Wondering if any locals have recommendations for beer in Steamboat. Have read through the multiple other Steamboat-related threads in this forum but the most recent is about 2 years old. Hoping for more recent info. Would have bumped an older Steamboat-related thread but they're all locked for commenting. Any recommendations welcome. Thanks in advance.
So there are 4 breweries up there now. Mahogany Ridge is a brewpub that's been around for a long time. I find their beers hit and miss--sometimes good, sometimes infected. Alpenglow is their main flagship beer. They don't distribute. Food is great there, though. But if you're looking for good beer, I'd pass. Butcherknife Brewing is the big production brewery. You'll find their beers on the mountain and at most of the restaurants in town. Their IPA, the Amputator is a nice, smooth drinker. Not a hop bomb, but I really enjoy it, probably what I drink the most. I also really like their Hefeweizen. Tap room is small, but they have fun one offs there. Storm Peak is the other main brewery, but on a smaller system than Butcherknife. They are on tap at a few places in town, but mostly a couple brands in cans at some restaurants. Their can stuff is OK, but I like their milk stout, I Like the Way She Moos, and one of their IPA's the TIPA, the best. Those beers you have to drink in their tap room. There is also a new brewery, Mountain Tap, that just opened up this summer, run by a long time industry guy who finally has his own place. He makes great beers, and they are a brewpub, with great food. They don't distribute, either. So yeah, you really can't go wrong with going to the tap room at Butcherknife, Storm Peak, or Mountain Tap. They all have a bit of a different vibe, but the beers are pretty solid all around. As far as beer bars, BARley downtown is your best bet--they really focus on Colorado beers, I think 30 taps or something like that. Central Park Liquors by CityMarket has the best selection of packaged beers, and they always have Butcherknife and Storm Peak there.
Mountain Tap is fantastic. As pointed out, it was opened this summer by the former head brewer of Kona. The beers this summer were all standard fare (IPA, Porter, Brown, Pale, Lager....) but were well executed. They were increasing the offerings, so each time we visited they had more beers on tap.They also have a woodfire oven and crank out fantastic pizza. As a bonus, we have small kids and they have a cool room for kids to play in. I am not associated with the place, but as a former Steamboat resident and frequent visitor, I've been really happy to stop by this place multiple times
Storm Peak is my favorite up there; their Arborist should still be on (it was tapped 2 or 3 weeks ago) which is a spruce tips Saison. The milk stout is my fave and is now done on nitro only. The still had their 2nd anniversary (IPL) and a BA Yukon Stout in bombers two weeks ago. Hit Mountain Tap for first time two weeks ago; their Coconut Brown was quite tasty. Central Park Liquors has best selection for bottles but I have found hidden gems at the store next to Big House Burgers on west end of town as well as the store in the Safeway shopping center. The Taphouse has a fair/serviceable tap selection with pretty good wings. Not sure if it's still on but they used to do 3 wings for a buck on Tuesdays.
We were just in Steamboat about 3 months ago, we visited Butcherknife, Mahogany Ridge, and Storm Peak. Mahogany ridge is OK, it's not much of a brewery. We were pretty disappointed with Butcherknife overall, only liked 2/6 beers we tried. Amputator was tasting strange that day. Storm Peak was very solid and an easy favorite.
Amputator, Weizen, and Buzzcock (mild) are pretty common in Denver now. I like 'em a lot. Can't speak for the tasting room or anything else, but those 3 have served me well.
CPL always has a great selection Barley had a great taplist when I was up there last winter Pretty sure Slopeside still has 'late night happy hour' with $3 drafts/$7 pizzas Mahogany Ridge, while there beer is average at best (I'm being really nice right now), has an incredible happy hour for food- try the ceviche! RMR is easily one of (if not) the best dispensaries in the state, if you're into that sort of thing too
...but their barleywine is mighty tasty (though served too cold). One of the owners of Storm Peak steered me there last winter for it. He's also the one that recommended Mountain Tap's Coconut Brown. Not only is the Boat great for skiing, there's now good to great brews for after getting off the slopes!
Barley is the only place you need to visit. Grab something from noodles and more or skull Creek Greek next door. Pm if you wanna share a beer there.
Noodles and More (aka The Wacky Noodle) is one of my favorite places to eat ever. Good call, @icculus00 !!!
Hello again! Will be heading to Steamboat again during the last week of June with my in-laws and 3 young kids. Tried BARley last trip based on suggestions here and intend to go back. Interested to try Mountain Tap this time. Bumping this thread to, first, survey what has changed in the Steamboat beer scene in the past 18 months and, second, to request family-friendly suggestions (beer-related or otherwise). Any and all suggestions welcome. TIA!
Don't know if they still have it but Tap House had 3 wings for a buck Tuesday nights? Their beer selection was average. Definitely hit Storm Peak; definitely best craft brewery in the Boat.
Mountain Tap is definitely family friendly. They have good beer/food and great pizza if you like Neapolitan style. If you’re going to be up there the last Friday of the month, Galactic is playing a free concert at Howelson Hill. There will be tons of families there, food and maybe a decent beer or two. My kids love hanging out at the base area playing in burgess creek when we are up there in the summer. If you want to take a drive and have a day on the water, Steamboat lake is beautiful and you can rent a boat at the marina in Clark.
