Discover Your Favorite, With Us in Breckenridge.

Most people who visit Colorado enjoy skiing, biking, hiking, rafting and other outdoor activities. However, there is something else the wonderful state is known for; famous craft brews! These beers are brewed throughout many towns in Colorado at seemingly endless craft breweries. Ski Country Resorts, a vacation rental company in Breckenridge, CO embraces everything that Summit County has to offer. For that reason exactly, they are a special that celebrates the Breweries right in the backyard of beautiful Breckenridge. Calling all beer hunters and occasional tasters to discover the best craft brews with Ski Country Resorts in Breckenridge. The lodging special offered by Ski Country is 20% off any property for stay dates between August 13^th - November 21^st (*restrictions and blackout dates apply). This special must be booked by September 2^nd, so get busy and book your stay today! Book online at www.skicountry.com or call Ski Country Resorts directly at 800-633-8388. Enough about that incredible Breckenridge lodging deal, let’s look at the breweries that are unique to Summit County, CO.

Sit back and enjoy the Coconut Porter from one of the newest breweries, Broken Compass. This robust porter is loaded with so much roasted organic coconut, local Garrett Shelton of Breckenridge says, “the Coconut Porter will transport you to a tropical island”. For those who are feeling a little more daring there’s also the Chili Pepper Pale Ale which combines five types of chili peppers! It is an easy to drink, smooth beer that has all the flavor and aroma of spicy chilies without the deep burn. Broken Compass’s mission is to provide quality beers to a quality town. Perhaps a new favorite will be amongst one of the many specialty brews offered by the Broken Compass.

Next up is the Breckenridge Brewery which is known for its Vanilla Porter, as well as the Avalanche amber ale. The Vanilla Porter is an ale that has all the chocolate and roasted nut flavor of a classic Porter, with an enigmatic surprise thrown in for good measure. To make the Avalanche, the brewers blend pale and caramel malts with just a touch of bittering hops to create a refreshing-but-flavorful, anytime beer. Aromas of pale grains, a semi-sweet middle and a clean-as-Colorado snow finish make the Avalanche the Breckenridge Brewery’s best-selling beer. This brewery has grown from a small 3,000-barrel-a-year brewpub into one of the most successful craft beer and restaurant companies in the nation. Enjoy a taste of history in the original location in Breckenridge!

Just “next door” in Frisco, there is the Back Country Brewery where it’s highly recommended to try the delicious Breakfast Stout. This is a milk stout (lactose is put in the boil) in which the brewers add locally roasted Guatemalan and Costa Rican coffees. Coincidentally, these coffees are roasted at the Rocky Mountain Coffee Roaster on Main Street in Breckenridge! The beer is full bodied and has a milky and caramel sweetness, followed by a mild roast from roasted barley, plus the coffee. Milk Stout’s not really desirable? That’s okay! This brewery also offers a tasty Pale Ale which was formerly known as the Telemark IPA. This is the Back Country’s gold medal winner and has a very characteristic copper color from a blend of lightly kilned malts coupled with distinctive bitterness and flavor from Washington State’s finest hops. This brew is a true Representation of a British Classic. When this recipe was originally created in 1996, it was an IPA, but now fits better in the Pale Ale category. The classification changed from an IPA to a Pale Ale because of the evolving hops profile. Despite the name change, it is still the same great taste and product.

Pug Ryan’s in Dillon has received many awards at various beer competitions and has garnered over 18 medals throughout the years. Just to name a few: silver medals for the Pallavicini Pilsner from the Great American Beer Fest and the North American Beer Awards in 2009. The Scottish Ale won a gold medal at the 2008 Colorado State Fair and a silver medal at the 2011 NABA, and the seasonal Helles Bock won a silver medal at the Craft Brewers Fest and a Gold Medal at the 2010 Great American Beer Fest.

Last but not least is the Dillon Dam Brewery. Located in Dillon, this brewery is known for the DAM IPA. This brew is dedicated to hop heads and has a spicy grapefruit aroma which leads the charge to a pile of spicy, earthy and slightly citrusy happiness that totally dominates the subtle, yet complex, toasty-biscuit malt balance in this reddish brown ale. It is also recommended to try the Sweet George’s Brown, which won bronze at the World Beer Cup in 2012. It’s a creamy, English style ale which is brewed with a variety of brown and caramel malts. It is lightly hopped and finishes with a hint of chocolate in its flavor and aroma. The Dillon Dam is one of the largest Brewpubs in the nation and one of the best family restaurants in Summit County, so go get lost in some delicious craft beer and food!

There is no need to be a beer connoisseur to enjoy all of the breweries in Summit County.  There are options for those who just want to dabble in the deliciousness. Sign up for the Summit County Brewery Tour and combine education with fun while being shuttled door-to-door to four local breweries in Summit County. Do the drinking and let someone else do the driving to enjoy a pint of tasty beer at each pub. Another suggestion is to visit Ollie’s Pub and Grub, which only has Colorado brews on tap, in either Breckenridge or Frisco. Those who are looking to add a little physical activity into the drinking extravaganza can also rent the Breckenridge Bike Bus. Pedal around Breckenridge and enjoy the scenery with good friends. Finally, it is worth a visit to Breckenridge for the Breckenridge Oktoberfest! Enjoy the fun as Main Street transforms into Munich and fills with people looking to enjoy the outdoors, friends, German bands and food, and of course delicious craft brews (*20% with Ski Country not valid during Oktoberfest weekend)!

So grab the friends, family or make it a staycation and get to Breckenridge. There is no better or more beautiful place to discover a potential favorite craft brew. Remember, Ski Country Resorts is offering the lodging special to give a little extra spending money for those tall pints.

Sources/References

Ski Country Resorts: http://www.skicountry.com

Summit County Brewery Tour: http://sucobrewtour.com/

Breckenridge Bike Bus: http://www.breckenridgebikebus.com/

GoBreck (Oktoberfest): http://www.gobreck.com/events/breckenridge-oktoberfest

Broken Compass Brewery: http://www.brokencompassbrewing.com/

Breckenridge Brewery: http://www.breckbrew.com/agegate

Pug Ryan’s: http://pugryans.com/

Dillon Dam Brewery: http://www.dambrewery.com/

Back Country Brewery: http://www.backcountrybrewery.com/

Ollie’s Pub & Grub: http://www.olliespub.com/

Breck On A Budget

Breckenridge, CO is not only a place of extreme magicand natural beauty, it is a place where memories that last a lifetime are made.  Nonetheless, there is a sad statement that provides a 'glass ceiling' to potential vacationers.  "Breckenridge is too expensive".  THIS IS FALSE.

The only reason this idea has been created is because the consumer has been going to all the wrong places.  Admitedly, there is a monopoly of sorts that has begun to cling to the Breckenridge ideal forcing businesses to raise rates or shut their doors.  However, this is not true for every store, lodging business or restaurant.  The affordable gems are still around, you just have to know where to look.

Ski Country Resorts is a Vacation Rental company in Breckenridge that just successfully completed their 25th year in business.  They offer over 200 properties in over 60 locations throughout Breck.  As David Garrett, a co-owner of Ski Country would state, "We pride ourselves on being a stand alone company that has the freedom to offer low price guarantees".  Folks, they have a 20 person home literally steps from the base of Peak 8 that costs about $100/person per night over Christmas (the least budget friendly time of the year).  Outside of those dates, it is even cheaper (especially during the beautiful Summers).  Vacation Rentals are obviously the ticket to a budget friendly stay in Breck, Winter or Summer.  Not to mention, you can eat in every meal if you desire.

Restaurants such as Downstairs at Eric's and Breckenridge Brewery offer family friendly environments that have great prices.  A group of four can eat Dinner for less than $50? Deal Alert!!!

Stores such as Beehive Breckenridge and Christy Sports have built loyal clientel bases with great prices.  There is one Christy Sports location in Breckenridge that shares the check-in location for Ski Country Resorts.  The guests of Ski Country automatically get 20% off ski, snowboard and bike rentals just for being a guest.  Find the companies that reward you for your business.

With all this said, how does the average consumer get the opportunity to visit Breckenridge?  The same way they get the opportunity to visit any other place.  Shop around, find the deals and book ahead of time.  The 'last minute' mindset will get you in trouble when visiting Breck.  Hint from everyone: dare to stray outside of the Winter only psyche.  Summers are absolutely breathtaking and very inexpensive.  There are no costs to enjoy hiking, riding the free gondola, fishing or biking.  Endlees activites in the great outdoors with cool Summer air at little to no cost.  .

So what are you waiting for?  Start your look around today and get one step closer to your dream vacation!  Just look how much fun these people had in Breckenridge. 

(Photo Credit to IG peoples: @yoktwig @lwdbridal @clayestes7 @caseycritter @caitlinsaling @teaaredubya @tnayrb03 @beans4dinner @tripl3_o

What a Start to 2014

Who knows how 2014 will go, but we sure are pleased with how it has started.  So far, this season Breckenridge Ski Resort has accumulated 195" of snow (as of 1/14/14 AM).  Over 72" of that has been in 2014 alone.  I guess we have appeased ULLR thus far; well done and keep up those snow dances!

So what is ahead and needs to be on your radar for the beginning of 2014 in Breckenridge?

• Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships hosted right here in Breck.  This incredible event from 1/21-2/2 brings the magic of snow to life.  Check out more details here. 
• Join in the Mardi Gras celebration by attending the annual Bacchus Ball hosted at Beaver Run or watch the fun filled parade down Main Street. 
• Spring Break and Spring Fever in Breck offers entertainment and events for the whole family. Still planning your spring getaway?  Check out the best lodging deals here.

All these events barely lead us into April.  There are MANY more events happening throughout the rest of the year, but we will discuss those later.  Come play in Breckenridge!