If you’ve ever shredded Utah powder on one of those blower days, the days that makes you really appreciate life–you know the ones–than there’s a good chance you’ve wanted to down a beer or some other form of libation afterwards in celebration. But something about the beer in Utah just isn’t the same.
Welcome to the Beehive State, where anything above 3.2 percent alcohol is considered liquor and you have to work to find youself a good craft brew (we’re going to help you with that). Aprés is part of riding snow, after all, and there has to be an easier way to do it–especially in the state that boasts, “The Greatest Snow on Earth!”
So first, the rules: If you want to buy “beer” that’s 3.2 percent-plus, head to the liquor store or go to a restaurant with a liquor license. BTW, while pouring liquor, bartenders are supposed to disappear behind a “Zion Curtain,” a partition that essentially ensures corruptible teenagers don’t get any bad ideas while watching a bartender mix drinks (is that the same concept behind the long. white underwear, too?). However, that rule is infrequently adhered to and is threatened by a bill currently making its way through the state legislature. Regardless, don’t expect any mixed drink to be particularly stiff because Utah mandates that the quantity of booze in each concoction cannot exceed “1.5 ounces.” Again, there are some tricks of the trade that help bartenders circumvent that rule, but you didn’t hear it from me…
Another curious law unique to Utah? You must order food if you want to consume that favorite drink of yours; restaurants can’t legally serve booze without some extra padding for their patrons’ stomachs. The law requires this, but it’s possible that restaurants don’t strictly adhere, so order and find out yourself. Fortunately, food is always at the top of my priority list after skiing, so no complaints from my table.
Utah boasts 22 micro breweries, 12 distilleries and four wineries. While the ‘3.2 rule’ is strictly implemented, bars offer locally brewed, high-content IPAs (9 percent), as long as you ask for it in a bottle.
If you’re after the full-on aprés ski experience, here are five stops we recommend where you might actually get a buzz on (wink, wink):
Shooting Star Saloon
A Google search for the best aprés spots in Utah continually leads one to the Shooting Star Saloon. Opened in 1879, it’s the oldest bar in Utah. The history behind it is not the only attraction, however. This time-honored joint boasts a menu loaded with hi-calorie foods and drinks hi in alcohol content to satisfy your cravings after a day on the hill: mostly burgers and beers, in addition to microbrew bottles and IPAs. The historic bar is an Ogden Valley tradition, a perfect stop after shredding Powder Mountain or Snowbasin.
Owl Bar
Located in Sundance, Owl Bar offers its own unique history. For those familiar with the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, this aprés ski destination features the exact bar and bar-back that was frequented by the real Hole in the Wall Gang known as the Rosewood Bar. Butch Cassidy’s crew frequented the pub in Thermopolis, Wyoming but it was relocated to Sundance in the 1970s. Sundance-founder Robert Redford’s pictures adjourn the walls along with other stills from the famous flick he starred in (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, with Paul Newman). This aprés spot also offers live music on the weekends to help ease you off the mountain.
Photo Courtesy High West Distillery
High West Distillery
High West boasts the title of the “world’s only ski-in gastro-distillery.” While it could rest on that status alone, High West also offers food that will take care of even the most extreme post-shred hunger. Yeah, I’m talking about the Wild Boar Stew. In terms of spirits, High West was the first legal and licensed distillery in Utah, post prohibition. And that happened in 2007 (so not that long ago. You aren’t in Tennessee). High West uses local ingredients and distill their whiskey in a traditional copper pot still. You might be familiar with High West’s “distinctive” bottles that appear in other stores and restaurants in Utah. You can find this Park City gem at the bottom of Quttin’ Time and next to the Town Lift.
Alta Peruvian
If you don’t like the “P-Dog,” then I probably wouldn’t like skiing with you. This hotspot for Alta Locals is that noisy, bustling aprés destination where riders tell tales of the powder stashes they found that day in between rounds of shot skis. Animal heads are mounted on the wall. Live music sets the mood. And popcorn is free for the taking. The menu features locally crafted beers, which can be slid across the bar upon completion, only to collide with empty cans in a designated area. If you’re lucky, you’ll get some free mozzarella sticks during happy hour. For those that like to cozy up in a quiet atmosphere and read a book immediately after skiing, don’t go to the Peruvian Bar at the Alta Peruvian Lodge.
Thirsty Squirrel
The Thirsty Squirrel is your quintessential mountain bar where you’re likely to find patrons shooting pool in ski boots. This watering hole is a favorite among those who want to escape the crowds of other Utah resorts and head to Solitude. Large flat-screen televisions allow you to zone-out and watch a game when you’re in that post-skiing daze. The menu won’t win the praises of any nutritionists, but who cares. After a day of lapping Honeycomb canyon, you deserve it. Remember, bottled IPA is your best friend in Utah.
