From the Trails to the Taphouse: Après-Ski Ales at Whistler Brewing

Not many things complement a day of winter recreation as well as a foaming pint of beer brewed especially for the purpose, crafted to warm your belly and soul. If you find yourself in the Whistler area of British Columbia, and are looking for a way to cozily wrap up a day of hitting the famous slopes, or traversing the endlessly invigorating terrain of the Lost Lake Nordic Center or the Whistler Olympic Park cross country trails, then be sure to swing by the Whistler Brewing Company.

Conveniently located right alongside the sea-to-sky highway, just east of the big mountains, Whistler Brewing has been honing their unique lagers and ales since 1989. Embracing their proximity to BC’s ski mecca, beers with names like Mountain Lager, Function Junction, and Hazy Trail Pale Ale offer hop-packed sips with a light, super-drinkable body—perfect for while you’re on the snow and for long hours of recounting your adventures afterwards.

If it’s a particularly nippy day, Whistler Brewing excels at warming winter concoctions. The Black Tusk Ale, brewed imported chocolate and roasted malt, won Gold in the Mild Dark Beer category of the 2020 World Beer Awards. Its moderate abv and smooth finish, combined with a luxuriously rich flavor, makes the Black Tusk a wonderfully quaffable beverage to keep in hand during a January après-ski session.

Black Tusk Ale Brewers Notes – Named for the jet-black core of an extinct volcano, our Black Tusk Ale is an award winning English style dark ale. Brewed from the original recipe, with a special blend of imported chocolate and roasted malts, this easy to drink brew has a smooth finish with a hint of cocoa and roasted coffee.

ALC 5.0% | IBU 17 | HOPS Challenger & Willamette

SIZING 437mL Cans

To get a glass of this good stuff in your hand this winter, sidle up to the brewery’s taphouse, where beers ranging from old favorites like the Mountain Lager to fresh innovations like the Black Cherry Marzen are poured in 6, 12 and 20 ounce servings. Or, if you want to try the whole mouthwatering array, a flight of four six-ouncers runs a reasonable $12 Canadian.

If you are (as you’ll likely be) enamored with their beer, you can go behind the scenes of the brewery on one of their daily tours. For $20, you can soak in the nuances of Canadian style craft brewing—and get a flight of the brewers’ favorites at the end.