops and pubs. But don’t depend on the same thing twice. Lawson rotates his shipments to different restaurants, as well as at the Warren Store, where visitors get what they get. In my instance, it was the Weiss-K, a German-style offering. Lawson even took time to talk shop with us before our purchase. Good guy, great beer. –
www.lawsonsfinest.com

Tuckerman Brewing Co.

Available at outlets throughout the Mount Washington Valley and beyond, Tuckerman Brewing Co., of course, takes its name and bottle images from the famed Tuckerman Ravine on Mount Washington, a mecca for backcountry skiing. So, it’s only fitting that a beer inspired by skiing would be such a big hit with the target audience. The Conway brewery offers tours every Saturday at 3 p.m., and be sure to check out the limited edition Altitude, a classic altbier that may be the best concoction that the brewery has come up with. –
www.tuckermanbrewing.com

Woodstock Inn and Brewery

The Woodstock Inn Brewery is another New Hampshire outfit that bottles and ships its most popular offerings throughout the state, including the popular Pig’s Ear Brown Ale, which has won numerous national awards, and the Pemi Pale Ale. After spending the day at Loon or Cannon, a visit to the brewery offers the opportunity to grab a fresh pint, and maybe catch the brewing process at work. –
www.woodstockinnbrewery.com

Wachusett Brewing Co.

After skiing your legs off at Wachusett Mountain, make the short trip to Wachusett Brewery, which offers tours until 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and until 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays (full, 45-minuite tours on Saturdays only). At the end of the tour, you’ll get to taste some of the Wachusett offerings that have made it one of the more popular breweries in the Commonwealth, including the Country Ale, Green Monsta, and Blueberry. –
www.wachusettbrew.com

Switchback

Head to Burlington, and you’re liable to find Switchback Ale in every establishment you visit. That signature brew is now available in bottles for the first time in the establishment’s history. They also brew three seasonal rotating beers: a porter (in bars right now), a roasted red ale, and a slow-fermented brown ale. Don’t expect to get any around the corner from you. They’re only available in the Green Mountain State, and much like Vermont’s other local brews, finding them can be a challenge. – www.facebook.com/SwitchbackBrewingCompany

Sunday River Brewing Co.

I’ve never had a bad beer here. The place can tend to get overcrowded at time, but what’s to expect when you’re a stone’s throw from one of New England’s most popular skiing and riding destinations. Hot it on a weekday though, and you’ll find yourself chatting up the friendly bartenders, dishing about music, beer, and skiing. On Wednesdays, the brewery also offers $1.50 beers from 3-7 p.m. That’s après with a kick. –
sundayriverbrewpub.com

Long Trail Brewery

Everybody has probably had a Long Trail Ale, or even a selection from one of the Vermont brewery’s seasonal sample packs. But to truly enjoy one of Long Trail’s finer brews is to visit the brewery, just a few miles from Killington and Pico, and sample one of its Brewmaster Selections, fresh off the tap including the comforting coffee stout, and the double IPA, with enough hops to put Long Trail’s normal IPA to shame. –
www.longtrail.com

John Harvard’s Brew House

You’ve likely been to the one in Harvard Square (pictured), but the popular brew pub can also be found in ski country, at the base of Jiminy Peak in Hancock. You’ll find many of the same offerings, except that they’ll go down nicely after a day on the slopes, in lieu of going down nicely after a day at the office or in the classroom. –
www.johnharvards.com