5 Best Places to Ski & Apres-Ski in Eastern Canada
Are you looking for the perfect apres-ski place to drink craft beer? We’ve taken the difficulty of planning on for you and found some of the best ski runs and best craft breweries in Eastern Canada.
By Shira Kogut on Mar. 02, 2017
Quebec
Where to Ski
Mt. Tremblant: This busy ski destination is nestled in the Laurentian Mountains about 130 kms from Montreal. Most of the skiing revolves around the well-appointed Mount Tremblant Ski Resort.
Le Massif: Le Massif in Charlevoix is the highest point east of the Canadian Rockies. Picture a 770-metre vertical drop. There are 40-plus runs, the longest of which is about 5 km long. The best way to get there is a leisurely one-hour train ride from Quebec City, during which passengers can enjoy incredible views of the St. Lawrence River. In addition to alpine, there’s cross-country, snowboarding, ice-climbing and lots more.
Where to Apres-Ski
Microbrasserie Saint-Arnould: This fabulous, little microbrewery has delicious food and great service. It’s namesake would be proud. Come with the guys, the gals or with your family either way you will leave with full bellies and a smile on your face.
Microbrasserie Charlevoix: The brewer doesn’t serve food, but it has fantastic beers and a beautiful little shop. It is well worth the stop before you move on to fill your belly at Le Saint Pub, the restaurant where this brewery first got started. Smoking their meats on site and often marinating the meats in beer, this place is the perfect spot to deal with that Massif appetite.
Ontario
Where to Ski
Blue Mountain: Ontario skiers flock to the Collingwood area for daytime and nighttime skiing on Blue Mountain’s 36 runs and 3 freestyle terrains. It’s the third most popular ski resort in Canada, after Whistler Blackcomb and Mount Tremblant though the vistas are much less dramatic.
Video: Blue Mountain Ski Resort
Where to Apres-Ski
Northwinds Brewery: You’ve adventured all day at Blue Mountain now it’s time to let you taste buds feel the rush. The menu is carefully designed to treat you and your belly very well. Locally owned and operated, everything is made on site, using fresh and local ingredients, so eat and drink to your heart’s content knowing that with each beer or dish you order you are supporting local business.
Video: Northwinds Brewhouse & Eatery
Nova Scotia
Where to Ski
Martock: Not on the same par as many of the top ski establishments in British Columbia or Alberta, ski-lovers in Atlantic Canada do have a few options, one of which is the Martock Ski Centre, a short drive from Halifax, which offers a mix of cross-country and alpine trails.
Where to Apres-Ski
Schoolhouse Brewery: Unfortunately this brewery is not open to the public, so here is a list of local restaurants that carry their beers. Alternately they thought maybe you’d be tired from skiing all day, so wherever you are staying in the area you can have growlers delivered to you. Now that’s a party!!!
New Brunswick
Where to Ski
Crabbe Mountain: The Crabbe Mountain ski hill in Central Hainesville, 50 km from Frederiction, is the highest spot in New Brunswick (at 260 metres). Crabbe Mountain offers more 30 km of nordic ski trails. Nighttime skiing is popular with visitors and locals.
Where to Apres-Ski
Big Axe Brewery: This beautiful Bed & Breakfast/Brewery is about 30 mins from the mountain but it is a lovely drive and also offers a place to rest your head after a long day skiing and a night of “apres-skiing”. You can also see the biggest axe in the world. No axe to grind here.
Cheers to the Perfect Pairing of Skiing and Craft Beer!
Some of the ski descriptions are shared from Canadian Living’s Canada’s 10 Best Ski Destinations
If you liked this beer article, check out some of our other articles about the beer scene in Canada:
7 Best Places to Ski and Apres-Ski in Western Canada
Canadian Beers Eh?
Alberta Craft Breweries List: A Guide and Directory to Canadian Beers
BC Craft Breweries List: A Guide and Directory to Canadian Beers