• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Because the Family that Skis Together, Enjoys Life Together.
  • Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Featured Author
    • Brand Ambassador
  • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Contact Me

The Brave Ski Mom

Building a new generation of skiers and snowboarders.

  • Skiing
    • Skiing With Kids
    • Ski Racing
    • Learn to Ski
    • Cross Country Skiing
    • Telemark Skiing
    • Snowboarding
  • Ski Resort Reviews
    • United States
      • Alaska
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Idaho
      • Maine
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • Pennsylvania
      • Utah
      • Vermont
      • Washington
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
    • Argentina
    • Australia
    • Austria
    • Bulgaria
    • Canada
    • Chile
    • France
    • Finland
    • Greece
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • New Zealand
  • Ski Gear Checklist and Recommendations
    • Equipment and Gear
    • Product Reviews
    • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Hiking
    • Camping
  • Biking
    • Downhill Biking
    • Mountain Biking
    • Road Biking
  • Good Stuff
    • Parenting
    • Health
      • Getting in Shape
    • Reflections

Après Ski Ideas from Fonseca Port and TrailKeg

March 10, 2020 by braveskimom

Tapping the TrailKeg at 10,000 feet. While we were trying to use up our red Solo cups, next time, we’ll bring reusables and help save the planet.
brave ski mom logo

First, we skied. 

Then, we had drinks.

Meanwhile, we were freezing.

Pro Tip: Check the weather before you go and maybe, just maybe, plan to après indoors on frigid days in mid-February at 10,000 feet. 

Still, despite requiring hours of heat and hot tubs to warm up après the après, the drinks (and company!) were excellent. 

Even with a bit of sun, it was cold! But still good to ski together and enjoy a drink and snacks. Photo: Dave Graff.

Add Port and Chocolate to Your Warm Wine

The addition of luscious, ruby red Fonseca BIN 27 Port and Mexican powdered hot chocolate to hot wine was revelatory. 

This is a winner for three reasons:

1. Because we are always looking for excuses to add chocolate to our daily diet.  Chocolate with every meal sounds fantastic, especially when we’re hungry during ski season. 

(For a recipe for quick, ski condo-worthy Pain Au Chocolate/Chocolate Croissants, click here)

2. Because we like sipping Port, although we rarely do it. Good port tastes good, especially with chocolate. Did I mention I love chocolate? 

Simply sipping port is a good way to go, too…it will warm you and is especially lovely when paired with chocolate.

3. Because we enjoy hot wine, gluwhein, mulled wine, whatever you want to call it, although, again, we rarely drink it. 

Although it hurt just a little to adulterate this smooth-sipping port with spices, red wine, citrus and chocolate, the results were oh-so-tasty. 

Plus, as we all agreed, the bright taste of the port smoothed the tannic wine, resulting in a mellow drink with no sharp edges. 

Spiked Chocolate and Orange Mulled Port

The ingredients for Spiked Chocolate and Orange Mulled Port.

Recipe courtesy Drinking with Chickens, modified slightly by me

  • 1 750ml bottle of Fonseca BIN 27 Port
  • 1 750ml bottle of dry red wine
  • 2 cups fresh orange juice, strained to remove pulp
  • 1/2 cup Triple Sec
  • 1/4 cup powdered Mexican hot chocolate mix (or another bittersweet dark hot chocolate mix)
  • 2 small oranges, halved for mulling
  • 2 small oranges, sliced for garnish
  • 2 cinnamon sticks for mulling
  • 6 cinnamon sticks for garnish
  • 6 cardamom pods (don’t have pods, just sprinkle in some cardamom)
  • 1 nutmeg seed (don’t have seeds, just sprinkle in a tiny bit of nutmeg)
  • 4 cloves

In a large saucepan, combine port, wine, orange juice, orange liqueur, hot chocolate mix, the 2 halved oranges, 2 cinnamon sticks, cardamom, nutmeg, and cloves. Stir thoroughly to combine and dissolve chocolate, then bring mixture to a boil. Lower heat and simmer gently for 30 minutes. When you are ready to serve, spoon liquids into your mug/glass, and garnish with a fresh orange slice and cinnamon stick.

More Hot Drinks with Port 

We haven’t tried these, but they do sound good. Fonseca recommends using Croft Reserve Tawny Port for these two recipes. 

Spiced Port Hot Toddy

Coconut Tawny Port Steamer

While outdoor après is fun, indoors après is definitely cozier.

Introducing the TrailKeg

If the mulled port was a better choice on a cold wintery day, the TrailKeg is a year-round winner. 

A pressurized beer growler, it’s a portable way to transport 5 beers without any recycling to carry home. 

Fill the TrailKeg growler at your favorite brewery, pressurize it and then tap it when you’re ready to drink. 

Handy videos show everything from how to set up the TrailKeg, pressurize it, tap it, clean it and more. And this is really good, because we found it a bit confusing the first time out. 

Filling it was easy. But the pressurization process was a bit trail-and-error, with emphasis on trial and less on error. While the videos helped, there was no substitution for diving in and doing it. 

Once we overcame our initial trepidation, the tap flowed and the fun followed. 

We first tried the TrailKeg at home, just to make sure we knew what we were doing.

A winter-warmer the TrailKeg is not, but for post-fun beers on any sunny day, whether you’re skiing, hiking, biking or camping, it’s a useful addition to your party arsenal.

And, if you plan ahead better than us and use reusable cups, you can cut your disposable waste significantly. 

Enjoy! 

To facilitate this post I received a 375ml bottle of Fonseca BIN 27 Port and a TrailKeg. All opinions are my own and are exactly what I would tell my friends and family. 

© 2020, braveskimom. All rights reserved. Any use or publication of content, including photos, requires express permission.

Spread the Love (thanks!)

  • Email
  • Print
  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Related

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Primary Sidebar

2023-2024 Partners

FERA
World Snow Day
FERA

Welcome

I'm Kristen, a western Colorado mom, wife and trail boss in a busy outdoor family. Our family has a passion for skiing and my goal is to provide information to help other families enjoy their skiing adventures. Whether you have tiny toddlers just learning to slide or grown children with whom you're planning a reunion, you're in the right place. Cheers!

Never Miss a Post

Enter your email address to subscribe. You'll receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Me

FacebookInstagram Pinterest Twitter

Today’s Most Popular Posts

  • No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
    No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
  • Québec City: My Kind of Ski Town
    Québec City: My Kind of Ski Town
  • Why Our Family Likes to Ski at Teton Village, Wyoming
    Why Our Family Likes to Ski at Teton Village, Wyoming
  • Tight Turns: Spring Skiing Sunscreen and Gorilla Glue Repairs
    Tight Turns: Spring Skiing Sunscreen and Gorilla Glue Repairs
  • Family Skiing at Mad River Glen, Vermont
    Family Skiing at Mad River Glen, Vermont
  • The Summer Vacation Technology Contract Every Family Needs
    The Summer Vacation Technology Contract Every Family Needs

Categories

Footer

Recent Tweets

My Tweets

Featured In

snowlink world snow day snowkidz
liftopia mtn town learn to ski and snowboard mom trends
Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Affiliate Disclosure · Product Review & Giveaway Policy · Guest Post Policy · Privacy Policy · Login
 

Loading Comments...