The foundations of après ski were probably built on a beer like Headwall Alt, which Tuckerman Brewing Company of Conway, New Hampshire, introduced in 2005. Made in the Altbier style, meaning it closely follows the brewing tradition of Germany’s Rhineland, this brown ale has a taste and character rooted in brewing’s past. I picture salty German mountaineers from a century ago casually sipping a similar style of brew after a long ski tour. It made me want to put on lederhosen.

An incredibly smooth beer, the rich malt flavors of Headwall Alt are similar to other brown ales, but Tuckerman Brewing Company carbonates each bottle by leaving a touch of yeast in the beer to make it naturally bubbly. The yeast adds another layer of complexity, a very faint sour, yeasty flavor that reminds me of a good homebrew.

Available throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts, you might consider picking up a six-pack of Headwall Alt to pass the time on lazy, backyard afternoons, or if you want to practice some yodeling.

For more info check out Tuckerman Brewing Company’s website here.