It’s not often that first tracks of the season and a first descent coincide, but winter came hard to Boulder, Colorado, over the last few days causing me to vigilantly search out potential vertical around town. The ditch behind the Boulder County Sheriff’s office is overlooked by most, but at 8-10 vertical feet, it offers some of the best bang-for-buck town laps of the entire metro. Plus, it’s about 30 steps out the back of Skiing Mag HQ, and no one has ever skied it (that I'm aware of).

After crossing a small creek and a field of frosty typha , I quickly hammered out four runs in the ditch. It was glorious. And it deserved a celebratory beer. Alaskan Brewing Company’s Winter Ale was the perfect cap to the momentous event. Why? It says winter right there on the label of the bottle, and because it’s delicious.

An English Olde Ale brewed with spruce tips, Winter Ale is heavy, both in malt flavor and alcohol, but doesn’t weigh you down. The spruce tips give the beer a light, almost citrusy flavor. This easy sipper is something you can relax with. There’s very little bitterness. Most of this beer’s complexity is in its malts, which deliver nice flavors of caramel and toffee. It’s one of the finer winter ales I’ve ever tasted, and I plan on drinking a fair amount of these during the next few months.

It’s go time Ma Nature. Bring on the snow.

Big ups to Marquette Backcountry Skis and Spirit Hoods for helping me make this happen.

For more info on Alaskan Brewing Company, visit their website.

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